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Meet Our Instructors
 Shawna Shapiro
Instructor
MA TESOL
University of Washington I have had the pleasure of teaching multiple subject areas (English literature and composition, ESL, EFL, Social Studies, and Spanish at various levels-- secondary schools, universities, and community-based programs for adults). In other words, I look for variety in my life and tend to incorporate that same mentality in teaching. I find that my own experiences as a language learner of Spanish and as a PhD student at the University of Washington help me tremendously in understanding the needs and strengths of my students. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for learning and teaching with our teachers-in-training here at TESL Express.
Visit Shawna's website.  Katie Austin-Miranda
Instructor
MA TESOL
Azusa Pacific University
Teaching has always been my passion. After over 12 years of experience teaching English and ESL to students of all ages, it is a joy for me to be able to share some of my expertise with future teachers.
Growing up in southern
California
, it seemed natural for me to study Spanish. I later combined this second language with my love of English to earn bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish/Bilingualism from the
University
of
California
at
Irvine
. I started my career as a teacher in middle school and high school teaching English Literature, Creative Writing and ESL. My students were 90% Latino, and I felt an especially close bond with the most recently arrived ESL students. It is such a thrill to be able to open students’ minds and help them explore new worlds of possibility with English.
After a few years of teaching ESL, I decided to earn my Master’s Degree in TESOL from
Azusa
Pacific
University
in
Azusa
,
California
. I then added teaching adult ESL to my resume, first in adult education schools and then in community colleges. I now teach adults exclusively for the English Language Institute (International Student Program) at
Bellevue
Community College
, for
Everett
Community College
, and most recently for TESL Express.
In the classes I teach at TESL Express, I really enjoy combining sound educational theory with practical experience and tips that I hope will help my students find the joy in teaching that I have. I hope you will join us!  Katie Culbertson
Instructor
MA TESOL
Seattle Pacific University
I have had many experiences in ESL and EFL. After receiving my teaching certification, I taught overseas in Eastern Europe and in
Asia
. I returned to
Seattle
to get an M.A. in TESOL. Currently, I am teaching ESL at
Edmonds
Community College
as well as doing teacher training. I have taught both adults and children of various ages while using C.A.L.L. (Computer Assisted Language Learning) and other pedagogical strategies. As a teacher, I am most interested in curriculum design and developing study skills in the ESL classroom. Of course, nothing compares to the invaluable, hands-on experience of working with students on a daily basis.  Kevin O'connor
Instructor
MA TESOL
Living in
Seattle for over 20 years has provided me with a wealth of rewarding teaching experiences I draw from and look forward to sharing with you, the TESL Express student. Before becoming a trainer/teacher here my educational journey included receiving a B.A. from
Willamette
University in
Salem,
Oregon and then continuing at
Seattle
Pacific
University where I received my English and Social Studies Washington state teaching endorsements as well as at
Seattle
University where I received my M.A. in TESOL. As an ESL teacher I’ve taught in many diverse settings in
Seattle including at the
University of
Washington and
North
Seattle
Community College in their intensive English and Adult Basic Education and special program courses. I’ve also been blessed to work in local refugee resettlement centers and nonprofit immigrant family multi-service organizations where I’ve taught customized skill training, literacy and citizenship classes. In addition, I have many years of previous classroom teaching experiences as a K-12 English and social studies teacher and have learned to use many creative approaches to reach the L2 learner from all of these multiple settings. My language teaching experiences overseas combine language instruction/learning in
Nicaragua with multiple language learning experiences in
Guatemala,
Brazil and
Ecuador.
I look forward in assisting you and to make your dream of teaching overseas come true! |
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