I'm an experienced reading, writing, and ESL instructor who has taught both adolescents and adults in high school and pre-college programs. During my undergraduate years, I studied Spanish at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and participated in study abroad programs at El Centro Bilinge and La Universidad de Las Americas in Mexico. While completing my Bachelor's, I tutored classmates in English and assisted them with proofreading essays. Later, I completed a Master's of Education in Bilingual/Multicultural Education through Northern Arizona University. While studying for this degree, I volunteered at a junior high school and taught ESL classes there. After graduation, I moved to Oregon and began adjunct teaching for a community college in their Adult Basic Skills Program where I taught ESL, PreGED/GED Language Arts, Visual Arts, Graphic Design, basic computer skills, and pre-college Reading/Writing courses. I enjoy teaching ESL and English the most because of the opportunities to help students increase their vocabulary and express themselves creatively through writing. My first goal when teaching is to raise a student's confidence in their communicative abilities and expand upon their background knowledge, so that they are able to increasingly take on more difficult assignments. I strongly believe that confidence is the key to succeeding in any subject. In combining high levels of confidence and a well-rounded education, one will have more opportunities for career, social, and personal growth. Outside of teaching English, I'm also a photographer who enjoys story-telling through visual imagery. When I'm not in the classroom or the studio, I'm out hiking and appreciating the beauty of nature around me.