An adventurous learner and educator seeking new and creative ways to facilitate learning...
Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. - John Dewey
In 2007, I was sitting behind an auto claims adjuster's desk with dreams of something more fulfilling, something better. Upon the advice of a supervisor and mentor, set into motion a plan to achieve my dream of seeing the world and begin my future as an educator. In May of 2007, I boarded a plan to San Jose, Costa Rica. A few days later I had obtained a job as an ESL instructor and secured a place to live. I taught English, lived and adventured in Costa Rica for the next year and a half.
In February of 2009, after a brief return home to Colorado to catch up with family and friends, I departed the U.S. once again, this time for Daegu, South Korea. For the past 6 years in South Korea, I have continued down my chosen career path as an ESL learning facilitator. As a teacher of kindergarten and elementary children, academic director of an English academy and now as a visiting professor in a national Korean university, I have striven to improve my skills as an educator, always seeking the most effective and engaging methods for assisting learners.
My creative interests have pushed me towards integrating technology and media such as film and music into my classroom as a way for learners to find meaningful connections to the material. By exploring the use of my creativity in the classroom, I hope to foster greater participation, build confidence and increase motivation to continue learning within my students.
