My Teaching Story
Since 2004, I have been teaching adult ESL (English as a Second Language) in New York City. My first job was at Kaplan, where I taught every level from Introductory to Advanced. I also taught TOEFL preparation and did a great deal of one-on-one tutoring. In 2008, I was hired to teach at NYU at the American Language Institute, under the School of Professional Studies. The best part of teaching ESL for me is meeting such a fascinating variety of students from all over the world. It’s a job where I learn something new every day, and am continually challenged to find creative and stimulating ways to meet students’ needs and creative a stimulating classroom environment.
It’s also a job where it helps to be a bit of a geek for collecting eclectic knowledge. In one lesson, I may be explaining the difference between igneous and sedimentary rocks, then discussing the choreography in West Side Story, and ending the lesson with a little Hemingway. In other words, it never gets boring.
When it came time to get a Master’s Degree, to augment my TESOL certification, I was faced with a choice: either get an MA in Applied Linguistics which would send me on the road to being an ESL-centric professional educator, or branch out and get an MA in an English-related field that would qualify me to teach in other areas. I chose the latter, and have never regretted it. I got an MFA in Creative Writing at City College of New York, where today I teach World Humanities and English Composition.
This variety of teaching experiences keeps me continually adding to my knowledge base, meeting ever-changing teaching challenges, and gives me the opportunity to connect with a more diverse array of students. In 2016, I began teaching English Composition and ESL at City Tech in Brooklyn. In addition to teaching, I also coordinate the ESL program at City College, where I design curriculum, hire instructors and manage the program.
This adjunct teaching lifestyle would not be possible if it weren’t for my two unions, CUNY PSC and ACT/UAW Local 7902, both of which have provided me with health insurance, regular pay increases, and representation in collective grievance procedures. I support both unions in every way I can. It’s my conviction that the future of higher education in the United States lies in organizing the adjunct teaching workforce, (now comprising more than half of the university instructors nationwide) and providing them with the economic security that can ensure conditions for their professional development.