It never crossed my mind that I would have the chance to teach English professionally, but it is one of the things I am doing now.
I grew up in a family where nearly everyone spoke a different language so I started my ESL career when I was only six year’s old. When my grandmother arrived from Tehran, I was given the task of teaching her English. When aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends came to the United States, it was me who helped them develop their English skills. In recent years, our family has hosted numerous foreign exchange students. I intuitively understand how to help ESL students discover the English language.
Working now with (mostly) Latin American executives, my long-time history as a business woman, can tie in with the English lessons, too. I have given nearly 1000 presentations and understand business vernacular. I have trained dozens of sales people. Having written several books, as well as published articles, I have a writer’s command of grammar and punctuation. These skills benefit my students with their presentations, with composing emails, and with other written documents in their new language.
Travel is my passion. I have traveled alone, as well as with my husband and daughter. With my extensive European travel, I have a solid understanding of Latin based languages and speak enough French to get by. Travel has also helped me to understand other cultures. What is polite in one culture may be an insult in another; there are things important to one culture that mean nothing to another. Helping my students see the cultural side, as they speak more and more fluently, gives them the tools to succeed in a global business community.
There is a huge benefit that I had not considered when I started on this path. Spending several weeks with someone, really getting to know them as they learn, is a joy like no other. I have made friends from all walks of life, learned about different businesses across the globe, and expanded my mind and heart in a way that I thought only travel could do. It is truly the teacher who becomes the student.