My blogs

About me

Introduction	I attribute my great interest in other languages and cultures to my what I call my own bi-subcultural background. The daughter of an urban New York father and a rural Florida mother, I spent my childhood living in both parts of the United States. Having to "shift gears" between the different types of schools in these two areas gave me an early sympathy for people who have to make sense of a culture that they do not fully understand. Further, I believe that my interest in other languages was sparked by the dialect-shifting I had to engage in as a child. I found an outlet for these sensitivities in my study of linguistics and as a teacher of English as a second language (ESL). While a teacher and administrator of ESL programs, I was active in professional organizations and served as an officer of International TESOL. I have also authored student texts and educated future teachers, both as an instructor and a trainer.

Introduction

I attribute my great interest in other languages and cultures to my what I call my own bi-subcultural background. The daughter of an urban New York father and a rural Florida mother, I spent my childhood living in both parts of the United States. Having to "shift gears" between the different types of schools in these two areas gave me an early sympathy for people who have to make sense of a culture that they do not fully understand. Further, I believe that my interest in other languages was sparked by the dialect-shifting I had to engage in as a child. I found an outlet for these sensitivities in my study of linguistics and as a teacher of English as a second language (ESL). While a teacher and administrator of ESL programs, I was active in professional organizations and served as an officer of International TESOL. I have also authored student texts and educated future teachers, both as an instructor and a trainer.