I strongly believe that my educational background has helped deepen my knowledge of second language acquisition and helped shape me into an effective language instructor. My English language teacher educational background includes a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics, an undergraduate TESL Certificate, and the CELTA Certificate. In addition, I have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies with minors in European History and Italian Studies at McGill University.

The continuous developments in technology have increased its presence in the ESL/EFL classroom in recent years. During the course of my studies, I have developed an interest in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) as I am interested in finding new ways to facilitate the language learning process through technological innovations. I try to combine traditional teaching methods with modern approaches. Additionally, social interaction is becoming more and more part of courses, and it is viewed by many as an integral component in the language learning process. Hence, my objective is to create a student-centered environment where students learn through social interaction and collaboration with the support of technology. I provide students with tasks that are both meaningful and encourage negotiation of meaning.

I also incorporate a variety of teaching methods to accommodate students’ diverse learning styles. In my courses, stimulating students’ interest is achieved by incorporating activities that appeal to the variety of backgrounds and personalities. I feel that it is important to take into account learners’ values, experiences, opinions, and prior knowledge. In my classrooms, I strive to create an environment that promotes open communication and respect of others. I try to encourage students as they use the target language so that they can become active participants without experiencing the anxiety related to making mistakes.

As a result of being of mixed origins and having learned languages for many years, I am able to communicate in five languages (i.e., English, French, Hungarian, Italian, and Spanish). I believe that having learned other languages has helped me be more effective in the classroom. For instance, I am able to anticipate many of the problem areas that students may face based on their first language. Additionally, I can relate to my students’ feelings of frustration and inadequacy and help them through their challenges.

Individuals learn languages for various reasons, but their ultimate aim of acquiring a second or foreign language is to be able to use it in everyday communication or in specific facets of their lives. As a result, my objective is to provide students with appropriate language skills that can be implemented in real life contexts. I truly enjoy teaching as I feel that I can also learn a lot from my students. I attempt to improve my teaching skills by using reflective strategies and student feedback questionnaires. In my classrooms, I continuously strive to make my lessons and teaching positive, encouraging, and challenging, so that students can achieve their language related goals.