30 years ago, I was a new immigrant in the United States. I worked hard to learn the English language and became an Expert Translator/Interpreter for the US Courts, where I worked for over 20 years. I am also a Certified Teacher of English Language professional issued by New York University.

During my life in the United States, I was also blessed to meet numerous mentors and teachers whose guidance was essential for my assimilation. I know first hand the huge impact language proficiency can make in the life of an individual to be able to express himself/herself, to be productive, and to dream and aspire to a better quality of life. I know that learning a language, like learning a musical instrument, takes time, effort, patience and practice, practice, practice.

Teaching English to foreigners in an American classroom, especially in a place with as much diversity as New Jersey, requires a teacher to have a certain amount of worldliness and “savoir faire” about cultural and linguistic differences. One can never assume anything about a student simply because the student’s native language is not English, to the contrary, assume a large amount of world knowledge and prior knowledge by the student and basically remember every person must be treated with respect and be given a sense of accomplishment. When in doubt, try to remember the first time you tried speaking a foreign language, how difficult it was, how daunting the task seemed and put yourself in the students’ shoes.

I strongly believe everyone in the United States should be given the opportunity to have a leveled playing field by having access to quality English lessons at very little cost. I believe that education is the equalizing component in any given society. In a society where people of different national origins and socio-economic strata converge, the members of that community have a moral obligation to offer these newcomers the tools to properly speak, read and write the English language. This is how my accreditation as a Teacher of English Language professional, allows me to teach new comers in America understand and speak the English language and navigate the American culture to help them realize their dreams and full potential in their new world.