March 8, 2005 issue

Ever since I was six years old, I wanted to be a teacher. As a child, I had a blackboard and made other kids play school with me.  

After teaching in Japan, I went to graduate school and was asked to teach a class. I had such a blast teaching that I knew I wanted to continue teaching college students.

I came to Eastern in 1991 after replying to an ad to teach English as a second language (ESL) and to teach in the teacher preparation program. That's me, I said!  

I know French and Japanese, and I learn something new every time I walk into the classroom.

Every day, I look forward to coming to work. Teaching is a special kick. I try to be as practical as possible, with the emphasis on having students develop their own skills.

Not long ago, I took a tap dancing class and remembered how it felt to not be confident when you were singled out to perform in the class. This is what teachers of languages ask students to do: to perform the skill of putting together "steps" in the language to produce a "dance" that others are listening to and watching. That tap dancing experience was humbling, to say the least!

Although I 'm now in administration, I still teach. It keeps me sane. But being an administrator has given me the perspective of seeing how all faculty, not just me, are incredibly hardworking, dedicated and committed to their students. I work with awesome people — faculty, students, staff and administrators alike.

I have not looked back, wishing I could be somewhere else. Foreign Languages and Bilingual Studies is the place for me.

 

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