Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the largest Francophone country in the world. I am the oldest in a large family of 15 children. My mother never attended school and my father dropped out of school in 3 rd grade, yet they worked hard to provide us with the best education possible. Thanks to their efforts, I was the first person in my clan to graduate from college. Language teaching has been my passion. Over the years I have visited many places around the world and learned many languages. This puts me in a position to understand the challenges of learning a second or third language.
What do you like most about teaching ESL students?
Most of our ESL students come from different cultural, geographical and linguistic backgrounds. They come with dreams and hopes for a successful life in the US. At the same time, they realize that the degree of their success in this country depends greatly on their ability to communicate in English. As an immigrant myself, I relate to their situations and understand the challenges they face to fit in this new environment. I try to be a model of perseverance and patience to my students. What I like the most about them is their enthusiasm and motivation to excel. What would your ESL students say about you? Many of my ESL students say I am strict but fair. This is in relation to my effort to instill in them the sense of responsibility and integrity with their school work, and they generally appreciate it. They also tell me they like the support they get from me outside> of the classroom.
What is your most memorable teaching experience?
I have had so many memorable experiences over my teaching career that it is difficult to pinpoint one. One experience that readily comes to mind highlights the resilience of our ESL students. One day I was teaching an ESL030 class. During the session, one of my female students kept going out every 10 minutes or so. I started wondering if she was not feeling well and needed help. I called her out in the hallway and asked her what was going on. First, she remained quiet, looking very embarrassed; then she said she had been going out to check on her 5-year old daughter she had left outside in the breezeway. She did not have money to hire a babysitter, so instead of missing class, she decided to bring her to school and leave her outside. This experience reminds me of the sacrifices our students consent to learn English.
What advice would you give to ESL students or to someone thinking about taking an ESL class?
I would applaud their decision to take ESL classes to improve their English. I would also show them how learning English offers opportunities of success in this country. Finally, I would encourage those thinking about taking ESL classes to come to Phoenix College, an institution with a long tradition of caring for the needs of ESL students.