They say that most adults in North America will have had six or seven careers before they die. I've been through quite a few myself, although the ESL/TEFL track has been by far my favourite so far. What do I like about it? It gives me the opportunity to travel around the world, not as a tourist, but as a productive member of society. I think this gives a person a whole different kind of insight into what makes other cultures tick.
This all started in 1987, when I entered the M.A./TEFL program at San Francisco State University. Yes, I'm American, but for now I'm living in Canada, and so far I like it here just fine. Anyhow, from the first moment I started learning about this field I fell in love with it. I've always been something of a hobby linguist, but this was finally a way to use my love of language in a really productive way, helping people to get ahead in their lives.

I started teaching as a volunteer in 1988, and I've since taught in a wide variety of situations, both in North America and abroad. I've taught adult education-type courses for immigrants, community college courses for refugees, immigrants and international students who wanted to further their education, and even university courses. I've taught in the U.S. and Turkey, and since coming to Vancouver in 2000, I've been teaching teachers in Canada.

I came to this college in June of 2004. I was impressed with its reputation as the leader in what has become a large field of private schools offering teacher training courses. I'm still impressed, and have learned a lot as well as bringing some of my own knowledge and ideas to the program.

I love training future ESL/EFL teachers, helping them to have the opportunity to expand their horizons as this field has expanded mine. I hope that my trainees will continue to fan out all over the globe, teaching and learning, and enriching the planet and themselves.

It all started on the number 74 bus in a London suburb. I had wanted to go travelling and I wasn't passing through anywhere more exciting than Clapham Junction, thinking, "Hey, what happened?" So I signed up for a course at International House, Picadilly. I have an M.A. from King's College, University of London and a CELTA. Armed with these two qualifications, I got a job in a dodgy old school in South London. This could be the beginning and end of my career. "Stop dithering," I thought, so I called up an international recruitment office and asked them if they had any posts available. They asked "Where?" I said, "It matters not." They asked, "When?" I replied, "As soon as possible," they said. "Right then, how about Poland...3 days?" "Fine," I said and I packed up my home and left. That was in 1995. I've never looked back...
Since then I've travelled around Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany France, Holland, Belgium, Finland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and teaching English is how I've funded it. I've taught in England, Canada, Poland and Lithuania and everywhere I've been, my work has only taught me that the possibilities are endless. More to share, more to learn, more aspects of ESL to discover and of course, more adventures. I started as an ESL teacher and then began giving seminars. Later, I was director of Children's Studies at a school in Warsaw, where I began training new teachers. Three years ago I decided to bring my family to Vancouver for a little adventure in the great Canadian rain forest, and now I train teachers at Archer College.

Wherever I've landed, I've met people who have given me inspiration and the opportunity to put back some of what I've learned over the years and for this, I am truly grateful. If you do decide to take the plunge, you'll find that life will never be the same again. As many doors as you can possibly imagine will be open. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the very best on your adventures.

Maria has a Bachelors Degree in Applied Linguistics with an Emphasis on Teaching ESL from the University of Victoria. She completed her practicum with LINC (currently known as ELSA) with beginner immigrants. After receiving her degree, she went overseas to teach ESL to adults and children in Korea. During her first year in Korea, she participated in in-house training and workshops. By the end of her first year, Maria had presented an in-house workshop "How to decrease teacher talking time" and was a mentor for new teachers. In her second year in Korea, Maria broadened her skills by teaching children of all ages. After returning to Canada she taught in Vancouver for four months before taking teacher training courses for elementary education at the University of British Columbia. Maria has her TESL Canada Level 3 Certificate. In 2000, Maria joined the staff at this college and is currently the Director of Studies and oversees both the ESL and TEFL Departments. Maria brings enthusiasm and energy to her classroom as a teacher trainer for the TEFL Evening Program.

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