Languages & Translation Instructors
Arabic
Alfred Abadir, B.Sc., High.Dip. in Ed.
Alfred Abadir has studied and taught archaelogy and languages in Cairo, Rome and Paris. He is currently teaching for the Toronto Catholic District School Board where he has developed a specialized curriculum in Arabic.
Haneen Tamari, B.A, Dip., M. Sc.
The combination of skills in Haneen’s education and career (B.A.: Linguistics and Literature, Dip.: Communications, M.A.: New Media) allows her as an Arabic teacher to successfully meet her students’ needs, whether for business, tourism, education, or personal reasons. She dedicates particular attention to learner-centred methods, employing cultural insights as well as audio-visual applications. Her recent research examined the impact of using Arabic in news platforms like the BBC and Aljazeera. She has been working as an Arabic instructor to both adults and children for more than ten years in Europe, the Middle East and Canada. She was also an interpreter, translator and press editor for the UN and for several international events. Besides her delight in teaching Arabic and sharing her knowledge with her students, Haneen is currently pursuing a career in special-needs education.
Bengali
Mahboob Hassan, B.A. (Hons.), Dip. (Cinema), TESL.
Mahboob Hassan, whose nom de plume is Naeem Hassan, has a manifold background in writing, editing, translating, film-making and teaching English as a Second Language. He studied in Bangladesh, India and Toronto. While working as an Editor for the University Press Limited in Dhaka, he was involved in publishing Bengali For Foreigners written by Brother James. He worked as a translator and interpreter for the World Bank, UN organizations and UK-based aid agencies. Apart from teaching, he enjoys writing poetry and art criticism, translating from English to Bengali or Bengali to English, and directing short fiction films. He is the editor of Nirantar, a widely acclaimed literary journal in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, and a founder-member of Bishwa Shahitya Kendra (World Literature Centre), Dhaka, where he lectured on language, culture and aesthetics.
Chinese – Cantonese
Suk-Lan Chan, B.Ed., TESL Part III
Suk-Lan Chan has been teaching Cantonese and ESL for over a decade.
Ksanti Ling, B.A., M.Ph., TESL
Ksanti studied in Hong Kong and Taiwan, majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Tibetan Studies. She also spent several years learning different lineages of Buddhism in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, India, and Nepal. After returning from her travels, she was a high school teacher in Chinese language, literature and history in Hong Kong. Since moving to Canada, she has been a freelance translator for politicians and Buddhist temples, as well as a language instructor for ESL and Chinese classes. She also enjoys volunteering as a Gallery Interpreter at the Royal Ontario Museum, with a special interest in the Chinese, Egyptian and Indian collections.
Simon So, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Simon So was a recipient of a 1997 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Chinese – Mandarin
Theresa Chih-wei Hu, B.A., B.Ed.,M.Ed.
Theresa has taught Mandarin for 12 years both in Taiwan and Canada. She was hired as an instructor by Huron College University, University of Western Ontario in 1998. The following year, she was hired as an instructor and taught in the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Toronto. Two years later, she joined the team of instructors of the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto. She has taught beginners, intermediate and advanced students, as well as being a private tutor. Theresa graduated from the Master’s of Education program at OISE in 2004, specializing in second-language education.
Fei Lan, B.A., M. Div., Ph. D.
Fei was born and raised in China. She received her undergraduate education at Peking University, Beijing, and she earned her Master of Divinity degree at Harvard University and her doctorate in religious studies at the University of Toronto. Apart from a sustaining passion for the study of comparative religious ethics, Fei takes great delight in literature, music and philosophy. Among the many subjects she has taught, Chinese brings her a lot of joy and some nostalgia.
Nan Liu, B.A.(Hons.)
B.A.(Hons.), Capital Normal University, Beijing, formerly an interpreter and translator for the UN International Labor Organization, is an educator in Mandarin Chinese-English Interpretation who has been teaching for nearly a decade.
Gang Pan, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Cand.)
Gang Pan is a Ph.D. candidate in Department of East Asian Studies and Bonham Center for Sexual Diversity Studies at University of Toronto. His academic interests include contemporary Chinese literature, semiotics, sexual diversity studies, and cyberculture studies. He is now working on a Ph.D. dissertation about the writings of sexual minorities on the internet in China. Gang teaches Chinese language and culture courses at the University of Toronto. He is keen to establish an easy rapport with students and develop an interactive way of learning in the classroom.
Mary Chih-Chuang Wang, B.S., B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (cand.)
Mary Chih-Chuang Wang has taught Mandarin for over two decades and is the advisor for Chinese courses at SCS. She was a recipient of a 2000 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Mufan Wang, B.A., M.Ed., Ph.D.
Mufan is a dedicated educator with many years experience teaching Chinese as a Second Language who empowers her students to communicate their own original thought in the language.
Helen Xiaoyan Wu, B.A. (Hons.), M.A., Ph.D.
Helen has taught Chinese history, language and culture for over a decade.
Catherine Xiaowen Xu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Ph.D. (Cand.)
Catherine received her Ph.D. in English language and literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 1997. Since then, she has had a successful teaching and translation career. She is a now Ph.D. candidate in East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto, doing research on intertextual references to pre-modern Chinese narrative texts in various works of contemporary Chinese fiction. As a Chinese translator and life-long fan of James Joyce’s writings, she is an active participant in the annual ReJoyce Festival in Toronto.
Cheng Yang, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed., T.E.S.L., O.C.T.
Cheng has years of experience in teaching languages to students of various ages and at different levels both in China and Canada. In Canada, Cheng taught Mandarin at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and at the Toronto District School Board. Cheng believes that learning another language widens one’s horizons. She is passionate about sharing Chinese culture and history with her students.
May Zhai, B.A.
May is a lecturer in Chinese and part of the China Management Education Program at McMaster University.
Yan (Alex) Zhao, B.Eng.
Yan (Alex) Zhao is a native of Beijing. He has twelve years’ experience teaching Mandarin to international students , including five years at Beijing Language and Culture University. He understands the difficulties of learning a new language in a short period of time. He integrates the knowledge of Chinese culture with his language teaching and he likes to use multi-media materials to help students to enjoy the language. The goal of his Mandarin courses is to help students have a structured and interesting experience in learning.
Dutch
Marianne Verheyen, B.A, M.A. (equiv.)
Studied at the Free University of Amsterdam (VLVU) and received Bachelor, Master and teaching degrees in English. Marianne is a teacher by profession and taught English language and literature in the Netherlands for almost 20 years. She has taught ESL to adults in Toronto since 1997. She is a native speaker of Dutch, and teaching the Dutch language at the School of Continuing Studies enables Marianne to honour her Dutch heritage. Her interests include art and literature, playing tennis and the piano, cycling and volunteer work. She is the incoming president of IWAT, the International Women’s Association of Toronto and of CAANS, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Netherlandic Studies. Marianne was a recipient of the 2009 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Farsi
Alireza Bahrani, Farsi and Persian Educator
A Farsi and Persian Educator, has taught spoken language facilty to adults for over a decade.
French
Lil Allain, Diplôme d’études approfondies (D.E.A.), M.A., Magistère de langue française
Lil Allain has been teaching French to adult professionals for over a decade.
Lucien Benacem, Licence ès Lettres
Lucien Benacem was the recipient of the 1989 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Régine Bohar, B.A. (Philosophy), B.A. (Linguistics)
Régine Bohar was born in Marseille, and lived in Tunisia and Montreal before coming to Toronto. She is passionate about language, and has worked all her life in that field – as a philosophy teacher, French teacher, reviser and translator. She enjoys sharing that passion with her students at all levels, introducing them not only to new vocabulary and grammar, but also to a new way of looking at the world. She feels that learning a language is like discovering a new part of one’s being, and she loves communicating this to her students. She also believes that learning a language can be a fun and rewarding experience when one focuses on communication rather than rules to learn by rote. Her other loves include classical and world music. She enjoys discovering other cultures through literature, cinema … and food. She likes the diversity that Toronto offers.
Mireille Boizot-Roche, D.E.U.G.
Mireille Boizot-Roche graduated from the University of Strasbourg and IFPP, a teacher training college in Paris. Mireille has been teaching French at SCS for over a decade. She is an educator for Private Instruction and Translation courses (Distance/Online ) and adviser for SCS French courses. She received the 1999 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award. Mireille is also the Toronto representative for a French youth magazines publisher.
Alain Broux, B.A., M.Ed.
Born in France, Alain has a very keen interest in the French language and culture, which he expanded through his academic and professional activities in various parts of the francophone world. After earning his B.A. at the Bordeaux Business School, he left France for a work assignment with Banque de l’Indochine in Djibouti, East Africa. Then, in and out of Africa, Alain completed post-graduate studies in the Netherlands as an international student. His paper, Education as an Investment in Human Beings, was the starting point of his commitment to adult education. Following his inspiration, Alain came to Canada and completed a Master’s in Education at the University of Toronto. In keeping with his dedication to the French language and adult learning, he was a research assistant in socio-linguistics in the Franco-Ontarian section of the University of Toronto during his studies. Soon after his studies, Alain became Canadian and started a professional career in Toronto, Montreal, and even one year in Saudi Arabia. While assigned mostly to bilingual positions, he never forgot his commitment to share his knowledge of the French language and grammar. Alain has the same passion and commitment that he has always had, and he has a lot of stories to share through interactive French conversations.
Alexandra M. Hines, B.A. (Hons.), B.Ed., M.A., M.T.S.
Alexandra Hines brings over thirty years of study in French, classical languages, history and theology to the School. She was a recipient of the School’s Excellence in Teaching Awards in 2000 and in 2009.
Dianne S. Hurdle, M.C.E., C.H.R.P.
An experienced adult educator and certified human resources professional, Dianne has taught French in the continuing education departments of the University of Toronto, Centennial and Humber Colleges for over twenty years. Currently, she is a professor of French in the Faculty of International Studies of Seneca College. She has acquired first-hand insights into the diverse career-development needs, learning styles and cultural mores of her adult student learners. Dianne holds a Master of Continuing Education from the University of Calgary and a B.A., in French Language and Literature/Humanities from York University’s Glendon College. She holds two specialized French Language Diplomas from the Universities of Grenoble and Geneva. As a volunteer mentor with TRIEC’s Mentoring Partnership for Internationally Educated Professionals, she continues to guide newcomers to Canada in career-development strategies.
Marlène Marwah, B.A., M.A. (Linguistics)
Mme Marlène Marwah was born in Paris and moved to Canada where she obtained a B.A and M.A. in Linguistics at the University of Toronto. She has been a translator for various cultural and commercial organizations. For the last fifteen years, she has taught French at international institutions, the federal government and the Ontario Law Society. She has a particular interest in teaching grammar and writing to French and non-French-speaking groups. Of equal interest is teaching pronunciation tailored to different linguistic groups. Her classes include French as spoken in Quebec. She is passionate about music and opera, plays the piano and has sung in choirs for over twenty years. Her personal interests also include literature, dance and the visual arts.
Jacqueline Rawdah, Doc. (Philo.)
Jacqueline holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Sorbonne. She has been a journalist and feature writer at the daily newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour. She has been a teacher of philosophy and French language, literature for over a decade. She has published numerous newspaper articles in the area of cultural studies.
Agnès Roman, M.A., M.A., M.A.
Agnès has been teaching French for over two decades. Beyond a Masters in French Literature and Linguistics, she holds a Masters in History. Films, great novels and travel are her preferred free-time activities.
Nevart Rose Sarkisyan
Raised and educated in France, Nevart has been teaching French to adult professionals for over twenty years. For the last fifteen years she has also been involved in professional translation and editing in English and French.
She speaks five languages and would love to learn a few more. She believes languages allow a better understanding of each other as people.
Rawya Tousson, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Rawya Tousson holds a Ph. D in French language and semiotics. She has over twenty years of experience in teaching French at universities. She has created new courses for special purposes, including courses dedicated to teachers and government employees for the development of oral and writing skills. She designed a new approach in teaching, using new technology. She is also an examiner and a teachers’ trainer for the French-language diplomas DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF.
Catherine Weresik, B.A., B.Ed.
Catherine has taught French for over a decade.
German
Jacqueline Doig, B.A. (Hons.), M.A.
Jacqueline Doig holds a Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Literature from Trent University and a Master of Arts in German Literature from the University of Alberta. Since 1990 she has taught a variety of German language courses at the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, and for several years was part of the teaching faculty at the annual Canadian Summer School in Germany (CSSG) in Kassel. Jacqueline spent a year at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg as part of the Canadian Year in Freiburg program while enrolled at Trent University. She also worked at the main branch of the Bayerische Landesbank in Munich as a participant in the Work-Student Program. She has a unique and intimate understanding of the challenges facing adult learners and is armed with plenty of enthusiasm and supportive guidance to help her students achieve their language acquisition goals. Jacqueline was the recipient of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award from the University of Alberta.
Zoia Novikova, M.A.
Zoia has been teaching the German language for over twenty years. She has taught undergraduates, graduates and adult learners. In cooperation with the Goethe-Institute she evaluated textbooks and created teacher training materials. She also has experience teaching Technical Text Translation, German Literature, Russian Language, and Tour Guide Training. Zoia likes to discover new places and people, and has spent time as a tour guide with her students in Germany. You can also find her hiking, canoeing, and enjoying art and music with her family.
Larry Stief, B.A., B.Ed.
Larry has taught German for over 10 years.
Greek
John Mastrogianakos, D.E.C., B.A., B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
John Mastrogianakos has been teaching Italian since 1990 and has had an active career in teaching Italian and Modern Greek in a variety of settings. He has taught high school, college and university, as well as adult continuing education programs. In the area of research, John has been active in modern Italian literary scholarship, having published several articles on Italian narrative and drama. He is a dedicated teacher who engages his students in a variety of encouraging activities like role-playing, retelling, interrelating and culture readings that are geared toward the acquisition of Italian in its written and daily uses. He values the effective combination of in-class enthusiasm and instructional organization.
Michael Schwartz, B.A., Dip. Graphic Design
Michael picked up his first Greek book when he was 12 and was inspired by the classical Greek authors. Graduating from Birmingham University, UK, he extended his love of Classical Greek to Modern Greek – and was inspired by Kazanzakis (author of Zorba) and poets like Kavafy and Seferis. His interests are centred on a people which has experienced every form of government except communism but which has maintained its dignity, hospitality and national pride. Michael’s many visits increase his knowledge and love of the country and the region. As do olive groves, tavernas, underground rembetika songs and rich, rich red sunsets.
Italian
Jan Gordon, B.A., B.A., M.A., M.Ed.
Italy is Jan Gordon’s not-so-secret passion. Her love of Italy and Italian culture is the foundation for her courses that encompass all levels from beginners to intermediate to advanced. An award-winning instructor, Jan understands the challenges facing adult learners and their unique needs and experiences. Her special talent is being able to customize her methods and materials to the level and the interests of her students. In addition to the regular course, Jan has also successfully helped and coached students preparing for language university exams and professionals who needed Italian for business. Jan strongly believes in teaching language as a communication tool and she teaches it with focus on conversation and using a wide range of media and tools. Jan Gordon has a Master’s degree in Italian from the University of Washington and in Education from the University of Toronto.
John Mastrogianakos, D.E.C., B.A., B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
John Mastrogianakos has been teaching Italian since 1990 and has had an active career in teaching Italian and Modern Greek in a variety of settings. He has taught high school, college and university, as well as adult continuing education programs. In the area of research, John has been active in modern Italian literary scholarship, having published several articles on Italian narrative and drama. He is a dedicated teacher who engages his students in a variety of encouraging activities like role-playing, retelling, interrelating and culture readings that are geared toward the acquisition of Italian in its written and daily uses. He values the effective combination of in-class enthusiasm and instructional organization.
Tiziano G. Vanola, M.A., Laurea, M.L.S.
Born and raised in Italy, Tiziano Vanola came to North America as a young man to study and to teach Italian. He taught at the University of Michigan and has been an Instructor at the School of Continuing Studies since 1994. He has taught all level of courses and his goal is to transfer his passion for Italian to all his students. He strongly believes in language as a means of communication and he makes sure that in his classes even the shyest person speaks and interacts in Italian with the instructor and the other students. In addition to teaching at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, Tiziano has also taught professionals and artists who needed Italian for business and work. He therefore tailors his materials and methodology to specific individuals or groups. Tiziano has degrees from the University of Maryland, l’Università degli Studi di Milano and the University of Toronto.
Japanese
Mitsuko Dazai, B.A.
Born and raised in Japan, Mitsuko Dazai has a B.A. degree in Child and Adolescent Development and Education from Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. She has been teaching Japanese language skills to people of all ages and backgrounds for over three decades. Her love for teaching the Japanese language and her enthusiasm for Japanese culture energizes her. Until recently Mitsuko held the position of President of the Association for Japanese Culture, a non-profit organization focused for over thirty years on educating the Canadian public on Japanese culture. Her organization received the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affair Award for Outstanding Service. As well, Mitsuko runs a successful English-to-Japanese interpretation and translation business which continues to service a wide range of clients both nationally and internationally.
Misa Fukukawa, B.A., M.Ed.
Misa possesses a Masters of Education degree from the University of Toronto, focusing on Language Education. She taught Japanese to elementary, junior high and high school students in Japan for four years. In Canada, she has over three years’ experience teaching Japanese to adult learners at private language schools and at the University of Toronto. She has National Teaching Certificates of English and Japanese. Misa is a very energetic, positive and friendly teacher. She enjoys language teaching, meeting new students and studying together to reach their goals.
Hiromi Howe, B.A.
Hiromi Howe has taught Japanese language in both Canada and Japan for over 20 years. She had an intensive training course for Japanese Language teachers at Japan Foundation in Japan. She also did the research and study of Shadowing in the Master Program of Japanese Language Education at Osaka University.
Akiko Maruoka, B.A., M.Ed.
B.A., Literature, Japan, TJFL Certificate, M.Ed., Curriculum, OISE, is the advisor for Japanese courses at SCS. She was a recipient of a 1992 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Naho Ogata, B.A. (International Culture, Seinan Gakuin University), M.A. (Applied Language Studies, Carleton University)
Naho has been involved in language education for more than twelve years and has enjoyed teaching Japanese to students with different backgrounds. She believes that each student has the power to develop a unique learning style, and the teacher should respect students’ different learning styles when giving feedback. In her graduate program, she laid focus on researching the effects of teacher feedback specifically on students’ writing, and she spent most of her time helping English-language students. Outside the classroom, she has helped organize an annual Japanese speech contest.
Yuko Watanabe, B.A., M.A., Ph.D (Cand.)
Yuko received her Honours B.A. in Applied Linguistics from Brock University, Ontario and M.A. in Second Language Education from the University of Toronto where she continues to work towards her Ph.D. focusing on collaborative language learning. Yuko has extensive experience teaching Japanese as a foreign language in a variety of contexts, including university and college in Canada and the UK. She is also an experienced teacher of English as a Second Language.
Korean
Alan Kim, B.Ed., Certified Interpreter, Ministry of the Attorney General
Alan is a Language Assessor for the York Catholic District School Board, a Translator and Interpreter for the Toronto District School Board, and an Interpreter for the Multilingual Community Interpreter Service.
Latin
Ronald Walters, B.A., B.Ed., M.A.
Ronald is a former Latin and ancient Greek educator and librarian at York Mills C.I. and has been teaching for over 30 years.
Polish
John Kwak, B.A., M.A., LL.B.
John Kwak has studied Russian at the A.S. Pushkin Russian Language Institute in Moscow. He is is an advisor for selected SCS language courses and a recipient of the 2000 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Portuguese
Marina Gomes, B.A., T.E.S.L., Cert. Trans.
Born and raised in Brazil, Marina Gomes has been teaching languages most of her professional life. She is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English. She has taught both English and Portuguese as Second Languages in Brazil and Canada for over 30 years. She has a unique understanding of the challenges facing adult learners, which allows her to bring out the best in every student. Her experience is matched by her ability to relate to students of all ages and backgrounds and to give them a first-hand appreciation of the Brazilian and Portuguese cultures as they learn the language. Since 2007, she has been teaching students from all over the world through her podcast at www.brazilianpodclass.com. Among her other interests are travelling, cinema, swimming, biking and the discovery of other cultures.
Sandro Liberato, B. Ed.
Rio de Janeiro native Sandro Liberato is a Portuguese language instructor, a musician and a visual artist. Weekly in Toronto, Sandro performs acoustic guitar and vocals, blending popular and traditional Brazilian music with his original works. His illustrations are currently featured in one of Toronto’s daily newspapers and his artwork is displayed in downtown galleries.
Sandro is enthusiastic about teaching the Portuguese language by providing a stimulating educational environment incorporating music and design to teach historical facts, curiosities and cultural information about Brazil.
Russian
John Kwak, B.A., M.A., LL.B.
John Kwak has studied Russian at the A.S. Pushkin Russian Language Institute in Moscow. He is is an advisor for selected SCS language courses and a recipient of the 2000 SCS Excellence in Teaching Award.
Spanish
Carmen E. Castelli-Pochon, B.A., M.Ed.
Born and raised in Venezuela, Carmen has been teaching languages most of her professional life. She has a B.A in Modern Languages from the Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela, and a Master’s degree in Education from Boston University, USA.
She has taught both English as a Second Language and Spanish in universities and corporations in Venezuela, UK, France and Canada. Her experience is matched by her ability to relate to students of all ages and backgrounds and to give them a first-hand appreciation for the Spanish and Latin American culture as they learn the language. She is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Carmen is a Francophile by marriage and by experience, having lived in Paris for years. Among her other main interests are travelling, cinema, theatre and the discovery of other cultures.
Claudia Muñoz, B.Bus.Adm., B.A.
Claúdia is passionate about teaching Spanish language and culture and has been doing so for over a decade.
Ana María Ortúzar, B.A., Cert. Ed.
Born in Argentina, Ana María has been a teacher most of her professional life. Living and working as a teacher in Argentina, Mexico and Canada has given her a broadly based experience which helps her relate to students from diverse backgrounds and to provide the cultural context that is essential to a full understanding of Spanish. In Canada Ana María has worked primarily with adult learners in continuing education positions at the Toronto District School Board, York University, Seneca College and the University of Toronto. She also provides on-site Spanish instruction at major banks and other businesses. Ana María focuses on active learning and uses a wide range of strategies and teaching techniques in order to provide a balanced learning experience that combines structural knowledge, communicative skills and cultural awareness. For Ana Maria teaching is a vocation not a job. Her other passions are her family, music and the arts.
Martin Ramírez, M.A. (equiv.)
Martín is a language teacher and translator. He has a degree in translation from the University of Buenos Aires. This is a five-year course which includes areas of study such as linguistics, semiology and grammar. Martin has been teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language for almost seventeen years, about six of them in Toronto. He teaches at all levels, from Grade Ten to Grade Twelve, and to groups of adults. He is passionate not only about teaching the language but also showing his students the “cultural bridge” they build by learning Spanish. He considers that students should be offered the chance to be in contact with Spanish and Latin American literature and history to better understand this rich culture.
Orestes Robledo, B.Ed. (Hons.), Professional Translation and Interpretation and TESL Certificates
Orestes has two decades of experience working for the government and healthcare sectors and the telecommunications industry. With a wealth and breadth of experience, he has a passion for teaching the necessary practitioner expertise and tools of the trade to others entering the field of translation.
Elena Schlanger, B.A. (Hons.), M.A.
Elena has taught for over 20 years and is the advisor for Spanish and Portuguese courses at SCS.
María Serrano, B.A.
María is a translator by training and a language teacher by passion. She has a degree in Technical and Literary Translation from Escuela Superior en Lenguas Vivas John F. Kennedy and a B.A. in Legal Translation from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, both in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has taught Spanish and English as a Second Language in corporations and language schools in Buenos Aires and Toronto for over ten years.
María is passionate about helping people from different cultures communicate and understand each other. She likes to cultivate her students’ curiosity and empathy towards other ways of seeing and understanding the world. She thinks that linguistic and cultural learning should complement each other. Maria has an innovative and dynamic way of teaching and brings humour, wit and energy to the class to motivate students to continue on the amazing journey of learning.
Tamil
Dushy Balamohan, B.Sc., M.Sc., Certs. (Adult Ed., Languages)
Dushy had been involved in language teaching for more than twenty years. She has taught English for newcomers to Canada and Tamil for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Canadian Tamil Academy and York Region District School Board. Her Tamil-language students are people of different ages and backgrounds. She is also a translator and interpreter, working freelance and for the Toronto District School Board. She has certificates in adult education, counselling, cultural linguistic work, and instructor training for international languages. She has studied and worked in Sri Lanka, India and South Africa.
Dushy is passionate about teaching the Tamil language and culture. Apart from teaching, she enjoys her work as a counsellor, serving the community and creating opportunities for people by connecting them to resources, supports and possibilities.
Turkish
Özen Vekiloglu, B.A (Econ.)
Ozen has a strong understanding of different cultures having lived and worked in several countries, including Turkey, Europe, the Middle East and North America. With an academic background in Turkish Literature and Arts, she has taught refugees and minorities in Turkey, and has many years of experience teaching Turkish to adults in Europe and in the Middle East. Ozen has also conceptualized, planned and implemented projects for various non-governmental institutions, and has dealt with issues such as orphans, gender issues, women abuse and disaster relief. She has particular interest in building cultural and social friendship ties between the people of Turkey and Greece. She is presently enrolled in the “Work, Organization and Leadership’ Masters of Art program at the University of Athabasca.
Vietnamese
Trí Pham, B.Sc, M.Sc., Ph. D. (Neuroscience)
Trí a passion for teaching and for his native language. He taught computer programming at the Université du Quebec in Montreal for over ten years. In 2003, 2005 and 2006, he travelled to Viet Nam to teach English at the Vietnamese American Training College. He currently teaches English and Maths at a private school in Toronto.
Yiddish
Marc Kates, B.A. (Hons.), B.Ed., M.Ed.
Marc has been teaching Yiddish language and culture to students of various ages since he was first hired to teach Yiddish through North York’s Board of Education at the age of 16 in Its Heritage Language Program. Since then, Marc studied Yiddish both in Toronto and in Jerusalem, and he holds the first major-studies degree awarded in Yiddish Language Studies from the University of Toronto. Marc looks forward to imparting his love of the Yiddish language and its spirit to his students at the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto.
