Our Teaching Faculty

I have been teaching English at UW-Madison since 2012. I grew up in Wisconsin and completed my undergraduate degree at UW-La Crosse. Though my degree was in Fine Arts, I began teaching English as a Foreign Language in 1999 as a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova. When I returned to the States, I taught Art at a public school in Florida while completing an MA in TESOL at the University of Central Florida. I then studied Italian in Italy, taught English in Turkey, and developed faculty training programs at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. Of all the places I’ve lived and worked, UW-Madison is my favorite. When I’m not teaching or studying (I completed a 2^nd MA in Educational Leadership from UW-Madison in 2015), I like spending time outdoors, working on home improvement projects, and painting.

I have been involved in this ESL program for more than 20 years, with a 5-year gap working in a small university in Alabama. I was born and raised in Chile, so I am bilingual in Spanish and English. I started to learn English when I was 12 years old. I came to Madison in 1997 as an undergraduate student majoring in English education. After completing my TESOL Certificate, I became a TA in this program. I pursued a master’s degree in Applied English Linguistics and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at UW-Madison. From the outset of my teaching career, I became fascinated by academic reading and writing, specifically how both skills are taught, learned, and put into practice at different levels of American higher education. My goal is to help my students become successful academic readers and writers. In doing so, I help them appreciate the importance of the two skills to succeed in college in the U.S. I also enjoy teaching pedagogical skills to international teaching assistants.

I am twice a UW-Madison grad, receiving both a BA in English Literature and an MA in Applied English Linguistics from the English department. I have taught English to nearly all age groups, in many different contexts including non-profits, ESL language institutes, and universities. I started my career in South Korea, first in a public school and later at Korea University and have been at UW-Madison since 2007. My work centers around the teaching of writing and oral skills, and reflective teaching practices. I also currently serve as the ESL Liaison to the Writing Center.

I have been teaching English in the United States and abroad since 1996. After earning a BA in English and History and an MA in Applied English Linguistics from the UW I taught at English Language institutes in Wisconsin. I spent eight years teaching in Japan, in undergraduate and graduate university programs, along with community and workplace English classes. I started teacher training in Japan and conducted workshops in Southeast Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia, as well as a nonprofit in Wisconsin, and I taught in WESLI’s Teacher Training Program. At the UW, I teach academic writing and oral skills courses and I teach in the TESOL Certificate Program. I also provide administrative support to the Interim Program Director.

I have been teaching English at UW-Madison since 2000 and currently serve as the Interim Director of the ESL Program.  I teach a number of subjects and courses here including writing, reading, and pronunciation and academic skills preparation.  Additionally, I am involved with teacher training for international teaching assistants as well as undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a TESOL teaching certificate.  I am currently part of a collaborative academic writing project between UW-Madison and the Universidad Tecnológica in Uruguay. In the past I have also worked as a teacher trainer with the Fulbright-Hays Program, the National African Languages Resource Center, and the Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language Education in Korea.  When I’m not teaching, I like to spend time traveling with my wife and playing sports with my sons or pursuing my other passion in life: music.  I regularly perform, record, and tour with a Chicago based blues group called the Cash Box Kings.  I look forward to teaching you and helping you pursue your academic goals.

I have been teaching English for many years and I am still delighted that this is my career. Some of my teaching years were spent in Minneapolis (where I got my MA in TESOL), and a couple were spent in Buenos Aires. I’ve done teacher training in Turkey and China, as well as here at the UW-Madison. Reading and writing are areas that interest me, and I’m happy to help you grow in those areas. Having said that, I never pass up the opportunity to teach grammar, speaking (and pronunciation) or listening either; I enjoy it all, and look forward to coaching you in any and all skill areas.

English language education has been my focus since 1993, and I have worked in the classroom, in administrative roles, and as a textbook author for National Geographic Learning. I have also been a language learner, studying Spanish and Portuguese, and I have traveled to several countries including Thailand, Mexico, and Brazil. At UW-Madison, my focus is on teaching academic reading, writing, and communication. Every year and in every class, I learn new things from my students!

I have been teaching ESL since I went to the Yemen Arab Republic as a member of the U.S. Peace Corps in 1983. I received my Applied English Linguistics Master’s degree in 1988, and since 1989, I’ve been at UW doing the job I love, especially teaching academic reading and writing. During my time at UW, I have also worked as a teacher trainer with the Fulbright-Hays Program and the National African Languages Resource Center and been part of a collaborative academic writing project between UW-Madison and the Universidad Tecnológica in Uruguay. I live in Madison with my wife, Shari Bernstein, and son, Alex. I am the author of four books of poetry and participate in the vibrant arts scene in Madison. Originally from Wisconsin, I have also lived in Minneapolis, San Francisco and, of course, Yemen. I have traveled to Kenya, Spain, China, Uruguay, Mexico, and Italy, and I always try my best to speak the native language because it is more fun and the people treat you in a more friendly way. So, come to UW and I’ll help you get the most out of your time here.