Shawna began her ESL teaching career in 1997. She has taught in Korea, Japan, and Vancouver. She has a Master’s of Education in TESL, with a focus on teacher identity, from the University of British Columbia. She is currently an Instructional Resource Coordinator with ELSA Net. Shawna first joined the TEAL board of directors as [...]

Teaching is a noble profession and the work we do in helping others to communicate in a common language is one of the most challenging areas to specialize in. The work we do is immeasurably good and we cannot understate the importance of our day-to-day efforts. Each of us in this field has accepted the [...]

Joe first started teaching EFL in Japan in 1991 and subsequently taught at universities in metropolitan Sapporo for several years until 2001.   He has taught at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops since 2003 and currently serves in the ESL Department.  His main areas of research and interest are educational technology, student engagement and intercultural communication.  [...]

Laura entered the world of ESL when she enrolled in the MA/TEFL program at San Francisco State University in 1987 and has been hooked ever since. She began teaching adult ESL as a volunteer in 1988, and had taught workplace ESL, academic EFL, EAP and ITA training in California, New Jersey, Utah, where she served [...]

After volunteering in Japan (1979) and completing 2 BA degrees, Janice GT Penner has taught in post secondary institutions in the PRC, ROC, Japan, Alberta and BC. Her current academic home is Douglas College where she has taught EAP, established the TESL program and facilitated ISWs.  She has presented interactive workshops for numerous associations and [...]

Sheila has been teaching EFL, ESL and EAP since 2004.  She has taught in Korea, Taiwan, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver and is currently an instructor in BCIT’s International Student Entry Program.  She has a Master’s of Education in TESL with a focus in curriculum studies.

Jennifer Pearson Terell has been involved in ESL as a teacher, teacher trainer and administrator since 1973. She was Senior Program Coordinator for the TESOL Programs at Vancouver Community College and taught in Malaysia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Africa. Jennifer has served on the BC TEAL and TESL Canada Boards as a member of [...]

After 20 years working in the private sector, Susan began a career in post-secondary education and spent seven years working for Capilano University in China as an instructor and an administrator. Since 2006, Susan has returned permanently to Vancouver and is teaching in both the ESL and Communications Departments at Capilano University’s North Vancouver campus.

Rebecca Kullman has been teaching EAP at BCIT since 2007. She has a B. Ed. and a TESL certificate from UBC, and an MA in History from McGill. Her interests include professional development and curriculum.

Joel Rhein is currently an instructor for SUCCESS. He holds an MA in Adult Education.  Additionally, working collaboratively with a team and ELSA Net, he has contributed to developing two provincial curriculums for ELSA 6 and 7.