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Michael Galli: President (2009) 
I feel a strong commitment to the profession I have chosen to make my life’s work. I have held a number of positions over the past 18 years; instructor, consultant, supervisor, principal, manager, and now, President of BC TEAL.  To be charged with steering an association of professionals who carry with them such a wealth of knowledge, experience, skill and talent is very humbling, but also very exciting and interesting.

After graduating from Concordia University with a BEd Specialization TESL, I spent 15 years at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, where I had several great mentors. I also gained invaluable experience in my work at the University of Toronto (U of T), International Pharmacy Graduate Program. It was this latter work that drew me to pursue my Master’s degree at the U of T, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

Since moving to BC three years ago, I have worked mainly at BCIT’s International Student Entry Program. Managing this program has been both a challenge and a reward. I have been very fortunate in my profession these last three years, and I hope my term as President of BC TEAL will reflect the appreciation I have for the Membership, whom I consider to be peers and colleagues. We are doing good work in teaching English as an additional language, and we are helping so many people. I hope you feel as proud as I do to be a professional in this field.

Liet has taught EFL/ESL, EAP and Business English since 1978 in Jordan, England, Palestine, the Netherlands, Mexico, Indonesia, France and
Canada.  She has also worked as a teacher-educator since 1984 in Mexico, Jordan, Indonesia, China and Canada.  Currently, Liet works at Vancouver Community College in the TESOL Department.

Karen Densky, 1st Vice-President, Chair, PAAC (2011)

Karen has been teaching ESL for 18 years at the college/university level, as well as in both private and public schools. She currently teaches at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC and has been involved in teacher training for 10 years. Her graduate work is in the area of Curriculum and Instruction and her research interests are in the area of creativity and language learning, communicative language teaching, and teacher education. She has worked overseas in Greenland and Chile and done graduate work in Mexico.

Nila Gopaul, 2nd Vice-President, Finance (2011)

Nila is an Instructor in the International Student Entry Program at BCIT and effective on August 1, 2009, the new Editor of The Westcoast Reader at Capilano University. A graduate of Simon Fraser University where she received a degree in Communications and a Masters of Education in Imagination (Curriculum and Instruction),

Nila ran her own tutoring service and language school in British Columbia. Nila possesses a strong background in Communications, Business and Education in addition to skills in educational media and curriculum design. She also acquired extensive experience in teaching language in China, Japan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

She was recently a valued instructor in the Intensive Integrated Skills Program in the Institute for English Language Programs at Harvard University.

Photo by Ken Barbour

Jennifer Pearson Terell: Treasurer (2010)

Jennifer has been involved with TEAL for many years and continues to provide valuable leadership to our association.  Jennifer was involved in the TESL Canada/B.C. TEAL Conference in November 2003, as a Team Leader.

Lois Armerding, 2nd Vice-President, Admin TEAL 2010 Conference (2011)

Lois started teaching ESL in 1990 and has taught in Vancouver and Slovakia. She has taught international students at all levels and has also taught immigrants in the LINC program and in a variety of skills training programs. In 2000, she began a year and a half adventure in Mexico setting up an English department in a technical university. Returning to Vancouver, she completed an MBA in Executive Management and took up the role of Instructional Coordinator at ISSofBC. In addition to managing and supporting a team of teachers, Lois has been involved in articulation agreements, proposal writing, accreditation processes, curriculum development, assessment and implementing the use of the Canadian Language Benchmarks in the classroom. Lois is pleased to be part of an organization that works diligently to enhance the growth and development of the profession of English language teaching in British Columbia.

Nick Collins, Secretary/Chair Membership Committee (2011)

Nick Collins began teaching English in 1964 in the Canary Islands. Since 1967 he has taught in B.C. at UBC, SFU, VSB & VCC before moving to Capilano College (now University) in 1979. For 30 years he has taught EAP. He has served as President of TEAL, TESL Canada and 2nd Vice President of TESOL. He has chaired TEAL, TRI-TESOL, TESL Canada and TESOL Conventions. He oversaw the creation of the TESL Canada Journal and worked on the first 8 years of the Westcoast Reader and was instrumental in the creation of the TEAL Charitable Foundation-the world's first Foundation operated by an ESL Association. At Capilano he has served as a Coordinator, Division Chair and Chairman of the Japanese Exchange Committee. He currently sits on the Senate and its Budget Committee for the new Capilano University.

His work has taken him to France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand. He has presented papers in seven different provinces and dozens of U.S. states. He currently sits on the review boards of the TESL Canada Journal and the Asian Journal of English Language Teaching.

His second home is in Spain where he recharges his batteries and lives the life of a second language learner.
 

Jola Garus Lekich: Member-at-Large (2009)

Jola has been teaching in the area of ESL since 2001.  She has taught in Ukraine as well as in Toronto and Vancouver.  She has worked as a teacher trainer and has taught a variety of levels of ESL and EAP.  In addition, she has developed curriculums for 'Survival English' courses and is a co-author of a handbook aimed to provide help for immigrant parents and their children's teachers.  Jola recently completed her M.A in Second Language Education from OISE/UT where she focused on areas of biliteracy and identity.  She is currently teaching EAP at Langara College.

Brian Wilson: Member-at-Large (2010)

Brian began teaching English in 1990 and has taught in a variety of programs and locations. He currently works at UBC's Office of Learning Technology as an Instructional Designer/Project Manager. He is also working on his Masters in TESOL, specializing in online learning, especially in regards to L2 learners. He is responsible for this site thing and was also a Team Leader for the TESL Canada/B.C. TEAL Conference in November 2003. 

Mike Burri: Member-at-Large (2010)

Mike grew up in Switzerland, and has taught English in various contexts in Japan and Canada. He is the Program Coordinator of the International Student Entry Program at BCIT, and works as a consultant for AMPISYS, a Vancouver-based company specializing in pronunciation instruction and accent reduction. He has also been involved in the training of Korean and Chinese English teachers, and has presented nationally and internationally on teacher training and on pronunciation pedagogy. Mike has an MA in TESOL from TWU, and his research interests include second language teacher training, pronunciation teaching, curriculum design, and non-native English-speaking teacher (NNEST) issues.

Shawna Williams: Member-at-Large, Newsletter Editor (2010)

Shawna began her ESL teaching career in 1997. Her initial foray was a year's contract in Korea, followed by four years on the JET Programme in Japan. She returned to Canada to do her Master's of Education in TESL, with a focus on teacher identity, from the University of British Columbia. She is currently the Instructional Coordinator at the English Language and Culture Program at Simon Fraser University. She is also the editor of the BC TEAL Newsletter.

Joel Rhein: Member-at-Large (2011)

Joel is currently pursuing a Master of Integrated Studies in Adult EducationDegree at the University of Athabasca with a focus on Global Education andEquity Studies in Education.  He has been involved in this area for a numberof years working with non-profit organizations such as Change for Childrenand HIV Edmonton.  Working with Change for Children, he contributed toraising awareness about human rights, non-violence, social justice anddiversity through education. Working with HIV Edmonton, he providedcommunity-based HIV relative education to those infected with, affected byand at risk of HIV, specifically to at-risk groups. In addition, he holds aBachelor of Education Degree from the University of Alberta.

Joel is currently an instructor in Vancouver. Previously, he has beenan instructor in Istanbul and Edmonton.

Joann Chernen : Member at Large (2011)

Joann has a rich and varied background in the field of TESOL, having been involved in adult ESL for over 28 years in a variety of settings. Joann is the department head of TESOL at Vancouver Community College. She is author of her own book entitled, Interactive Pronunciation Games, and the author of a chapter in Insights on Teaching Speaking in TESOL, part of the TESOL Classroom Practice Series. Joann also contributed tasks and advice to Doing Task-based Teaching, an Oxford Handbook for Language Teachers by Dave and Jane Willis. Joann has considerable experience in the areas of teacher-training and curriculum and materials design.  Other areas of specialization include pronunciation and content-based instruction.

Colleen Rogan, ELSA Net Liaison/CCLB BC Representative

Colleen began her teaching career in the remote mountains of Lesotho, Africa in 1988.  When she returned to Canada, she taught in International Schools then turned her attention to working with new immigrants.  She continued her work for the next 14 years in the ELSA (English Language Services for Adults) program where she wore a variety of hats from English language instructor to curriculum developer to teacher trainer.  Colleen currently works with ELSA Net as the provincial Instructional Resource Coordinator. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks.

Marilyn Pierlet:  Administrative Manager

Born in Toronto and educated in Montreal I have had the added pleasure and experience of living and making friends in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes and Vancouver.

My work experience has included organizing and being part of a team for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations across Canada. I have been involved in Administrative and Management roles, including  marketing, media relations, conventions, seminars, trade shows, gala dinners and charity golf tournaments.

Community Service: Served on organizing committee for Lions Gate Medical Research Foundation Bachelor’s Auction; Canadian Heart Foundation; West Vancouver Museum; Ferry Building Art Gallery; Variety Club Telethon; Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire; BC Paraplegic Association; PMC Sierra 5K Fun Run (Science Fair Foundation); Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia 2001 Annual Conference; Nova Scotia Trails Committee; QEII Foundation Committee “Head for the Hills Ski Challenge”; Committee Co-Chair for CUSO/VSO “Dance for the World” Peoples’ Gala and VIP Reception and Silent Auction.

Interests:  Reading, travel, music and the arts.  

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