Hello, I am American teacher/consultant interested in helping middle school, high school, and adult students improve their conversational English and writing skills through an integrated approach. I have had over 20 years of teaching experience. First, I taught 6th grade, but then I moved to the middle school where I taught 7th grade English and reading for 10 years. Eventually, I left the classroom to work as a middle school literacy consultant. I have also worked as an educational consultant, giving workshops to educators throughout the country on best practices in teaching English/writing and learning strategies across the curriculum. In 1995, I was selected as Teacher of the Year in my school district, and in 1996 I was a finalist for State Teacher of the Year. For the past 11 years, I have taught English and writing skills to adults in a human services certificate training program. My philosophy of teaching can be explained by a quote from the famous Greek author and philosopher, Nikos Kazantzakis, who wrote, “True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.”