I'm Corie and I'd like to tell you a little about myself. I have been a teacher most of my life. After graduating from university, I taught high school English and earned a master's degree in English Education. I took a few years away from teaching when my three sons were young. Later I worked as a writing tutor in the Student Educational Services Department of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

For many years I taught ESOL (English as a Second Language) in the Parkway Adult Education and Literacy program. What a great job! My students were a very diverse group. They ranged in age from 18 to 80 years old. They spoke different languages and came from different countries, but they made friends in my class and had fun learning English. I am retired now, but enjoy tutoring students. I have a Career Certificate to teach adult education in Missouri. This certificate is awarded to someone who has a master's degree and has taught adult education for 10 or more years.

Learning a new language is difficult. It requires self-discipline and courage. Many students are afraid to talk to Americans. As a teacher, I ask my students about their goals and plan activities to help them accomplish these goals. For example, a student may need to talk with a child's teacher or interview for a job. We practice the necessary vocabulary and grammar for that situation and then role play it. This process helps students develop the confidence to engage with American speakers and to accomplish their goals.