And another one...welcome our new staff!

ELC New Staff Introductions

Ref. No :	MCCC-9BH62D	Posted by :	MingC/UMAC
Department :	ELC	Posted Date :	13/09/2013
Category :
	Bulletin 公告

---

Dear Colleagues and Students,
The ELC is proud to welcome 7 amazing teachers into our family this semester. It is my pleasure now to introduce each of them to you. Senior Instructor Kevin M. Maher grew up in Michigan in the United States. He has predominately taught English since 1996 in countries including Japan (5 ½ years), South Korea (7 ½ years), and Brazil (½ year). Previous university teaching experiences include Kansai Gaidai University (Osaka, Japan), Keiwa College (Niigata, Japan), and Hongik University (Seoul, South Korea). His presentation/publication interests include Neuroplasticity/SLA Theory, Literature Circles for EFL, Pair Work Dynamics, and Audience Involvement in Public Speaking. He is married with two young children, a boy and a girl. Senior Instructor Ryan Hunter has assumed the position of Senior Teacher, Testing and Language Laboratory Supervisor and Technology Advisor at the University of Macau English Language Centre. He was formerly an Instructor, Educational Technology Specialist and Moodle Administrator at Seoul National University of Science & Technology and also taught Computer-Assisted Language Learning, Teaching Reading & Writing, and Academic Writing in Hanyang University’s TESOL program. His academic qualifications include an M.A. in Applied Linguistics-TESOL (The University of Illinois at Chicago) and a B.A. in English Literature (Lake Forest College). His current professional interests include educational technology, computer-assisted language learning, instructional design, computer-based assessment, the practical application of interactive blended learning in EFL teaching, and educational technology teacher training.
Senior Instructor Carolyn Crehan has built an eclectic international career that includes professional postings in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Building on her experience as a teacher trainer in the Peace Corps, Carol moved into unique academic contexts as a Senior English Language Fellow with the U.S. State Dept.: this included teaching tertiary Journalism, and Critical Communications in Turkish Cyprus. She also “Pilot Directed” a language program for Diplomacy & Negotiation that served prominent professionals in Sri Lanka. Carol’s most recent contract was with the Qatar Foundation in Doha. She taught Comparative Fiction, Academic Composition and Cross Cultural Theory in a “revolutionary” co-ed context to prep students for entry into prestigious institutions such as Georgetown School of Foreign Service. Carol served as Acting Director of the TESOL Certificate Program for new teachers at Columbia University in New York (also her alma mater: M.A., Applied Linguistics). She won the John Fanselow TESOL Award for original materials development and an unconventional spirit.
Before coming to UM, Senior Instructor Amanda Gates taught EFL, English composition, and business communication at universities in China and the United States. She is currently also a Ph.D. candidate in Composition & TESOL at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her current research centers on the experiences of second language writers in the workplace. When she’s not teaching or engaged in scholarly work, Amanda spends time playing with her kids, traveling, reading, cooking, and eating. She’s especially looking forward to discovering the best places to eat in Macau.
Senior Instructor Averil Bolster comes from Ireland and although she was originally qualified as a science teacher, she enjoys the travel opportunities and cultural variety of English language teaching (ELT). Averil has worked in ELT since 1995 in countries as diverse as Turkey, Lithuania, Portugal, Azerbaijan, The UAE, Vietnam and PR China. Averil says that she is delighted to be living and working in Macau, which is such a fascinating and cosmopolitan location. Her interests include materials development, since her MA is in ELT and Materials Development. She is also interested in academic presentations and the role of expert and non-expert panels in content courses. Outside of work, Averil enjoys eating out with friends, going to the cinema and exploring new destinations.
Kerry Pusey, a Teaching Fellow at the ELC, earned his MA in TESL from Northern Arizona University, but is originally from Los Angeles, California. Before coming to the ELC, Kerry taught in an intensive English program in the USA and in an immersion course in Brazil. He has also done work in language assessment in both university and large-scale testing contexts. His main research interests include language testing, curriculum development, and pragmatics. Outside of teaching, Kerry enjoys playing music, travelling, and being outdoors.
Marie Webb is currently a Teaching Fellow at the ELC. Marie has taught ESL in a wide range of settings in the USA, Japan, China, and Korea including community colleges, universities, and private language institutions. She received her M. Ed. in TESOL, Culture, and Literacy from the University of San Diego where she developed the SOLES Department of Learning and Teaching’s conferences and special events with notable guest speakers in the educational field such as Alfie Kohn, Dr. Louis Moll, and Jean McNiff and was also a member of the Conference Production Team for the 9th Annual SOLES Action Research Conference where she led a team of 50 volunteers. Marie plans to pursue further education in the fields of TESOL and Linguistics in the near future while continuing her career as a research practitioner. In her free time she enjoys traveling the world, surfing, kayaking, running, snowboarding, hiking, and playing the piano.

Let's express our warmest welcome to them and we appreciate your continued support to the English Language Centre( ELC).

Thank you. English Language Centre (ELC)
University of Macau (UM)