MCC Daily Tribune
TCC: Acknowledging ESOL Adjunct Faculty
Elizabeth Ahern: Elizabeth consistently advocates for students and connects them with MCC and community resources. Combining her background in TESOL and social work, she understands how life and academics are interconnected. She promotes student interaction through engaging activities and projects in a safe, supportive classroom environment.
Edgar Ballestas: After teaching with the RCSD middle and high schoolers during the day, Edgar comes to us in the evenings. He is a student-centered and passionate educator who understands our ESOL students and helps them bridge from high school to college-level work. He consistently creates targeted, high-interest activities that keep his evening students engaged. Edgar also serves on the English Language Proficiency Certificate Advisory Board.
Amy Betti: Amy has been an integral part of the ESOL team for many years. She is an innovative instructor who has led the charge in developing and teaching our online offerings. Remember that cool 5-minute video showing students how to use the authenticator app? Amy made it for her online ESL 201 students, and the Virtual Campus shared it with all faculty because it was so helpful and easy to understand. Amy is always exploring new professional development opportunities to better serve students.
Bridget Dee: Bridget’s passion for teaching and commitment to our students have been critical to the ESOL Program’s success. She is the longest-serving ESOL Program adjunct and has taught almost every course in our program. In addition, she has served as a full-time temp more than once. As a master teacher, she sets high expectations, and her students consistently meet them. Bridget is beloved by students and colleagues alike.
Fangzhi He: Fangzhi is lively, friendly, and approachable for students. As an international graduate student, she is a role model for her students. Fangzhi teaches our lowest-level Strong Foundations students. She has high expectations, and at the same time, skillfully scaffolds language instruction so students can make significant gains in their first semester. Her positive energy is a welcome addition to the ESOL Program.
Raana Jilani: Raana is a reflective educator who is passionate about learning. As a graduate student, she knows that success requires effort, and she tries to help her students understand the importance of putting in the time, visiting during office hours, and using tutors to maximize learning. Raana is well versed in TESOL and language acquisition pedagogy.
Haj Marigh: Haj has a warm, welcoming presence in his classes. He is a student-centered instructor and creates a comfortable, humor-filled, engaging learning environment for our evening students, who often come to class straight from work. He is always willing to accept students into his class after the semester begins. Coming from teaching high school students during the day, Haj is flexible, responsive, and relaxed with whatever comes his way.
Peggy Osenbach: Peggy is a great teacher, and students love her. She teaches the lowest-level ESOL courses and ESOL-designated sections of COS. Peggy chooses to teach first-semester students who can be challenging as they learn to navigate college. She goes above and beyond to help students develop academic readiness skills as well as connect with college resources. Peggy is also a supportive colleague who helps the full-time faculty mentor adjuncts.
Judy Tomkinson: With Judy, we know the job will get done well. She is willing to teach wherever we need her, and she often steps up when we add a class last minute. Judy is independent, and she needs very little support or guidance. At the same time, she is a great collaborator who works well with everyone. Judy finds high-interest, level-appropriate articles that students enjoy. We are grateful to have such a seasoned professional on our ESOL team.
Katie Leite and Pam Fornieri
Terry Shamblin
Teaching and Creativity Center
03/30/2023