Intercultural competence of teachers and students has emerged recently as a critical component of teacher training. Although I have formal education in the social discipline of Anthropology and in teacher training in Bilingual/ESL;  it is my concrete real life experiences as a researcher in the fields of Linguistics and Cultural Anthropology and as a member of a minority culture that have defined my knowledge of culture and its power in outlining the paths of our students. These students first impression of American culture is paramount to their acceptance of our educational goals as a nation. I feel an urgent need to be on this frontline of welcoming our newcomers.

My own parents are non-native English speakers and through their experiences and my own as a member of a minority culture, both educational and culturally, I have gained insights that will embrace and encourage the value of cultural identity with  students, parents, and colleagues. My classroom will be a warm multicultural environment where each students individual needs are as equally important as the class as a whole. My various scholarly interests are all grounded in my passion for the study of culture and language, how it works, how it is used to communicate, and how it can influence people.