DV: I attended college at North Texas State Univiesity, now known as North Texas. There I studied psychology with a minor in Spanish. That is where I met my husband, Jose. Jose is a native of Venezuela. When I went with him to visit, I realized how difficult it is to understand a language you have only known in a traditional classroom setting.

OAL: How did you wind up being a teacher in Georgia?

DV: When Jose’s company transfered him to Cobb County in 1991 to continue his career as a software engineer, I decided it was time to pursue a career of my own. Teaching English as a Second Language was what I knew and loved. It just made sense for me to pursue that here. I was fortunate to find that position available in the Cobb County Schools.

OAL: How did teaching adult students become an interest for you?

DV: To be honest, I only became interested in teaching adult students after I discovered that this was the most appropriate venue for the delivery of ESL instruction.

OAL: You said you started teaching in Venezuela?

DV: Yes. I started teaching classes in Venzuela because that was what was available for non-native Spanish speakers. I signed up for the program for ESL teachers through the Bi-National Center in Venezuela. These centers are set up by U.S. information centers as language libraries through the various consulates in the host countries to demonstrate good will.

OAL: What do you consider to be your favorite activity or your most successful strategy for reaching students?

DV: Well, it’s hard to pick just one or two. Among the most successful strategies for reaching students are those that involve using an integrated approach. This way all learned skills are integrated and practiced within one class period.

OAL: How do you do this?

I try to emphasize interactive activities in the classroom where English is used in a practical application. This way the students can take the lessons they learn in class with them to the outside world.

OAL: What do you consider to be the greatest challenge you face as an ELP teacher?

DV: The greatest challenge is working within a large program. A lot is required of teachers while our resources remain limited. Space, personnel and funding are certainly all issues with which I struggle. I think I’ve been pretty successful with it. It wasn’t always this way, yet somehow the program has miraculously stabilized. I hate to say it, but maybe this has happened because the economy is so unstable right now.

OAL: What do you consider to be your strongest qualities as a teacher?

DV: As far as teaching English as a Second Language is concerned, I believe that I have a very good read on finding the accurate literacy levels of my students. I try to address their specific needs, and it seems to be working because I have had an excellent rate of return on both retention and promotion with this program.

OAL: So what does the future hold for you?

DV: As far the program is concerned, I hope to see it grow and continue to reach the increasing number of students and broaden what we present to their varying needs. I want to emphasize the academics, not just survival skills.