Sarah Griffith

Digital

Curriculum Vitae

  • About Sarah

    I have been teaching ESL for over 6 years, gaining experience teaching young learners, university students, and adults.

     
    I am an advocate for education equality. Having lived in a rural community in Thailand, I have witnessed the power educational opportunities bring to the student and family. I promote the development of leadership and critical-thinking skills through thoughtfully developed curricula tailored towards the learners' culture, community, and future goals. I strive for a balance between fluency and accuracy by purposefully integrating English as a Lingua Franca into the classrooms, focusing on intelligible communication over perfection. To understand more about me as a teacher, read My 6 teaching Beliefs.

     

  • Areas of Expertise

    Conversational English and Pronunciation

    Instructional Design and Integrating Technology

    Materials and Assessment Development

    Community Building in the classroom

    Program Development and Coordination

    Pre-Service Teacher Training

    Academic Writing

    Teaching English as a Lingua Franca

    English for Academic Puposes

  • My 6 Teaching Beliefs

    1

    Content-Based

    Language teaching should be meaning-based with content that is relevant to the students, appealing to their interests and reason for study.

    2

    Cultural Awareness

    Students can become knowledgeable about how language and culture intersect including understanding the importance of pragmatics. Learning to compare other cultures to their own can lead to compassionate and informed global citizens.

    3

    Inductive, Social Learning

    Language learning is a social and inductive process. Students learn best when involved in stimulating and healthy debate, an exchange of ideas, and mutual learning.

     

    4

    Teacher's Role

    The role of the teacher is not to tell the students what to think but to provide them the critical thinking skills and language capabilities to express their own thoughts, even when it differs from my own.

     

    5

    Power of Voice

    Students can learn their voice is powerful and valued. By creating a classroom culture that encourages expression and debate confidence and independent can grow.

    6

    Responsive Teaching

    There is no single “best way” for a student to learn, students are unique and I believe it is my responsibility to assess their needs, listen to their feedback, and adjust, to ensure the success of every student in my class.

  • “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”

    Confucius

  • See me teach

    This video is from an academic reading course for intermediate students at Mukogawa Forth Wright Institute.

  • Background

    Virtual/Online Learning

    COVID Response

    At the start of 2020, the landscape for virtual learning changed drastically. I was hired by Notre Dame of MD in March to immediately start teaching online. During my time I taught Conversation, Reading, and Pronunciation.
     
    Using a flipped classroom model and numerous online technologies, I developed methods to foster student engagement even when socially distanced.
     
    In 2021 I joined the English for Academic Purposes department at Durham Technical Community College where I teach students using a hybrid model.

    English Program Development

    In 2020, I launched an online English program and social community
    exclusively for women who speak English as a foreign language.
     
    Designed for women at an intermediate and advanced level, my program provides a safe, welcoming place for women to speak up and share their ideas. Each week women from 10+ countries join live to discuss advanced level topics and improve their conversation skills.
     
    As the founder, I have created all the materials and marketing as well as built the platform on WordPress.
     
    To learn more about the program, click here.

    University and Academic ESL

    Monolingual and Multilingual Classrooms

    I have taught in monolingual and multilingual classrooms for academic ESL. I am experienced in curriculum design and have taught courses with and without textbooks.

     

    I have taught Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation and Grammar in Intensive English Programs. Students complete fun, interactive projects like poster presentations, online audio presentations, weekly field trips, and conversation circles.

     

    Additionally, I have taught online courses with asynchronous lessons and live class components. I am skilled at developing flipped classrooms to ensure students progress and participate in a class community.

    Program Development & Coordination

    Community Outreach, Marketing and Student Recruitment

    I was the Coordinator and teacher with the Gonzaga English Community Outreach, GECO. The program offers free ESL classes to adult immigrants and refugees and lets student-teachers gain teaching practice.

     

    In this position, I expanded the program from an average attendance of 2-5 students to a multi-level program averaging 20-25+ students per week.

     

    I coordinated a team of teachers and assistant coordinators. My tasks included scheduling, reviewing lesson plans, observing new teachers, providing teacher feedback, and assessing and placement of new students. I also marketed the program on social media, applied for grants, and networked to get local news coverage.

     

    Additionally, I oversaw the development of a Pre-K class to provide lessons to children while the parents attended adult classes and secured grants for materials, snacks, and graduation party.

     

    To learn more about the program and my research click here

     

    Publications on the program:

    Gonzaga University News

    Gonzaga Bulletin Newspaper

    The University Network

     

    International NGO/K-12

    NGO Partnership

    Hired as an inaugural teacher for a new partnership between One Sky Foundation and Udomsitthisuksa School in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand, I taught grades 10 and 11. My class focused on conversational English and I manage the learning experience of 180 students.
     

    In this position, I am laid the foundation for a future expansive program and developed solutions for language learning in large classes with limited resources. Additionally, my focus was on developing critical thinking skills and breaking the norms of choral teaching and teacher-centered classrooms.

  • Thoughts from my students

    Click the image to see more

  • Education

    Gonzaga University

    2016-2018

    Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

    100 Hour TEFL Certificate

     

    International TEFL Academy

    2015

    170-Hour TEFL Certificate

    Salisbury University

    2007-2009

    Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

    Bachelor of Arts in Communication

  • "To teach is to be full of hope."

    LARRY CUBAN

  • See more about My Leadership and Pre-service Teacher training

    Gonzaga ESL Community Outreach: the Community-based ESL Teacher Training Program

    • Increased total student enrollment from 5 students to 50 students in one year
    • Increased volunteer teacher participation from 8 teachers to 27 teachers
    • Established a mentoring program, allowing for structured peer-to-peer student-teacher mentoring
    • Crafted afternoon workshop based on students' needs including Writing and Job Interviewing
    • Expanded program from one multi-level class to three leveled classes with a placement assessment
    • Applied for and awarded $1750 of grants and sponsorships 

    To read more the project, and research, visit: www.communitytesolprogram.com

  • Materials development

    Take a look at a selection of materials I have developed.

    I often incorporate authentic texts, music, songs, and interactive activities.

  • Gallery

    Photos from my classrooms and programs

    Informal greetings
    Students use new vocabulary to write about themselves

  • Contact me

    I am available as an ESL/EFL Teacher, Teacher Trainer, or NGO Educational Consultant.

    Submit

  • Connect

    Find me on social media

    Facebook

    LinkedIn

    The English Sisterhood on Instagram

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