I was born in Yokosuka, Japan in 1958, but lived in the USA before moving to Israel in 1981. I have been teaching English in Israel at both the secondary and tertiary levels since 1985. I was Head of English Studies at the Western Galilee College (WGC) for 4 years. I also served as Coordinator for Independent English Programs as well as serving as the Advanced and Intermediate Level Coordinator.
I have published two books Dysfunctional Families in the Wessex Novels of Thomas Hardy and The Routine of War: How One Northern Israeli Community Coped During the Second Lebanon War. I have collaborated on numerous EAP textbooks: A.C.E.S. – Advanced College English Skills, The Big Picture – Strategies for College English at the Intermediate Level, and The Latest and the Greatest (edited texts and questions for reading comprehension at the Advanced Level).
As a teacher of English as a Foreign Language, I want to help EFL & EAP teachers and students understand how to succeed in college by grasping the fundamentals of academic reading and writing. Students need to see the “big picture” not the individual word. The old method of translating unknown words in a text does not solve the problem of overall, global comprehension. Critical thinking skills are a key to success. See my blog for tutorials.
I am currently a lecturer in EFL at the Western Galilee College in Acco, Israel. I teach courses at the Advanced levels. I also teach content courses – English for Conservation Studies and Business English. My current research explores the growing trend of Israelis who are becoming exposed to and enamored with the music of the American band, the Grateful Dead.
In other areas of life, I have been running a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for stray cats in the community where I live (Kibbutz Gesher Haziv) and at the WGC since 2003. Needless to say, I have 8 cats living with me now.
