KEEPING ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALS CONNECTED
Meet the 2024 TESOL Bloggers
Get to know your TESOL bloggers for 2024! Coming from a wide range of backgrounds, these English language professionals share their expertise and ideas monthly. Each writer's unique point of view will bring something new to your professional journey, whether it's an innovative idea for your teaching practice or research-based ways to improve student learning outcomes. In this article, learn more about what they are reading, what they do for fun, and where you can find them on social media.
Bernadette Musetti
Ecoliteracy in English Language Teaching
About Bernadette: I am from a big family in the U.S. Midwest, but I have lived in the beautiful state of California, USA, for most of my life. I love to travel—in fact, I recently blogged about the trip from which I just returned, where I took my university class of future K–5 educators to Bali to work with students learning English as an additional language in an after-school learning center there.
The thing I am most passionate about is family, and the single biggest blessing in my life has been my two children, who are now grown and have their own children. Lately, I have spent a lot of time playing with and reading to my three grandsons. My personal goal is to continue to explore and contribute in whatever ways I can to building a better world.
Favorite podcast:
Recently reading:
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- Life as We Know It (Can Be) by Bill Weir
- More Together Than Alone by Mark Nepo
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
Brent Warner
About Brent: I was born and raised in southern California, USA, where my worldview was forged through the late-night fires of punk rock shows, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and 24-hour burrito stands—and through writing about them all on internet relay chats (IRCs) and GeoCities. While I’ve long since shifted from being a night owl to an early bird, I can still occasionally be tempted to go out after the sun goes down for a particularly fun band on tour or a late-night showing of a long-forgotten 80s horror flick. Most days, though, I’m up early, hand-grinding my own coffee to enjoy the peace of the morning on the balcony before the world starts around me. I’ve traveled to more than 30 countries and have a dream of seeing them all before my time on this planet is up! Currently, I’m wrapping up a year-long sabbatical in Japan.
Favorite blogs:
LinkedIn | Threads | Instagram
Eric Gómez Burgos
Teaching Writing to Multilingual Learners of English
About Eric: I was born in the countryside, in the south of Chile, and since then I have been connected to books, education, and nature. I have always enjoyed reading. When I was a kid, I used to know most of the books in the library at my school. I attended a rural school during my elementary education, and from this time on, I wanted to be a teacher. I went on to study elementary education and worked as an English teacher for 5 years.
One of my favorite writers is Isabel Allende, the Chilean author of The House of the Spirits (1982) and The Wind Knows My Name (2023). I like her writing style because she connects her stories with historical events and cultural aspects of diverse places. In addition to reading, I also love traveling and visiting other cities and countries. My favorite place is Chilean Patagonia, where I have visited different spots in the last couple of years. It fascinates me every time.
Favorite blog:
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Naashia Mohamed
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Multicultural Education
About Naashia: Hello! Salaam alaykum! Kia ora! I started my career in the field of TESOL 2 weeks after graduating high school, when I took up a position as an assistant teacher of English to 12-year-olds at my alma mater. I was born and raised in the Maldives, lived for a period of time in Sri Lanka, attended university in Scotland and New Zealand, and am currently based in one of the world’s most superdiverse cities: Auckland, New Zealand. Living in a cultural melting pot allows me to indulge in my passion for learning about other languages and cultures.
I take every opportunity I can to travel, sample new cuisines, and experience the majesty of nature. When physical travel is not possible, I transport myself to other periods and places through books and movies. On an ideal day, you can find me on a hiking trail or enjoying a picnic with my family on a riverbank or a secluded beach.
Favorite blog:
LinkedIn | X | ResearchGate
Sarah Hodges
English Language Teacher Professional Development
About Sarah: I have taught English for the last eighteen years to international military personnel in the United States, Taiwan, and Japan in support of security cooperation. Currently, I work as a supervisory ESL instructor at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Texas, USA. In addition to teaching, I’ve spent several years conducting teacher training and developing curriculum for courses in English as a foreign language and English for specific purposes.
Passionate about the integration of educational technology in English language teaching, I became a SMART Lumio certified trainer and Gold Ambassador. Though I am fluent in French and Spanish, I’m continuing to pursue my own language learning journey by self-studying Japanese. I’ve been a member of the U.S. National Language Service Corps since 2014.
Outside of the classroom, I love crafting, studying digital photography, exploring local art museums and gardens, and taking cooking classes. I also love traveling, and I write travel articles for a number of publications, including Stars and Stripes Japan. Fun fact: I was one of the writers for the Tokyo Olympics online portal hosted by the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Recently reading:
- Gardens of Awakening: A Guide to the Aesthetics, History, and Spirituality of Kyoto's Zen Landscapes by Kazuaki Tanahashi.
Favorite blog:
Sarah Said
English Language Teaching Primary/Elementary Education
About Sarah: I am an educator who has served in various roles: teacher, assistant principal, dean, curriculum coordinator, and multilingual coordinator. My favorite of those roles is TEACHER! I am an advocate for the students I serve and a strong voice in education. Currently, I serve as an ELL English teacher at Dream Academy High School in Elgin, Illinois, USA. My work has been published in various publications, such as Learning for Justice, EdWeek Teacher, The Teaching Channel, and Edutopia.
Outside of the work world, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our three children, and my cat. I love teaching yoga classes, reading, and writing, of course. I consider myself a movie buff and enjoy watching movies at my local movie theater.
Favorite blog:
Find me on X
Tan Huynh
Teaching Reading to Multilingual Learners of English
Tan writes with Valentina (see next profile). They're new to the TESOL Blog! You can read their first post here.
About Tan: TESOL colleagues, it's an honor to be part of this field with you. Since you already know my professional background, I'd like to share a little about myself beyond my work. I have two loves in my life: my two dogs and badminton. Beaux is a 13-year-old straight hair standard poodle mix from Laos. He tolerates his bouncy 7-month-old brother, Champa, whose name means "frangipani" in Lao. Champa's favorite hobby includes destroying anything expensive or newly purchased. As for Beaux, his perfect day involves riding on my motorbike to our favorite place to watch the sun melt into the Mekong.
My second love is badminton, which I picked up 3 years ago. Beyond the physical benefits of using every part of your body for 4–7 hours per visit to the courts, the social benefits of meeting new people have expanded my heart by two sizes. My friends and I laugh midpoint, cheer each other on (even when we are the recipients of the others’ devastating shots), and often polish off a whole buffet's worth of food during postgame meals. Beaux, Champa, and I are at the courts four times a week. It's the happiest place in Cambodia, and my new forever-home.
Favorite podcast:
Valentina Gonzalez
Teaching Reading to Multilingual Learners of English
Valentina writes with Tan (see previous profile). They're new to the TESOL Blog! You can read their first post here.
About Valentina: At the heart, I am a wife, mother, daughter, and sister. My husband, Joe, and I have two beautiful adult children, Julia and Jaden. We are immensely proud of the humans they have grown to become. We raised our kids in the suburbs of Houston, where my parents and sister also live. When I am not traveling to work with schools or speak at conferences, I am often working from home, where my feline companion, Max, is my loyal officemate.
Joe and I share a deep appreciation for nature and traveling. We can often be found admiring our plants and trees and talking to them. We also enjoy vacationing on the beaches of Mexico, dreaming about the future, and dining out (because I’m not a creative cook).
Website | X | Facebook | Instagram
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Also In This Issue
‣ 7 Practical Tools for Learning, Applying, and Practicing Vocabulary
‣ PD Corner: Crafting Purposeful and Engaging Curricula for English Language Teaching
‣ Ask a TESOL Leader: Justin Shewell
Recent TESOL Blogs
‣ How the Science of Reading Applies to Multilingual Learners of English: Careful Consideration
‣ Getting the Maximum out of Micro-Credentials
‣ Classroom Activities for Building Critical Multilingual Awareness
‣ 6 Translanguaging Activities to Foster Writing for Multilingual Learners of English
‣ AI for Reading and Writing in ELT at the Primary and Secondary Levels
About the author
TESOL International Association
TESOL International Association advances professional expertise in English language teaching to speakers of other languages in multilingual contexts worldwide through professional learning, research, standards, and advocacy.