Saint Michael's College

Program: MATESL

Hometown: Jericho, VT

Testimonial: The Department of Applied Linguistics enrolls students from all over the world who bring cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity to the student population. It also puts together an incredible array of activities and trips designed to help U.S. and international students get to know each other.

How will your graduate degree help you further your career? The Department is very well established (it just celebrated its 50th anniversary last year) and the faculty here are well-known in the TESOL community.

What was a favorite class at Saint Michael's? Teaching Grammar with John Halliwell. I liked his give-and-take presentation style and the way he incorporates practice into learning. I also liked the way he treated the subject matter: grammar is fluid and evolving in its attempt to describe rules all of us internalized as children.

What do you like to do outside of the classroom? Backpacking, music, demolition and renovation, organic gardening, puddle jumping.

What do you plan to do after graduation? Hike the Appalachian Trail, then teach in as many countries as possible.

What would you say to prospective students considering Saint Michael's College? Saint Michael's College combines diversity, natural beauty, academic rigor, and an infinite number of ways to enjoy all three.