Patricia Zapata - LaGuardia Community College - CUNY

Versant English Test
CHALLENGING EXPECTATIONS
Paula Michelin
2011 New York Times ESOL Teacher of the Year
The New York Times has honored Paula Da Silva Michelin, instructor in LaGuardia’s Center
for Immigrant Education and Training, as the 2011 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other
Languages) Teacher of the Year. The citywide competition recognizes educators who have
consistently excelled in helping adult students learn English and develop the skills they
need to create successful new lives in the United States.
Ms. Michelin is, perhaps, an unlikely winner, considering that English is not her first
language. It must have been meant to be. Having studied at Pontificia Catholic University
of Campinas, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, she majored in American Literature and came to New
York City with the idea of furthering her education. In 1995 she applied for the Teaching
English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate program at the New School,
and by 2003 she came to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) at LaGuardia.
“After teaching in a few private language schools in New York City … I thought it would
be interesting to work with and teach immigrants, like myself,” says Ms. Michelin. “I thought I could use my experiences to help them better
understand the challenges and navigate life in this new country that they had come to adopt as their own.” Teaching ESL with a civics
thematic approach in the College’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training, she explains that the program is designed to help
immigrants improve their English skills and be more effective participants in New York City community life. Classes cover a variety of topics
from government and history to community resources and workers' rights. Some notable projects she’s worked on with her students include
having them write letters to President Obama and later turning those letters into digital stories. Additionally, in 2009 she received a grant to
write lesson sets for We Are New York, an Emmy-Award winning series of ESL videos created by the Mayor’s Office of Adult Education and
CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs. Her lesson sets are currently being distributed and shared by teachers throughout the city. “Although I
am on my way to obtaining a Master’s Degree [in TESOL], I feel that my real school has always been my class, my co-workers, and students.
They are the ones that help me to become a better professional,” says Ms. Michelin.
Ms. Michelin is the third LaGuardia instructor to receive honors in this competition, which is now in its fifth year. Ellen Quish of the Adult
Learning Center was the first New York Times ESOL Teacher of the Year in 2007, and Hilary Gardner of the Center for Immigrant Education
and Training was an honoree in 2008.
How well do you speak English?
Is it good enough for college? For a better job? For a training course?
The Versant English Test is a fast and accurate way to measure how well you use everyday English
in a school or work environment.
In less than 20 minutes you can take the test on a computer and get a printed and detailed score report
on how to improve your English speaking skills in the following areas:
• vocabulary
• fluency
• pronunciation
• listening comprehension
Test Dates
10:00 am - 12:00 pm (1 session/1 hour) $39
Sat June 18 A05VST004A
Sat July 16 A05VST005A
Sat Aug 20 A05VST006A
For more information call (718) 482-7244
or go to Room M141
34
Phone: (718)482-7244 • E-Mail: acereg@lagcc.cuny.edu • Fax: (718)609-2074