Committed and Experienced Teacher Trainers
Our teacher trainers have designed a customized course based on their own experiences with TEFL courses, educational training and years of classroom contact.
In addition to the actual course content, teachers will assess the specific needs of the trainees and include tailored workshops as necessary. Barbara Miller, M.Ed.
Barbara is originally from California, but has lived in Costa Rica since 1999. She has a double Bachelors degree in Psychology and Multicultural and Gender Studies. She has participated in a number of Second Language Acquisition seminars through Cambridge University, New England Language School and others. She holds a Masters in Educational Administration, and a Masters in TEFL both of which were completed through Massachusetts's Framingham State University International program in San Jose, Costa Rica.
In June of 1999 she assumed the position of English Department Director at Intercultura, where she was in charge of professional development, curriculum design, teacher training and observations, as well as teaching, her real passion. In order to better train the teaching staff, in 2005 she began Costa Rica TEFL while continuing at Intercultura. In May 2008 she decided to dedicate her time fully to Costa Rica TEFL in Playa Samara and continues to work with Intercultura as a consultant and trainer.
Julia Francis. M.Sc.
Julia is originally from England and holds a Bachelors degree in Sports Health and Exercise and a Masters of Science in Education. She taught English and Physical Education for 9 years and was the Business and Enterprise Education Coordinator at Aston Manor school. While working as the Coordinator, she delivered workshops in Voice Training for Teachers, Positive Discipline in Classrooms, Teaching and Learning, Accelerated Learning Techniques, Active Reading skills, and Positive Behavior Management. She was responsible for the organization and delivery of Enterprise Education in schools in her local area from 2002 to 2005.
She later went on to complete her TEFL certification in 2006 and taught English at Intercultura for two years. In 2008, she began working as a Teacher trainer and living full-time in Playa Samara.
Jessica Buch, M.A.
Jessica is originally from the Chicago area. She graduated with a double Bachelors degree in English Literature and Spanish from Bethel University.
She began teaching ESL as a volunteer in 1997 and has taught in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Philippines.
Her growing interest in language and culture led her to pursue a teaching degree. She became a licensed K-12 ESL teacher in both Minnesota and Illinois and has taught in public schools in both states.
She also earned her Masters degree in English as a Second Language from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. In 2004, Jessica moved to Costa Rica where she taught English at Intercultura, Playa Samara for three years.
In 2008 she joined Costa Rica TEFL as a trainer and also continues to teach private EFL classes.
Ron Croteau, M.A. Linguistics
Ron is originally from Southern California and earned his BA from the University of San Diego where he studied Communication and Economics. He is currently finishing his M.A. in Linguistics with an option in Teaching English as a Second Language from California State University, Long Beach. His research interests lie in developing pronunciation strategies for speakers of English as an International Language.
Ron served as head teacher at Intercultura, Centro de Idiomas where he taught group EFL classes and English for Business until 2008. He has been training teachers since 2007 and currently resides in California teaching EAP to internatoinal students at a public college. Ron spends his summers in Costa Rica training teachers and spending his weekends surfing the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica.
Colin Miller
Colin Miller was born and raised in Southern California and educated at the College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM where he completed his undergrad in Creative Writing and Music and his Masters in Education. Colin has been teaching for 10 years both in the USA and internationally, as well as a charter member of an award winning middle school in New Orleans, dedicated to the education of at risk youth.
Colin has several years of experience teaching ESL to a wide range of students from varying countries, ages, backgrounds and aptitudes. With a dedication to the craft and a genuine desire to improve the lives of his students, Colin is a valuable and integral part of our team and an excellent peer mentor for new teachers.
Dr. Rod Streng
A native of Southern California, Dr. Streng received his undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, the oldest and most prestigious journalism school in the world. He received his Master's in American literature, with an emphasis on applying linguistic strategies to decode written texts, from the University of North Texas, and his Master's in education administration from Massachusetts's Framingham State University as a participant in that school's international program in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Dr. Streng also holds a PhD in English from Middle Tennessee State University. After a twelve year tenure in Costa Rica, he currently resides with his wife and two children in Nashville. Fluently bilingual, he teaches Spanish at a private school located there, and lives part-time in Costa Rica where he imparts TEFL training courses.
Victoria Schwartz, M.Ed.
Victoria Schwarz graduated with a B.A. in Communications and English Literature, with an additional emphasis in Theology and Philosophy, from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco, California. She received her Master's in Education/TESL in 2008 from Framingham College, Massachusetts. She is completing her second Master's of Education/TESL at the University of Costa Rica.
Extensive international training led to work and experiences in several areas including, Criminal Justice, Life Coaching and the Healing Arts. She has created and operated several businesses, including the largest wholly-owned female car brokerage company in the State of California.
Victoria has lived in Costa Rica for more than five years, doing a few businesses including teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL), English as a Second Language (ESL), with an emphasis in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) as a contractor for language schools and numerous businesses and financial institutions in the San Jose area.
