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Katy Purviance

ESL Instructor – I’ve taught English in four countries… so far!

MA TESOL

U.S. Licensed Teacher: Elementary Education, ESL (PreK-12), English (6-12)

Uses creative methods to help students of all ages feel safe, supported, confident, and competent. Focuses on teaching students real English they can use immediately. Customizes lessons to satisfy students’ real life needs.

Flexible teaching style	Makes complicated things easy
Approachable & caring	Engages and motivates students
Upbeat and positive attitude	Promotes cultural-sensitivity
Well-organized & detail-oriented	Develops student leadership skills

Teaching Method

I bring out the magic in my students! I developed my method of teaching English based on Dr. Stephen Krashen’s research on Comprehensible Input. This method mimics the way that all people learn their first language; it is said to be the only way that language is acquired. In short, I co-create improvised stories with my students based on their own ideas. My method seamlessly combines listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a way that creates exceptional student engagement and retention.

Teaching Experience

Private Online English Teacher, August 2021 – Present

• Create and teach 100% customized English lessons using my English Stories Method
• Currently teaching students in grades 1-3

Grade Four ESL Teacher, August 2020 – February 2021
Hong Qiao International School; Shanghai, China

• Hosted a Morning Circle to help the students build a feeling of community
• Taught eight EAL classes, eight Literacy classes, and five UOI classes
• Used my English Stories Method to create exceptionally engaging and effective lessons

Grade 1 ESL Teacher, August 2019 – June 2020
Shanghai Liaoyuan Bilingual School; Shanghai China

• Taught four English classes and eight UOI classes a week to two classes of 28 students each
• Developed and used my English Stories Method to create engaging and effective lessons
• Taught improvisation to grade 4 students in our after school program

Grade 2 ESL Teacher, August 2018 – June 2019
Shanghai Liaoyuan Bilingual School; Shanghai China

• Without textbooks, taught six English classes and ten IB PYP UOI classes a week to 19 students whose English levels ranges from Zero to Fluent and everything in between.
• Led our daily Morning Reading class, using carefully chosen authentic materials along with different voices and improvised sound effects to make the story come alive.
• Actively engaged in all school duties: Lunch Duty, Recess Duty, Bus Duty, Flag Ceremonies, Parent-Teacher Conferences, parent WeChat group, interview potential students, etc.
• Designed and delivered a professional development training for my colleagues on Stephen Krashen’s research on Comprehensible Input in Second Language Acquisition.

Drama Teacher, January 2018 – August 2018
Wayside Community Theatre; Portland, Oregon, United States

• Facilitate a fun, challenging, fast-paced weekly theatre games workshop for adults
• Lead a weekly improv meetup

Self-Directed Three-Country Sabbatical, 2016-2017
Canada, Vietnam, United States

English as a Foreign Language Professor, September 2015 – August 2016
College of Applied Sciences; Rustaq, Oman

• Taught an 8-hour Year Two English for Academic Purposes course, a 10-hour Year One English for Academic Purposes course, two 8-hour Foundations A Reading & Writing courses, and a 2-hour Foundations B Speaking & Listening course
• Developed mid-term and final exams
• Directed student play performed for Open Day

English as a Foreign Language Professor (64-hour Internship), January – February 2015
Kolegium Języków Obcych (College of Foreign languages); Gliwice, Poland

• Without textbooks, taught 11 90-minute classes a week, including four first-year classes, three translation-specialty classes, and four teacher training classes
• Designed lessons to improve specific grammatical problems while also strengthening student skill in area of specialty (teaching or translation)
• Created and led activities that inspired even the quietest students to participate enthusiastically

Improv Teacher, August 2014 – May 2015
School for International Training; Brattleboro, Vermont

• Founded and taught a two-hour weekly improv class to classmates of all skill levels

English Conversation Circle Leader, August 2013 – June 2014
Clark College; Vancouver, Washington

• Established and led the most popular English Conversation Circle on campus, with as many as 16 ESL students per week, of all levels, from 12 countries
• Embedded public speaking training into our Circle to make students more confident when speaking in front of groups
• Orchestrated group dynamics so that everyone felt comfortable enough to participate
• Conducted impromptu lessons to make difficult grammar easy to understand
• Validated students by designing discussion topics around their real lives
• Advised students on correct idiom usage so that their English sounded natural
• Empowered immigrant students by explaining their anti-discrimination rights
• Facilitated discussions about American culture and social etiquette

ESL Classroom Tutor, August 2013 – June 2014
Clark College; Vancouver, Washington

• Co-taught a high beginner, low intermediate ESL class of 25 students from modest economic backgrounds, age 18 to 75, from six countries
• Developed and led role-playing exercises with real-world applications: calling a doctor to make an appointment, meeting with a teacher to discuss a problem, ordering food in a restaurant, interviewing for a job, etc.
• Created and deployed fun English language games that helped students understand grammar as well as speak more fluently and confidently

Volunteer Coordinator, March 2012 – February 2013
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington
Recruited for this position soon after becoming a Leader because of my enthusiasm.

• Interviewed all potential Girl Scout Leaders, setting expectations to help them have a positive and meaningful experience
• Acted as the liaison between potential/new Leaders and Girl Scout Council to make sure everyone’s needs were met in the most diplomatic way possible
• Led monthly Leader meetings with a focus on keeping Leaders feeling engaged and excited

Girl Scout Leader, October 2011 – February 2013
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington

• Expanded enrollment with my dynamic girl-focused approach, making mine the fastest-growing Girl Scout troop in my city. Within a few months, my troop grew from six to 18 girls, ranging in age from eight to 13 in three levels: Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes.
• Developed all activities for each of the three levels for our weekly two-hour meetings

Conference Workshops I Have Led

My Secret Recipe for Respectful Classroom Surprise Teach the Teacher, online, March 2022

The Importance of Play in Learning Shishi China, March 2021

Show What You Know: Performance-Based Assessment TESOL Arabia, Dubai UAE, March 2016

Show What You Know: Performance-Based Assessment Sandanona, Vermont USA, May 2015

Education

Master at Teaching, Teaching English as a Second Language, July 2015
SIT Graduate Institute; Brattleboro, Vermont

Selected Coursework:

• Teaching the Four Skills
• Language Analysis for Lesson Planning
• Second Language Acquisition
• Group Dynamics
• Intercultural Communication for Language Teachers
• Curriculum Design & Assessment
• English Applied Linguistics
• Becoming a Teacher Educator
• Danish – Independent Study

Honors:

• Selected by peers to give opening keynote address at annual our Sandanona Conference
• Founded and taught school improv troupe

Improvisation Training, January 2014 – August 2018

• Curious Comedy Theatre; Portland, Oregon (42 hours)
• ComedySportz; Portland, Oregon (28 hours)
• Brody Theatre; Portland, Oregon (42 hours)
• The Liberators; Portland, Oregon (72 hours)
• Kickstand Comedy Space; Portland, Oregon (42 hours)
• Deep End Theatre; Portland, Oregon (12 hours)
• Plus numerous improv/theatre workshops

Certified Literacy Tutor Training and Cultural Sensitivity Training, August 2013
Clark College; Vancouver, Washington

Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, May 2000
Minors in Chemistry, Art, Creative Writing, and Religious Studies
University of Idaho; Moscow, Idaho

Cultural Competencies

• Uses Way of Council to create a circle of trust and understanding among students, as well as providing equal ground for their voices
• Models and fosters a participatory student-centered environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Continually seeks dialogue and understanding from my students about their realities so that I can be an ever-better and increasingly relevant teacher for them.
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.

Other International Experience

Albania, England, Canada, Vietnam, Spain, France, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Cuba, Ireland, Norway, Bahamas, Burkina Faso, Italy, Mexico