When I entered the TESOL profession as an ESL instructor, I was already a writer and soon began creating thoughtful, engaging and effective educational materials and curriculum. As a Senior Instructor, I created curriculum for a variety of classes including CURRENT EVENTS, AMERICAN HISTORY, BUSINESS and CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES. As the Director of a language institute, I re-organized and edited the curriculum of the whole school and incorporated Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) into all aspects of our curriculum. As a university Teacher Trainer, I applied statistical and research-based modern pedagogy in all curriculum writing. I currently focus most of my professional efforts on curriculum writing and implementation. What follows are a variety of TESOL curriculum samples and proposals I have crafted.
I have been a professional and academic writer for over two decades. I have been represented by five different book publishers and been in numerous publications. My general writing interest has been an ongoing continuation of my MA work, focusing on cross-cultural and intercultural issues and ideas. My work is often on folklore, myths, beliefs and culturally influenced ideas that inform them. I have also been a journalist since 1989, usually writing on similar culture-focused subjects. Following is a sampling of my intercultural writing projects. For more information, my Publications Resume is here,.
The idea of a ‘guardian angel’ or divine spirit of good assigned to every person seems to be a universal concept. This book explores the intercultural aspects of this persistent spiritual concept and offers an in-depth study of the history and practices surrounding the guardian angel around the world.
This study of the I Ching and how it relates to each person is an intercultural exploration of the roots of Chinese philosophy and Taoism. These key ideas interpenetrate Chinese culture even today. The I Ching and Taoist philosophy reveal that every human being is a special blend of characteristics that makes us who we are. This book explores these cultural ideas through the lens of Chinese culture and thus is a fascinating study of how culture and ideas shape people and countries.
From America and China to Haiti to Peru, this book analyzes the common themes and archetypal symbols of higher religious ritual, history and folklore. In this way readers can understand the differences in various cultures and see how these beliefs and ideas are part of every culture. It enables the construction of personal, deep understanding of the roles of myths, folklore, beliefs and traditions around the world and how they form the core of cultures and thus reflect the way they develop and interact with the world. The book includes photographs of actual rituals and sacred places from around the world.
Serpents have always been both venerated throughout the world, especially the Naga in Hindu, Tantric and Buddhist traditions. Naga Magick is more than a mythic and historical account of the Naga. It is also a cross-cultural exploration of beliefs, images and traditions in India that go back thousands of years. Dragon or serpents ‘powers’ are key to understanding Asian religions and cultures, but they are only rarely mentioned in traditional religious texts. Often these spirits are associated with springs, rivers, lakes and oceans as well as the numinous chthonian world below. Exploring the myths and ideas of the Naga open up an intercultural understanding of how history, anthropology and imagery help make and weave together a culture and it’s worldview.
Around the planet every culture has ways of ‘getting rid’ of negative feelings, thoughts, feelings or things that are harmful or holding people back. This gives us a view into one of the few concepts that is truly cross-cultural. Through the lens of belief and traditions, this book is a cross-cultural tour of the many different ways that people around the world, from many different countries and cultures, remove harmful or negative things from their lives. It forms a fascinating intercultural study of how people around the globe seek to banish the things that restrict, hinder or harm them in remarkably similar ways. If you are fascinated by the many ways that different cultures interact meaningfully with the world, this book is for you.
Dancing with Spirits is an intellectual but accessible 'travel guide' through the history and reality of the most important Shinto, Matsuri and Buddhist festivals of Japan. It features first-hand accounts of celebrations like Tanabata and Setsubun, but it also offers something more; the history of the these festivals and explanations of the symbolism and meaning behind them, things often Japanese revelers themselves often don't know.
Come and leap into the amazing world of Shinto, and Buddhism and the 'floating world' of Japanese rituals and folklore as it is being celebrated today.
I have a broad understanding of how crucial ‘cultural fluency’ is when working closely with a variety of international students, administrators and programs, both in the USA and abroad. Cross-cultural and intercultural communication issues are increasingly important for international clients and businesses today. I have become proficient at creating and delivering cross-cultural or Intercultural development’ programs and workshops. I have designed, written and led programs that help students develop their ‘intercultural communicative competence.’ In this way they can more effectively work with others in a positive manner. Here are examples of some of my work in this area.
