Recognizing Our International Educators

In the classroom, the learning experience depends largely on the instructor. That’s why at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s International Programs our educators are of the highest caliber. They have extensive teaching experience and are dedicated to their craft and their students. 

Drawing on careers in academia, industry and public service, our instructors bring valuable real-world perspectives to their teaching. Each day, our educators play a crucial role in supporting the mission of UC Davis International Programs by motivating and inspiring the learners they guide. 

We recognize our educators by bringing them to the forefront and inviting partners and students to learn more about their work.

Ellen Lange 

Ellen Lange has been with CPE for roughly 40 years, teaching, substituting and supporting programs that draw on her specialized expertise. She has taught ESL/EFL at all levels and college composition as both a lecturer at UC Davis and as an instructor with UC Davis CPE’s International Programs. Ellen previously served as president of California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is also a recipient of the Associated Students of UC Davis Excellence in Teaching Award and the UC Davis Academic Federation Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. 

What excites you about teaching? 

Although one might think I would be “burnt out” after so many years of teaching, it excites me to see students learn a new language and be able to use what they have learned in the real world, not just in a language class, as they navigate the English-speaking environment around them. 

What classes do you enjoy teaching most? 

My personal favorite is listening and speaking skills, with a particular emphasis on speaking with meaning. As a language learner myself, I know that understanding a new language can be almost an overwhelming challenge, and I want to help students meet this challenge, just as I have done in French and Spanish and now Japanese. 

What do you want students to take away from your classes? 

One simple thing: confidence that they can learn and use a new language. 

Why are you passionate about international education? 

International education opens doors for both teachers and students. Learning another language is the key to deeply understanding another culture. This is a global world, and international education is key to becoming a member of it. 

Angela Foin 

Angela Foin has been teaching at UC Davis CPE since the program’s early days, long before the International Center opened. She first began teaching writing classes in the mid-1990s, where she taught undergraduates whose first language was not English and international graduate students. In addition to writing, she also taught pronunciation to graduate students — an experience that sparked her lasting interest in pronunciation instruction. 

What excites you about teaching after so many years?

It never gets boring teaching international language learners because they are so motivated to learn. They are what makes teaching so much fun. 

What do you want students to take away from your classes? 

As I tell my students at the end of each class, their time with me is just the beginning of their mastery of English pronunciation. I urge them to continue using what they have learned when they return to their home countries. That is what I want them to take away from my class — the motivation to keep improving even after they are no longer in class and in an English-speaking environment. 

If students are working in STEM fields, my hope is that my classes better prepare them for their careers and for sharing their contributions with colleagues from other countries. These interactions could lead to scientific breakthroughs that could benefit all of us. 

Why are you passionate about international education? 

International education is so very important. By helping students develop the skill of communicating in English with others from different languages, I hope to expedite greater understanding between cultures in our complex world. 

Teresa Pargeter 

Teresa Pargeter has been teaching English as a Second Language for over 30 years, focusing primarily on adult education at the university level. She began teaching at UC Davis nearly 20 years ago and has been teaching with CPE since 2006. Curriculum and materials development and literacy have been a significant part of her work. 

What do you enjoy most about teaching? 

I love interacting with students and facilitating that moment of comprehension, whether it is about language or culture. I love learning from them, sharing ideas and seeing things from a new perspective. When a topic sparks excitement and enthusiasm, it’s a great feeling! 

I also like that it feels like we both gain a new vantage point with which to understand the world and hopefully make it better. After all these years, it's still the best experience. 

What do you want students to take away from your classes? 

I hope that students leave class feeling like they learned in an enjoyable environment. I hope they were able to forge valuable friendships and feel like they know more about the world. 

What makes international education special? 

Learning about culture. We all have the same needs: food, water, shelter, sleep, friendship, but the ways in which we interact with the world and with others around us are much more varied than the list of needs we have. Three decades of teaching international students has taught me that there is still so much wonder and variety in the world. In teaching there's always a new adventure. Every day there's something new to learn or share. 

Abram Jones 

Abram Jones has been an instructor with UC Davis CPE for 14 years and taught at UC Davis for 18 years. As an ESOL and LOTE educator, he designs curricula and develops courses in Canvas. His professional work includes serving as an instructional leader, curriculum coordinator and faculty mentor, supporting online and hybrid course development through Quality Matters standards. A TESOL Advanced Practitioner and certified Quality Matters Peer Reviewer, he is committed to accessible, well-designed learning environments. His scholarship focuses on second language pedagogy and applied linguistics, with publications addressing discourse, grammar instruction and data-informed teaching practices. 

Why do you teach? 

I feel I am a born teacher. No work feels as natural to me as teaching does and no career as rewarding. 

What do you want students to take away from your classes? 

As someone who studied abroad in France and Japan during graduate school, I understand what it feels like to live and learn in another country. My hope for my students is that their time in the program will expand their view of the world, strengthen their confidence in English and give them meaningful experiences inside and outside the classroom. 

What do you enjoy teaching most? 

I enjoy teaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because they help our students become more global citizens. When we, as denizens of rich nations such as China, Japan, the U.S. and Korea, learn about our worldwide responsibilities and how to articulate those in academic English, everyone benefits. This is one reason why I'm passionate about international education. 

Elizabeth Morrison 

Elizabeth Morrison has been teaching at UC Davis CPE since fall 2014. Over the past 12 years, she has taught most of the courses offered in International Programs, from beginner to advanced levels, and developed a variety of courses, including Advanced Academic Listening and Speaking, English Through Music and Film Studies. 

Elizabeth has also taught community college entry-level writing and dissertation writing, conversation classes to university students and business professionals in Korea, English for Specific Purposes to engineering and economics students at the University of Oulu in Finland and English for travel and survival English to Russian immigrants in adult schools. 

What excites you about teaching? 

The students. When they ask questions because they are truly interested in learning, seeing a student make progress — even if it’s a small step forward — or seeing a reticent student take a risk and gain confidence when others understand them and show interest in their ideas. Their enthusiasm is rewarding. 

What do you want students to take away from your classes? 

I hope they come away not only with new knowledge and skills but also with a greater understanding of themselves, a wider perspective of the world and an appreciation for what they are capable of. 

I also hope they feel more confident in using English to communicate their ideas and being open to new ones. I would love for them to think of themselves as global citizens with a shared responsibility. 

Why is international education so important? 

International education provides an opportunity for people to view the world from a different perspective, exchange ideas and come away with a better understanding of themselves, others and our interconnectedness as global citizens. The more we are exposed to people from other backgrounds and cultures, the more we realize our shared humanity.

• Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about our instructors or our programs.