Alumni Ambassador Quanisha Charles marvels at the transformative impact that her relatively short virtual project as an English Language Specialist in Lebanon in 2023 has had on her career. “My Specialist experience served as a significant milestone in my professional journey by helping to shape my identity as an educator and global citizen,” Charles said. “Immersing myself in a different educational environment and collaborating with Lebanese English teachers not only fostered a greater empathy and understanding of global issues, such as challenges both students and teachers are facing in the classroom, but also made me a more effective educator and advocate for English language learning.”
Since completing her project, Charles has been using her new skills and insights in her full range of professional pursuits, including teaching, writing, research, mentoring, advocacy, and international engagement. “I feel fortunate to be at a point where I can contribute to both my local academic environment and the global scope of language education, while still pursuing opportunities for professional growth and development in all these areas,” Charles said. “Now, as an Alumni Ambassador, I have the opportunity to mentor aspiring professionals and continue building networks that bridge academic and international communities.”
At the Alumni Ambassador training in Washington, D.C., in July 2024, Charles enjoyed outings with her Alumni Ambassador cohort (left), and visited Illinois state representatives on Capitol Hill to discuss her Specialist project and education in her home state (right).
For her Specialist project, Charles led an eight-week workshop series with a group of fifteen university teachers from across Lebanon, covering topics ranging from rhetorical analysis, response to writing, backward design learning, and AI in higher education. Charles utilized digital apps such as Book Creator, Brisk Teaching, Genially, and Microsoft Sway to help her participants engage with critical thinking tasks, flipped classroom instruction and project- and problem-based learning. Using weekly feedback surveys provided her with valuable insights into her participants’ learning needs and how her lessons were being received. “Introducing Lebanese teachers to different instructional methods and educational digital tools served to improve pedagogy and help their students become effective writers and critical thinkers,” Charles stated. “For me, the most significant aspect of my project was simply connecting with the teachers in another country on a weekly basis to discuss a common goal of teaching English. It was enriching to learn about their challenges, triumphs, and strategies to be effective in the classroom.”
As a Specialist in Lebanon in 2023, Charles led an 8-week virtual training on critical thinking strategies in the language classroom, flipped classroom instruction, and project-based learning.
As an Associate Professor of English at North Central College, Charles teaches a range of language study courses along with honors special topic courses. This year she has taught the following courses: Foundations of Language Study, First-Year Seminar; Creative Writing for Self-Discovery; Writing, Rhetoric, & Digital Studies; and Advanced ESL. “I enjoy developing curriculum that supports culturally and linguistically diverse learners, who are eager to learn more about communicating and connecting with people around the world,” Charles said, citing her recent course ‘Experience South Africa’ that she developed for students interested in studying abroad and seeking to explore the linguistic landscapes in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Charles with her colleague marketing their ‘Experience South Africa’ study away course (left); with her first-generation English majors at North Central College (right).
Alongside her teaching duties, Charles has been immersed in research, avidly publishing work related to teacher identity, critical sociolinguistics, and the intersection of culture and language learning. Collaborating with colleagues from TESOL International, she co-edited the forthcoming book Radical Inclusivity: Critical Language Awareness in the Language and Writing Classroom, which comprises a myriad of epistemologies that merge theory and practice in the language and writing classroom. Serving as a Social Responsibility Interest Section Area of Advocacy Leader for TESOL International Association, Charles facilitates webinars for scholars to share their knowledge and connect with communities around the world.
Representing English Language Programs with program staff at the 2024 ACTFL conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Active in advocacy and mentoring, Charles has been working with first-generation students through North Central College’s Cardinal First program, and seeking out youth organizations to extend mentorship. “As a first-generation college graduate myself, I understand the challenges of navigating academia without a roadmap, so I am committed to helping other first-gen students find their footing, build confidence, and thrive in their careers,” Charles said. One of her 2024 publications, ‘Fostering Intercultural Communication via International Conversation Partners’, was developed by collaborating with one of her former first-generation international students from the Kyrgyz Republic.
Volunteering as an Incubator Mentor for Naperville Public District, Charles supports high school seniors strategizing successful measures for “their entrepreneurial journey of critical thinking skills as they pursue business endeavors.” This past summer, she joined World Learning as a senior program leader facilitating curriculum design and helping Iraqi youth have a positive experience in the U.S. Working with World Learning inspired Charles to apply for a Fulbright Specialist project, and she was selected to join their highly competitive roster of candidates.
Working with program staff at the 2024 MIDTESOL Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa
For Charles, having the opportunity to challenge herself professionally through her Specialist project has motivated her to continue taking on new roles that blend her academic passions, thereby expanding her professional network in the process. In this vein, she saw the chance to become an Alumni Ambassador as another opportunity to contribute to and grow with her community of TESOL educators. “I enjoy learning from and with colleagues and hearing about their experiences teaching around the world,” Charles said. “It’s an honor to be able to represent a U.S. Department of State funded program and share my experiences with educators at conferences and events.”
Stay tuned for our next featured Alumni Ambassador story with Monique Grindell.