Laura G. Davis
Gardner,MA
Summary
Experienced English Language Teacher skilled in developing comprehensive training programs across diverse educational settings, including public schools, community colleges, and businesses. Expertise in facilitating partnerships with local organizations to enhance student opportunities and support career readiness.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
ESOL Instructor
Ascentria Care Alliance
Worcester, Massachusetts
12.2023 - Current
- Teach job readiness and English to intermediate ESOL students in both online and in-person formats.
- Designed engaging lesson plans tailored to diverse ESOL learners, fostering inclusive and effective learning environments.
- Facilitated language acquisition through interactive activities, promoting student engagement and participation.
- Utilized Burlington English and Ellii to enhance ESOL instruction and improve student language skills.
- Implement Northstar to develop students' digital literacy effectively.
- Administered ongoing assessments using Best Plus 3.0 to evaluate student language skills.
- Follow Teaching Skills That Matter (TSTM) framework for lessons.
Direct Support Professional
Frank Olean Center
Westerly, Rhode Island
08.2022 - 12.2023
- Provided personalized care and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/D).
- Provided personalized care and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
- Advocated for clients' needs, ensuring their voices were heard in organizational and community settings.
- Accompanied individuals on outings, fostering independence and facilitating community integration.
- Coached four individuals through work readiness modules and exercises, enhancing their interest in employment opportunities.
- Used approved crisis intervention techniques in emergency situations, such as learned in CPI training.
- Received continuous valuable training through Relias.
ESL Specialist & Lecturer for the Center for Leadership Education
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
08.2011 - 09.2020
- Taught Professional Writing & Communication for both graduate and undergraduate international students, including assignments such as memos, resumes & cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, professional E-mails (particularly those revolving around requests and asking for favors or special permission, and making complaints), brief and long reports of summary and problem solving, professional & academic proposals, letters of complaint, instructional reports, white papers, and oral presentations.
- Taught situation appropriateness by comparing cultural differences in each context and by practicing the American-style of accepted behavior both in writing and in speech.
- Facilitated cultural comparisons in class for the sole purpose of garnering and demonstrating the correct student/professional profile in the American workplace.
- Emphasized importance of leadership and collaboration in today's workplace and gave strategies for demonstrating leadership in writing and in speech; provided opportunities to work collaboratively both in classroom activities and a group proposal project.
- Trained students in special formatting of professional documents and the importance of attractiveness.
- Explored impact of social media on workplace success and challenges, providing students with practical insights.
- Mentored students by writing over 50 letters of recommendation annually, supporting their professional aspirations.
- Taught Oral Presentations for both graduate and undergraduate international students, including oral and written assignments aimed at developing professional speaking abilities before a variety of authentic small and large audiences, such as technical presentations, facilitating meetings, giving large proposals and pitching proposals, teaching concepts.
- Taught students how to gage audience needs and adjust presentation style and strategies accordingly through use of space, technology, slides, audience proximity, use of hooks, pace, pause time, and organization.
- Encouraged the practice of giving constructive criticism in peer reviews.
- Facilitated workshop on job interviewing strategies.
- Conducted rigorous mock-interviews with students.
- Planned collaboratively with my teacher's assistant to videotape all student presentations and gave constructive feedback and grades.
- Performed the role of ESL Specialist and Consultant for a contracted 10 hours per week in private meetings with international graduate and undergraduate students on all language skill areas, but particularly those as they pertain to gaining and succeeding in professional employment in the United States and succeeding in courses at JHU.
- Guided students through cultural pitfalls and differences, assisting with resumes, application packages, and interviewing strategies to facilitate successful transitions in the American workplace.
- Clarified writing of graduate student thesis' and journal article entries in side by side collaboration.
- Prepared students for and conduct mock interviews.
- Developed short programs of improvement per each student in elements of pronunciation, speech giving, writing, grammar, slang, idiom usage, and small talk, interviewing skills and strategies.
- Evaluated ESL student program annually and made programmatic alterations.
- Mentored students; wrote dozens of letters of recommendation for students annually.
- Served as a Boot Camp Instructor for graduate students in the Master's in Engineering Management (MSEM) orientation (Aug. '13, '14, '15).
- Welcomed and oriented students to the JHU MSEM program.
- Taught leadership seminar to mixed American & international cohort.
- Facilitated international lectures on what to expect in an American graduate school.
- Taught mini course in professional writing and communication to internationals.
Instructor of Oral Presentations for Business
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, Maryland
08.2016 - 06.2018
- Facilitated classroom discussions to promote critical thinking skills.
- Delivered lectures utilizing modern technology to improve comprehension.
- Designed lesson plans that engaged diverse student groups and enhanced participation.
- Cultivated a positive learning environment by actively engaging students and promoting inclusivity.
- Evaluated student performance through regular assessments and provided constructive feedback to support improvement.
- Created comprehensive course materials and resources to enhance learning experiences.
- Identified student difficulties and developed additional resources for review.
Business Competition Coach & Writing Instructor
Carey Business School of JHU
Baltimore, Maryland
06.2017 - 08.2017
- Led four international cohorts in high-stakes business competition, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and strategic thinking.
- Taught students to research, write case studies, and present solutions to teams and business advisors, enhancing critical thinking and communication skills.
- Coached team to secure 2nd place in summer competition, demonstrating effective mentorship and competitive strategy.
ESOL Instructor
Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD
06.2005 - 12.2015
- Taught academic ESOL at 4 thriving Baltimore campuses with over 200 student nationalities represented over 10-year period.
- Taught English Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking; Intermediate Grammar; Intermediate Writing; Intermediate Reading; Advanced Grammar and Conversation; Advanced Writing; Advanced Reading; Advanced Academic Reading; Advanced Academic Writing (an intensive writing course designed to prepare ESOL students for research writing in the standard ENGL 101 course).
- Conducted college-wide assessments to evaluate and enhance student performance.
- Facilitated joint classes for international and American students at Dundalk campus, promoting cultural exchange and collaboration through a campus-wide presentation on Food and Culture.
- Participated in International Club events and organized award ceremonies to celebrate student achievements.
ESOL/EFL Instructor
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD
08.2003 - 09.2014
- Taught ESOL/EFL in a highly academic English language program for foreign students intending to rise through the American university system.
- Conducted oral interviews and assessed new students to determine language proficiency and tailor instruction.
- Coordinated and led educational field trips to enhance cultural immersion and practical language application.
Writing Consultant and Instructor
University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
08.2009 - 06.2011
- Acted as a 'Writing Consultant' in the Achievement & Learning Center, a writing center and student success center open to all university students.
- Instructed Master's in Public Administration (MPA) students from China on writing graduate-level research papers for American professors, focusing on American academic report organization and essential writing techniques such as thesis development, comparison, summary, and argumentation.
- Taught Advanced Composition (WRIT 200) courses to transfer students and others needing a refresher course in advanced college essay writing in American based classes with a growing population of international students.
- Facilitated writing workshops for diverse purposes, enhancing writing skills across the university community.
- Developed and implemented timed writing strategies to enhance students' writing efficiency during exams.
- Acted as the one and only ESL specialist in the Achievement & Learning Center.
- Performed systematic scoring of Blue Book essay exams for the Achievement & Learning Center for the purpose of deciding pass or fail decision making of WRIT 200 students and placement of writing students into courses.
Education
M.A. - TESOL
George Washington University
Washington, DCWashington, DC
B.S. - English, Writing
Towson University
Towson, MDTowson, MD
School Counseling
Loyola University
Baltimore, MDBaltimore, MD
Skills
- Outlook
- Microsoft Suite
- Blackboard
- Educational software
- Advising
- Consulting
- Mentorship
- Writing
- Public speaking
- Interpersonal skills
- Curriculum design
- Digital literacy
- Cross-cultural communication
- Student engagement
- Educational technology
- Critical thinking facilitation
- Team collaboration
- Feedback delivery
- Mentoring students
- Advocacy skills
- Technology integration
- Academic support
- Grammar instruction
- Study skills
- Peer feedback
- Pronunciation coaching
- Online teaching
- Test preparation
- Career guidance
- Teaching strategies
- Project-based learning
- Student motivation
- Workforce readiness
- Technology integration
- Phonics
- Group discussions
- Intercultural training
- Student evaluation
- Program development
- Grammar expertise
- Small group instruction
- Communicative approach
- Authentic materials
- Creative learning strategies
- Recordkeeping expertise
- Integrated ESL support
- Student assessment
Professional Presentations
- Speed Dating for Automaticity, Maryland TESOL Conference, MM/DD/YY
- Global Crisis' & Peace Studies, Maryland TESOL Conference, MM/DD/YY
- Formulas for Sentences: A Lesson on Sentence Structure, Maryland TESOL Conference, MM/DD/YY
- Quit While You're Ahead: Writing Concisely, University of Baltimore, MM/DD/YY
- Transition Words: Making Clear Connections, University of Baltimore, MM/DD/YY
- Growing Informality in American Culture & Language, Notre Dame of MD University, MM/DD/YY
- Ten Best Practices for Teaching Academic Writing, CCBC ESOL Retreat, Essex, MM/DD/YY
Courses Taught
- ENGL 101 - Composition
- Academic Writing
- Professional Writing
- English Grammar
- American Culture
- American History
- Personal Statements
- American Culture through Film
- Listening & Speaking
- Reading & Writing
- Integrated Skills
- Professional Communication
- Pronunciation & Accent Reduction
- Interpersonal and Cultural Competency
- Vocabulary
- Research, Writing, and Speaking for Science and Engineering
- Public Speaking
Highlights
- Invited for 5 years to the High Table dinner at JHU, an honor bestowed on the favorite professors of the freshman class.
- Throughout 9 years of teaching at Johns Hopkins University, student evaluations were notably some of the best in the Center for Leadership Education and the Whiting School of Engineering, overall.
Timeline
ESOL Instructor
Ascentria Care Alliance
12.2023 - Current
Direct Support Professional
Frank Olean Center
08.2022 - 12.2023
Business Competition Coach & Writing Instructor
Carey Business School of JHU
06.2017 - 08.2017
Instructor of Oral Presentations for Business
Stevenson University
08.2016 - 06.2018
ESL Specialist & Lecturer for the Center for Leadership Education
Johns Hopkins University
08.2011 - 09.2020
Writing Consultant and Instructor
University of Baltimore
08.2009 - 06.2011
ESOL Instructor
Community College of Baltimore County
06.2005 - 12.2015
ESOL/EFL Instructor
Notre Dame of Maryland University
08.2003 - 09.2014
M.A. - TESOL
George Washington University
B.S. - English, Writing
Towson University
School Counseling
Loyola University