Teachers
The English Language Program staff are professional teachers with experience and degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of other languages, linguistics, foreign language, education, or related fields. Meet the staff through the descriptions below.

Julia Fituch coordinates and teaches in the English Language Program. She has a master’s degree in Linguistics/Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Michigan, a secondary teaching certificate from the State of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree in German from Wayne State University. Julia has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at the English Language Institute of the University of Michigan. Besides teaching ESL Julia has also taught German at the University of Detroit and for Garden City Adult and Community Education. This spring, Julia will teach the Afterschool English Workshop for Kids and Teens.

Laurie Nutt teaches and assists in the administration of the English Language Program. She has a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Eastern Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in History of Art from the University of Michigan. Laurie has taught English in Japan to both children and adults at the Amity English School. She has also assisted at Pound House Children’s Center and worked as a camp counselor for both children and teens. Laurie has also studied some Japanese and French. This spring, Laurie will teach Everyday Conversation and Advanced Speaking and Listening.

Heather Sims has a master’s degree and teaching certificate in ESL Education from the University of Tennessee. She also has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Michigan State University. Heather has taught ESL. to children in two different public school districts in Tennessee. She has taught/tutored ESL to adults at Maryville College in Tennessee and at Michigan State University. Heather also participated in an international work-study program in Japan while she was an undergraduate student. Heather will be on maternity leave during the spring and summer semesters, and will return in the fall semester.

Sally Behrenwald has a bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan State University. She taught English to children, teens, and adults in the Ukraine while serving in the Peace Corps for over two years.  Sally has also taught Sunday school to preschool-aged children at her church for several years.  She has studied Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, and ancient Greek.  This spring, Sally will teach the 2 – 3 ½, 3 ½ - 5, and 4 ½ - 6 Year-Olds classes.

Cara Fox has a bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate in Spanish from Michigan State University.  She is currently studying toward her master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language at  Eastern Michigan University.  She has taught English to adults and teens at a private language institute in Italy.  Cara has also taught Spanish at a high school in Arizona.  She has lived and studied in Ecuador and Spain.  This spring, Cara will teach English for Everyday Life, Beginning and Intermediate Conversation, and Listening and Speaking.

Katherine Sholder has a master’s degree in Education and an elementary teaching certificate.  Katherine has been teaching Spanish and various other subjects for Friends School in Detroit for the past two years.  She has also taught ESL for Language Link and Michigan Language Center in Ann Arbor.  For the past two summers, Katherine has taught the Beginning and Intermediate Elementary-School-Aged classes here in the English Language Program.  This summer, she will teach the same classes.

Ashlee Wolfe has a bachelor’s degree in English.  She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Linguistics and TESOL from Eastern Michigan University.  After graduating from college, she taught English at a university in China for eighteen months.  She has taught ESL to adults at Harding University in Arkansas. Ashlee has also taught reading, language arts, and math to school-aged children in Missouri.  During the fall of 2007, she taught Intermediate Conversation, Advanced Speaking & Listening, and Everyday Conversation here in the English Language Program.  This summer, Ashlee will teach the Beginning and Intermediate Teen classes.