Meet Intrax San Francisco Staff
The teachers and staff at Intrax San Francisco are professional, charismatic, helpful, patient, experienced and most importantly, they love their jobs. Most English language schools do not require their teachers and staff to have traveled, lived or worked abroad and this is one of the ways that Intrax is special. Each staff member has either been a student, a teacher, or an extended traveler abroad which makes them uniquely qualified to work closely with international students. Here are examples of some of the staff who work at our Intrax center in San Francisco.
Staff
Lindsey
Center Director
While pursuing a degree in Global Studies and Communications at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Lindsey spent a semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain where she studied Spanish and learned about the history and culture of Catalan. After traveling throughout Europe, Lindsey was inspired to continue her travels abroad. After graduating, Lindsey moved to Buenos Aires to teach ESL and explore the other countries of Central and South America including Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. After her travels, Lindsey started at Intrax and has been working to help students improve their English, experience San Francisco, and have fun ever since.
"From the first day I walked into the school, I knew that I had found the perfect place to work. Traveling and living abroad has had such an incredible and positive impact on my life. It is so rewarding to be a part of that experience for so many students, who have seized the opportunity to move to a foreign country, experience a different culture and learn a new language, as I did a few years ago. Every day I learn something new, meet someone from a place I have never been, and laugh a lot!"
Elisabeth
Academic Supervisor
Before joining Intrax in 2001, Elisabeth lived and worked in Europe and Africa, mostly in the education field. Elisabeth started as an ESL teacher in 1997. Elisabeth has always worked in an international community and says Intrax has been the best place so far to meet people from parts of the world she knew nothing about.
"Our school is filled with amazing international students whose curiosity and lively personalities keep me going. Our teachers are trained professionals who have a passion for sharing knowledge and an interest in each one of their students. Intrax is not just an English school; it is an international and colorful community. Our staff is dedicated to make your stay an unforgettable one and to give you a head start in your life and career."
Ted
Activities Advisor
Ted is originally from New York and later moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work for CNN Television. Ted visited friends in San Francisco ten years ago and fell in love with northern California. A year later he quit his job and moved to San Francisco to live the California Dream. He now skates Haight Street, surfs Santa Cruz and dances at the Fillmore. Ted has been connecting Intrax students to the best activities, sports, music and food San Francisco and California has to offer for five years.
"I love introducing people from all over the world to the culture of San Francisco so they can have their own American experience in this amazing city!"
Katarina
Student Advisor – Internships
Katarina originally comes from Slovakia and has been living in the United States for 11 years. During this time she has lived in many different parts of the country in pursuit of fulfilling her desire to travel and experience other places and cultures. Prior to coming to San Francisco, she had lived in Hawaii where she attended the Hawaii Pacific University and worked for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Hotel. Katarina has always been drawn to the international environment, but it was in Hawaii where she began to realize her interest in cultural exchange and education. Katarina joined Intrax in November 2008 and since that time she has placed over 50 interns. She says that Intrax has provided her with the opportunity to work with a very diverse and dynamic group of people and develop many news skills. She is dedicated to find the best internships for her students and provide them with an unforgettable experience.
"I love the internship program at Intrax because it gives me a great pleasure to be able to help international students with the process of selecting a rewarding internship that helps them achieve their long term career goals."
Teresa
Student Advisor – Accommodations
Having grown up in Okinawa, Japan and Florida, Teresa has always appreciated cultural diversity. After graduating from University of South Florida, Teresa spent a year teaching English in Japan. She then relocated to San Francisco, a city known for its diversity and rich culture. Teresa enjoys all the wonderful arts, music and cultural events that San Francisco offers! Teresa joined Intrax International Institute in January 2008.
"I am excited to be a part of the team that helps achieve students' dreams and success! I enjoy getting to know students and learning about different cultures from them."
Jennifer
Administrative Coordinator
Jen is originally from Northern California, and never travelled internationally until her junior year in college where she was fortunate enough to live in both Tahiti and Spain. Jen loved the experience of living abroad, and couldn't wait to try it again. After graduating, Jen went on to live and volunteer in the Dominican Republic for the Peace Corps. Since the summer of 2008, Jen has been working with international students, first matching them with host families, and now advising students on visa and program matters.
"I love working with international students, hearing their stories, and helping them have wonderful experiences in San Francisco. I feel like I am travelling without having to leave my desk!"
Teachers
Rebecca
Afternoon TOEFL Teacher
Rebecca has an M.A. in TESOL from San Francisco State University and has been teaching TOEFL at Intrax since 2000. Before coming to Intrax she taught at English language schools in Taiwan, Japan and Greece.
"I enjoy being a part of the iBT/TOEFL program at Intrax. In particular, it's very rewarding to see motivated students making progress in their academic writing, speaking, reading and note-taking as they prepare for the exam which will get them into graduate school in the Bay Area and elsewhere to pursue their different interesting majors."
Colin
English Language and Afternoon Focus Class Teacher
Colin first started teaching ESL over ten years ago as a volunteer tutor for Bosnian refugees. He taught English in Sumatra and Bali in Indonesia, as well as Guangdong, China before coming to San Francisco.
"One of the greatest pleasures of my job is the opportunity to meet students from so many diverse walks of life. Even though I'm the instructor, I feel that everyday I learn at least as much as I teach."
Marla
Afternoon Focus Class Teacher
Marla holds a CTESOL and a Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a CLAD emphasis. She is currently working towards her MA TESOL at San Francisco State University. She has been an ESL teacher since 2001 and she has been teaching at Intrax since 2003.
"I love teaching ESL and I'm very passionate about what I teach. I am an artist, so I bring my creativity with me into the classroom. I strive to create a positive and engaging classroom environment where my students are challenged to express themselves in English. The students are so wonderful! They come from countries all over the world, so I feel like I'm traveling when I come to work. Learning for me is a lifelong process and I learn something new everyday. I feel that teaching is such a rewarding job and I'm honored to be able to make a difference in people's lives by helping them."
