Since
her first experience, at 15 years old, as a foreign exchange
student to the Netherlands with YFU,
Susan Svensson has been involved in and promoted international
exchange. In addition to her homestay experience in the
Netherlands, she has stayed in homestays in Hungary, Yugoslavia, Mexico
(Guadalajara and Oaxaca), and Austria. Susan is passionate about the
value of international exchange and volunteers for local international
exchange programs, including the Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City
Organization (OFSCA) and the International Visitor Leadership Program (formerly
International Diplomacy Council) of the Institute of
International Education.
When she was first asked to create a homestay program for ELS
Language Centers in Oakland, California, she welcomed the opportunity.
Her reputation for finding warm, welcoming hosts in middle and
upper-middle class neighborhoods spread rapidly and soon other
organizations sought her services. Susan has studied Spanish,
French, and Swedish, but she has also learned to say
"welcome" in many languages and personally greets ESI's
international homestay visitors shortly after their arrival.
In addition to managing the homestay program for Educational
Services, Intl., Susan teaches ESL, business writing, and computers and
designs curriculum, including the design and delivery of online writing
courses. She has over 23 years experience teaching and designing
curriculum for corporations, educational institutions, and
English language schools. Susan holds degrees in English and
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) from UCSB and
UC Berkeley, and has an Adult Education Teaching Credential from San
Jose State University.
Her work with local training companies has included teaching clients
from Microsoft, Boston Scientific, Chiron, Bank of America, LBL, Camico,
Intel, and many, many more. Read comments
from recent participants in Susan's classes offered through World
Learning for Business and the Oakland Adult Career and Technical
Education School.
Promoting and
Encouraging...
