All teacher trainers hold a Master's degree or a PhD in TESOL or a related field and all have at least 10 years of professional teaching and training experience at university level. Classes will typically be taught by two instructors per class to provide a variety of experiences and perspectives to our students.

Melissa Jaen

Morning Instructor Melissa received her undergraduate degree in International Studies, with minors in Political Science and Photography, from Loyola University Chicago, and her MA in Linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University, where she concentrated her research on syntax, semantics, phonology, and the evolution of human language. Between undergraduate and graduate school, she spent significant time in Panama, first as a Peace Corps volunteer, and following Peace Corps, as an instructor of English as a Foreign Language in both public and private High School and University settings. Melissa is fluent in Spanish, and has also studied Korean, Arabic, German, Japanese, and Irish with varying levels of success. Her cumulative EFL/ESL experience has afforded her teaching opportunities in Panama, South Korea, and at home in Chicago. Melissa is passionate about all things language-related, and when she is not teaching, she enjoys photography, music, and finding any opportunity to travel.

Juliana Dukov

Afternoon & Practicum Instructor Juliana has her M.A. in English philology & theory of literature. She is an educator with over twelve years of direct teaching experience: Taught ESL in a variety of settings in the U.S., developed curricula and created educational projects for adult learners, worked as a writing consultant and tutor at college level. Juliana also taught EFL, Business English and TOEFL preparation courses abroad, English and American Literature at university level, worked as a foreign language instructor in English, Bulgarian, Russian and Italian.