ESL/EngM Faculty
Mai Ackerman has been teaching English as a Second Language for over 17 years. She has a Master's degree in TESOL. In addition to teaching at Ventura College, she is also an adjunct instructor at Los Angeles Mission College in the credit and noncredit ESL programs. She is married and has three children. She was originally born in Vietnam and emigrated to the U.S. in 1975. In her free time, Mai enjoys reading and taking walks with her basset hound, Forrest.
Cynthia has always had a passion for traveling and learning different languages. She loves to read and learn, and teaching is second nature to her. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in Teaching in 2007 from CSU Channel Islands. She then went on to receive a Technical Writing certificate in 2008, and finally her Teaching Credential and Masters in Educational Technology and Learning from Azusa Pacific University in 2010. While raising her family, she taught in the private school sector for six years. In her free time, you might find her strolling the beach looking for sea glass, reading a book, or planning the next fun family adventure.
I have been teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language since 2011 in the United States and Thailand. I earned a B.A. degree in English with a minor in Linguistics from the University of California, Irvine and a M.A. degree in TESOL from California State University, Northridge. I have worked with students of various backgrounds and language levels. Having experienced living abroad myself, I am sensitive to the challenges of learning a new language, cultural differences, and the importance of being part of a supportive community in order to thrive. I am dedicated to academically and socially guiding the students to ensure their future success.
In addition to my passion for languages and travel, I enjoy being in nature, taking care of animals, and spending time with friends and family.
I earned my BA degree in Intercultural Studies because different cultures have always fascinated me. During college, I got to spend a semester in Spain and Morocco. It was amazing. But it was painful because I couldn’t talk to anyone! I decided to help others learn English so they wouldn’t have to experience the pain I felt. To become the best possible teacher, I studied and earned an MA in TESOL at Cal State LA. For many years, my dream was to teach English at a California Community College. Now it has come true!
I love to travel (and eat while I travel!), and I have been to Mexico (many, many times!), Spain, Morocco, Italy, and the Polynesian Islands. I also love to read, bike, walk, and hike with my family. Mostly, I love to teach.
Gardy Borromeo Cruz
I graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master's of Arts in Teaching, TESOL. I am TESOL certified with an experience of teaching ESL since 2013. I began teaching ESL abroad as soon as I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Biology from the California State University, Channel Islands. I have taught primary, secondary, and university students from South Korea, Turkey, and Japan. I have also taught English courses to international students for The Language Academy here in the United States. Helping people achieve their academic goals makes teaching truly enjoyable and rewarding. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling to new places and meeting new people because it gives me the opportunities to learn about different cultures and lifestyles.
Pamela Fetter
pamela_fetter@vcccd.edu
I have been an ESL teacher since 2002. I began teaching English while living abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Since then, I have taught at various schools around California in Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Barbara, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Santa Paula, Oxnard, and Ventura. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University and a Master's Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics from Cal State University Northridge. I specialize in conversation, pronunciation, grammar, and academic writing. When I am not teaching, I love hiking, camping, kayaking, photography, music, reading, and dancing as much as I can!
Jennifer Kagawa
jkagawa@vcccd.edu
Jennifer Kagawa has been a TESOL professional since 2005. She has taught students of a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds in the U.S. as well as in Vietnam and Mexico. She obtained a Master of Arts Degree in TESOL in June 2013 from California State University, Los Angeles. Jennifer’s teaching philosophy is that high expectations, a respectful and supportive environment, and focused feedback help students cultivate their own academic voice. She enjoys the creativity, challenge, and personality that each class brings. When she is not in class, she enjoys hiking and bird-watching.
June recently graduated with her Masters in TESOL Education from California State University San Bernardino. During the course of her Master's program, she conducted an international research project in Chile which compared private, semiprivate, and public English education. She previously worked for Ventura Unified School District, where she spent five years working in bilingual classrooms. In addition to teaching for Ventura College, she also works for the Ventura County Library. In her free time, she enjoys reading, thrifting, and watching reality TV.
Andrew was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in history in 2003, he moved to his wife’s hometown of Sapporo, Japan. In Japan, Andrew taught English to a wide variety of learners encompassing all ages and levels. In 2017, he earned his Masters in TESOL from The New School and has been teaching at the university and community college levels ever since. Over 17 years of living and teaching abroad has helped Andrew understand and be empathetic to the many challenges second-language learners face. And, striving to ensure that students get the necessary tools for success both in and out of the classroom has always been a staple in his approach as an educator. Andrew is married, has two children and a yellow labrador retriever named Maybel. In his free time, he loves to cook, go for drives, and play games with his family.
"Education is the one thing that no one can take from you." - B.B. King
Classes in Ventura and Santa Paula | 805-289-6484
vclr@vcccd.edu
