Theories of Second-Language Acquisition and Application to Teaching

Ruth Pluciennik has over 15 years of teaching experience ranging from instructor to teacher-trainer. She graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in human development and went on to receive her master's degree in education from UC San Diego. She served as an educational trainer in Peace Corps Guatemala. She wrote grants in order to establish healthy guidelines for three rural Guatemalan elementary schools in the western highlands. She has taught elementary, secondary and bilingual education in the San Diego area with both traditional instruction and online courses. She has a multiple subject credential and single subject credentials in English and Spanish with BCLAD Spanish emphasis and a TESOL certificate. Pluciennik currently teaches Spanish at the secondary level and is the Yearbook Adviser at Valley Center High School.

Stephanie LaQua received a Masters of Education in Second Language Acquisition from UC San Diego and has 21 years of experience as an ESL instructor, teacher-trainer and administrator. Since 1999, LaQua has taught second language acquisition, TEFL methodology, speaking, listening and pronunciation and grammar in the UC San Diego Extension TEFL Certification Program through the English Language Institute. She has also taught in the TESOL Certificate program in the Education Department at UC San Diego Extension specializing in Cross Cultural Language and Diversity (CLAD) and language acquisition classes for 9 years. She also trained K-12 teachers in language development strategies for the Riverside County Office of Education.

LaQua developed curriculum and currently teaches hybrid classes for visiting Korean teachers and in language methodology and acquisition for TEFL and TESOL at the University of California Riverside. She was awarded the 2013 Instructor Excellence Award from the UCR Extension TEFL Department, and Education Department Teacher of the Year Excellence Award in 2011. She coordinates assessment and english learner classes for the Clear Credential Program at UCR Extension and is the instructor for technical English in SDAIE (Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English) as the pilot teacher for the state in the professional certification courses since 2010.

Prior to teacher-training, she was the academic director for the International Center for American English from 1992-2004. She developed an integrated curriculum and implemented the Cambridge English proficiency exam programs and curriculum for intensive courses in all skill areas. She also coordinated TEFL intensive programs for visiting international teachers and has presented a variety of workshops in communicative grammar, pronunciation, collaborative language learning and integrated language arts lesson planning.

Ruth Pluciennik has over 15 years of teaching experience ranging from instructor to teacher-trainer. She graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in human development and went on to receive her master's degree in education from UC San Diego. She served as an educational trainer in Peace Corps Guatemala. She wrote grants in order to establish healthy guidelines for three rural Guatemalan elementary schools in the western highlands. She has taught elementary, secondary and bilingual education in the San Diego area with both traditional instruction and online courses. She has a multiple subject credential and single subject credentials in English and Spanish with BCLAD Spanish emphasis and a TESOL certificate. Pluciennik currently teaches Spanish at the secondary level and is the Yearbook Adviser at Valley Center High School.