Kathy Reilly

Hi! My name is Kathy Reilly, and I teach in the ESL program here at the Southfield and Royal Oak campuses of Oakland Community College. I teach all of the skill areas, but recently I have been teaching a lot of writing and grammar at both of the campuses.

I really enjoy teaching ESL especially because it gives me the chance to meet and to work with people from all over the world. My students bring the world to my doorstep, and I'm always fascinated by them! I've also had the opportunity to live in Belgrade, Serbia, and to travel in Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, and France. My interest in international languages and cultures led me to receive a degree in Anthropology from Wayne State University in 1979.

In 1985, I received my master's degree from Wayne State University in English Education with a concentration in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language. Since then, I've taught at the Wayne State University English Language Institute, in adult education, in a private school setting, and now at the community college level. The students with whom I have worked over the years have included immigrants, those on student visas, and professionals from the workplace, all of whom were seeking to better their ESL skills in order to be more successful in both their personal and professional lives. It has been, and continues to be, a privilege for me to help ESL students to achieve their goals!

Charlott Couch

My name is Charlott Couch. I have been an ESL instructor since 1983. I have a bachelor's degree in French and a master's degree in Applied Linguistics, both from Indiana University, where I also first started teaching ESL. I started teaching ESL at OCC in 1997. I teach all levels of reading, writing, listening and grammar.

I am originally from Indiana, but I have also lived for brief periods in California, France and Morocco. I enjoy traveling and have traveled extensively in the United States. I have also visited many countries in Europe, as well as Ghana and Brazil. In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking and spending time with my family.

Shari Weisbaum

My name is Shari Weisbaum. I began teaching ESL part-time at OCC in 1994 and have been a full-time instructor here since 1996, but I started teaching ESL in 1987. Although I have taught all levels of reading/writing, listening/grammar, and conversation/pronunciation, I particularly enjoy teaching ESL 2510, ESL 2410, and ESL 1021.

I began my professional life as a high school Spanish, English and German teacher and taught in several high schools in Michigan and Pennsylvania. While living in Canada for nine years, I discovered and fell in love with ESL. It is the most fun and the most rewarding teaching I have experienced.

I grew up in Jackson, Michigan. My educational background includes an Associate's Degree from Jackson Community College as well as Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Spanish from The University of Michigan. I completed my ESL training in Canada at The University of Toronto and York University.

My interests include golf, water aerobics, reading, and dog walks. I especially enjoy spending weekends and vacation time in northern Michigan. I enjoy traveling; in addition to various regions in Canada and the United States, I have visited Japan, Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Bermuda.

Ildi Porter-Szücs

My name is Ildi Porter-Szücs (formerly Ildi Thomas). I have been an ESL instructor since 1993 and been teaching at OCC since 2000. I teach all skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking, pronunciation, and grammar) and all levels (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) but recently I have been teaching the Friday 2520 class a lot. I received my bachelor's degree in Travel & Tourism and Hotel Management in Budapest, Hungary; I earned my master's degree in teaching ESL (TESOL) at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and I am currently finishing my doctoral degree in Higher Education at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

Before moving to the US in 1992, I taught English and German in Hungary, which is where I grew up. I was born in Poland, worked in Austria and Germany, and traveled around Europe and northern and southern Africa. In the United States, I have lived and taught in Pennsylvania and Alabama and traveled extensively around the country. I speak Hungarian, Polish, and German well and Russian a little.

I am very passionate about English, foreign languages, meeting people from different countries, traveling to unknown places, ballroom dancing, and hiking in nature.