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Bridget Schvarcz
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Khanh-Duc Kuttig
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Khanh-Duc Kuttig, who has been working with Bridget Schvarcz on the Newsletter Team, interviewed Bridget to find out a little more about her colleague.
Tell us a little about your background. How did you get into teaching and how long have you been doing this?
My favorite activity as a child was reenacting the classes from school to all my dolls. Therefore, pursuing a career in education was rather straightforward. My passion is language teacher education: there is no better feeling than knowing that what I “preach” today may have an impact in a classroom tomorrow. I have been fulfilling this passion by facilitating in-service professional development courses for the Israeli Ministry of Education, Department of Professional Development of Teaching Staff for the past 12 years, and recently as a part-time lecturer in the M.Ed. program at Shaanan Academic College of Education. In addition, for the past four years, I have been the head of the English for Academic Purposes Unit at Afeka College of Engineering in Tel Aviv where I intend to shape the English language skills of future engineers.
What classes or courses do you teach, and do you have any favorites?
I have been teaching in-service training courses on a variety of topics ranging from ICT, language games, debate and integrating the new Israeli English Curriculum.
My current favorites are ‘Wonders of Human Language’ and Language Acquisition – two courses I developed to pass on some of my excitement about Linguistics to non-linguists.
What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining TESOL International Association?
Do it, now! It will strengthen you in who you are and what you do. Connecting with like-minded professionals will give you a sense of community and you will no doubt become richer professionallyl and personally.
What are your goals as a leader for TEIS this year and next year?
Our joint vision with my partner in crime on the newsletter editorial board, Khanh-Duc Kuttig, is to sound global voices in our newsletter and have theme-based issues in this upcoming year.
I am also truly looking forward to reuniting the leadership team and fellow teacher educators in Portland in March (at the TESOL Convention) 2023!
What do you do for fun?
Six months ago, I started taking pottery classes. Not only do I enjoy creating lovely little ‘dishes’ but also gifting them to people I love!
Bridget Schvarcz is the head of the English Unit at Afeka Academic College of Engineering and a teacher educator for the Israeli Ministry of Education, Department of Professional Development of Teaching Staff. She currently serves as the Chair of the English Teachers’ Association of Israel – a proud TESOL affiliate – and as an editor of the TEIS Newsletter.
Khanh-Duc Kuttig teaches English language in the Department of English at the University of Siegen. She is Events Coordinator for ELTA-Rhine in Germany, former TESOL/NGL Teacher of the Year and Incoming Chair for TESOL’s Professional Development Professional Council. | 
