Natasha Isadora Frank is a Senior English Language Fellow in Kazan, Russia. For this project she conducts teacher-training seminars in Kazan and around Tatarstan. Before going to Russia, Natasha worked in Beirut,Lebanon for four years. From 2007-2009 she was an English Language Fellow for the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association, where she worked on professional development with 100 K-12 English language teachers throughout Lebanon. Prior to her becoming an English language fellow, she taught academic writing for two years at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and served as the Course Director of English 203 (a required course for all AUB students). During this time, she and two colleagues created a custom published textbook When Silence Speaks,published by Pearson Longman, for English 203. In 2005 she received her Masters degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. In the U.S. she has taught ESL at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a California State University, Monterey Bay. Her interests include traveling, sports and writing.

In general, I believe that education should be a rewarding process, during which students gain both practical and theoretical knowledge. Education should be relevant to the students’ future, and, ideally, should prepare them to reach their full potential. I believe that education is collaborative effort between the teacher and students and among the students themselves. Adopting a student-centered approach to teaching, I strive to create an interactive class environment. In doing so, I design and implement activities that encourage students to express themselves, participate in discussions, and learn from their peers. I also seek to create activities that are fun, lively, and have real-life significance. In accordance with my belief that learning is social activity, I include a lot of pair and group work in my class. I love teaching. In class I try to convey my enthusiasm for the subject matter in hopes of inspiring at least one student! In sum, I try to be a dynamic and committed teacher.

Ministry of Education and Science of Tatarstan, Kazan Russia Dedicated Service Award, 2011 Office of English Language Programs, U.S. Embassy, Moscow, Russia Meritorious Service Award, 2011 Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association Dedicated Service Award, 2009 Monterey Institute of International Studies Merit Scholarship, 2003-2005 Rutgers University, Norton Dodge Graduate Assistantship for the study of Soviet non-conformist art, 2003. Kansas History Teachers Association: Nomination for best graduate paper: The Ambassador and the Dictator: The Joseph E. Davies Collection of Russian/Soviet Art, 2002. University of Kansas, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: George R. Gross Non-Thesis Award finalist for paper: Retrospective Dreamers: Eighteenth-century Russian Art and the World of Art Journal 1898-1904, 2001.

EDUCATION Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), 2005 Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA Specialties: academic reading and writing, educational management and leadership Master of Arts in Russian and East European Studies (Emphasis on Russian Culture), 2001 University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS Bachelor of Arts in Art History, 1995 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia Intensive Russian Language Program, 1998, 2002 St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia Intensive Russian Language Program, 1999, 2000, 2001

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