Michael Ford
The Essential Skills of Effective Reading (and Studying)

Michael Ford holds both a master's degree in English education and a bachelor's in educational studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a recognized scholar and author on the subject of cross-cultural learning.  As Academic Coordinator for Capilano College, Vancouver, BC (Zhejiang Gong Shang University Campus), Michael has designed, taught, and managed a variety of postgraduate-level EFL learning programs.  More recently, Michael taught English literature for several years to middle-school students at Shanghai High School, International Division, where, as English Department Team Leader, he spearheaded a mentor program, lectured and led faculty workshops, created courses, and sponsored extracurricular clubs (ThinkQuest, Music History and Performance, Writing Seminar).  For the past several years, Michael has served as principal of Stars and Stripes American Kindergarten.  During his tenure there, student enrollment was doubled, as Michael oversaw all aspects of academics, including the hiring, training, and supervision of the teaching staff, curriculum design and development, the establishment and upholding of academic standards.  He also developed and implemented a student management system encompassing attendance, grading, and communications.  Under Michael's direction, the school's students gained citywide recognition for achievement in well-known art and writing competitions as well as acclaimed student performances in theater arts.  An expert in the field of language acquisition, Michael is on the cutting edge of progressive pedagogical methodology which focuses on emotional, sociological, cognitive, attitudinal, and psychological education.  Michael draws upon the most-advanced methods and techniques to incorporate into language instruction topics steeped in cultural differentials.  This method emphasizes Choice Theory and "Essence" instruction, rather than the more conventional methodology typically utilized in foreign-language instruction.  At the core of this system is the importance of developing culturally-appropriate curricula according to multiple perspectives/intelligences.  Michael is also an expert in the area of combining technology and education in order to optimize the individual learning experience.

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