Meet Assistant Professor of English Learner Education, Dr. Josephine (Josie) Prado!
Dr. Prado has been teaching courses in our English as a Second Language (ESL) program since 2013. Before working at UAB, Dr. Prado was a clinical instructor at the University of Alabama from 2009-2013. She also taught ESL and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in various K-12 schools worldwide - from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Quito, Ecuador.
In fact, Dr. Prado's love for language education came from her own experiences growing up as a German as a Second Language (GSL) student in Zürich, Switzerland, studying abroad in Germany, and from teaching English in Ecuador and Alabama.
"My fascination with the intersection of identity, language, and culture has been encouraged through my life and professional experiences," states Dr. Prado, Assistant Professor at UAB. "As a 6th grader, I lived in Zürich Switzerland where I was a GSL student in public school. Additionally, as a German major, I lived in Marburg, Germany, for more than a year, studying at the Phillips Universität. I also lived in Ecuador for five years, which instilled in me a profound appreciation and respect for the ingenuity of cultural practices, including those familiar and unfamiliar to me. Each of those experiences afforded me important insights into perspectives outside of the United States."
At UAB, Dr. Prado oversees and coordinates our free Community English Program that provides UAB students, employees, or community members an opportunity to learn English from graduate students studying to be ESOL teachers. The program is a well-established tradition at UAB and has been on campus for over 20 years.
Get to know a little more about Dr. Prado below!
SOE: Do you have a favorite quote? If so, what is it, and why?
JP: "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis
This quote reminds me not to dwell on past mistakes. Every moment of every day, I can try again (and again) from different perspectives to work toward my goal.
SOE: What advice do you have for students?
JP: Teaching is challenging and very rewarding work. Remember to be kind to yourself and be kind to your students. Find a mentor and ask questions! Be organized and be consistent. Follow those tips in that order, and the rest will fall in place.
SOE: Favorite part of your job?
JP: My favorite part as an educator is teaching. I value the exchange of ideas and seeing those lightbulb moments for my students.
SOE: What do you love most about ESL?
JP: I love learning and analyzing language, but more than that, I love helping teachers learn to love language and appreciate the value of multilingualism.
SOE: Fun fact about yourself
JP: I love practicing yoga! I also enjoy reading, hiking, kayaking, and working in the yard.