Bethany Vanderhorst

Background

About Bethany Vanderhorst

I am a seasoned multicultural educator and teacher trainer. As an educator, I have collaborated with colleagues and academic institutions to strategize actionable plans that help departments reach their goals, adapt curricula and teaching styles to participants’ needs and levels, and train ESL teachers in a range of approaches and methodologies. These accomplishments in my education career have prepared me for my current role, where I provide pre-service teachers with the skills to teach ESL in a communicative, learner-centered environment. At the same time, each day technology becomes more integrated into learning, which has enriched my classroom practice and motivated me to expand my knowledge of online learning management systems (LMS). I am taking deliberate steps to translate the skills I already have in curriculum design into the evolving world of online instructional design. Specific skills I have gained through collaboration include knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, formative and summative assessments, creating S.M.A.R.T. goals, adaptability, and designing differentiated activities for diverse learning styles and levels. These skills are complemented by how colleagues describe me: ambitious, focused, and eager to take on new challenges. In my daily work, I apply intercultural communication, time management, and problem-solving skills to achieve meaningful outcomes. In my free time, I prefer to travel, experience new perspectives, and continue to deepen my appreciation for life.