Fatemeh Shafiee Neizar is a TESL graduate student at St. Cloud State University.

Fatemeh (Fatima) is a TESOL holder from ITTI New York. She is from Iran and has experienced teaching English for some years in Iran and Turkey at different colleges and English institutes to various levels and ages. Her interest includes teaching speaking, listening skills and academic exams skills.

Fatemeh is a swimming coach, too. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, swimming, running, painting and traveling.

Matthew Kweku Assem is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language. He teaches vocabulary at the Intensive English Center.

He is a veteran educator with thirteen years of experience teaching English as a Second Language in Ghana. He began his teaching career at a young age and has taught in both private and public schools. After earning his Diploma in Basic Education from Ada College of Education, he was posted to Kasseh Junior High School and later transferred to Acheasewa Junior High School. He subsequently moved to Prekesease Basic School while pursuing a top-up degree in Basic Education.

In 2018, Matthew furthered his studies by earning a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from the University of Education, Winneba. His teaching philosophy is learner-centered, emphasizing active student engagement in the teaching and learning process. He is deeply passionate about volunteering and advocating for equitable education.

In his free time, Matthew enjoys reading, driving, playing volleyball, and traveling.

Habib Abdul-Latif has been an English language teacher for two and a half years since graduating from the University of Cape Coast in 2022. His passion for the English language began during his undergraduate studies, when he tutored students preparing for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Additionally, while pursuing his undergraduate degree, he worked as a part-time English teacher at Al-Wafaa International School’s Junior High School. After graduating, he completed his national service as an English language teacher at Anbariya Ibn Taimiyah School from 2022 to 2023. He was later assigned to teach English at Amania Islamic School, where he taught Basic 6 students from September to December 2024.

Habib is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Daniel Montoya has been an English and Spanish language instructor for about six years. He has taught learners at all levels, from kindergarten to college, in both El Salvador and the United States. He earned his B.A. in Applied Linguistics from Instituto Centro Cultural in El Salvador.

Daniel has taught a variety of English courses, including Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing, Grammar, TOEFL Preparation, Pronunciation, and Vocabulary. He infuses culture in his lessons, encouraging students to share and learn from each other’s diverse backgrounds.

Outside the classroom, Daniel has been involved in the Salvadoran musical scene. He has performed as both a soloist and ensemble member with the Opera of El Salvador, the National Choir of El Salvador, and the Philharmonic Choir of El Salvador, appearing in the country’s most important theaters. 

Lara is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language program at St. Cloud State University. Originally from Brazil, she earned her B.A. in English from the Universidade Federal de Goiás in 2021.

She has over a decade of experience in the field of education, including working as a textbook editor, facilitating Portuguese writing workshops, and teaching English as a Foreign and Second Language in Brazil and now the United States. Lara has taught learners across a wide range of ages, from children to adults. She is especially passionate about social justice and making education accessible to everyone.

Before coming to Minnesota, Lara lived in Oregon and New York. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature and trying new activities.