Meet ACE Teachers

I’ve had a very colourful journey in my time on this planet so get ready for some interesting reading!

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, I grew up speaking Spanish and English in a French-speaking city… kind of. My city is very special because it was once colonised by France, just like Cambodia was, so there is still a lot of French architecture, cuisine, and, yes, you can still hear some people speaking a dialect of the French language there. My parents did a wonderful job exposing me to a different language as well as the arts from a very young age. I studied piano for seven years, tap and jazz dancing for a couple of years, and gymnastics for two decades, believe it or not. I was a high-level competitive gymnast growing up and travelled all around the world competing and performing.

So, I actually didn’t go to university right after my high school graduation due to my sports’ career. It was also during this time that I was hired by a well-known businessman by the name of Donald Trump who had just acquired half the rights to the Miss Universe Pageant Organisation (you might recognise his name as he is currently the front-runner for the Republican Party in the next US President’s election). I happened to meet him at a judge’s dinner as I was selected to be a preliminary judge for one of the state pageants. He was impressed by my knowledge of pageantry as we engaged in a conversation and signed contract in Public Relations. However, I missed gymnastics and continued my training when I finished my contract. I was training under the 1988 US Men’s Olympic Team Captain, Scott Johnson, when in 1998 in Orlando, Florida, I had a career-ending knee injury.

It was in the Fall of the same year that I finally enrolled in university. Although my gymnastics’ career was finished, I used my energy and ability to become a competitive college cheerleader, being selected for the 1999 College National Champions Florida Atlantic University. I spent three years in Florida and moved back to Louisiana to complete my BA in Spanish Education and coach a university cheerleading squad at McNeese State University. I was chosen by my peers as 2004 McNeese State University Man of the Year and 2006 Homecoming King. I was also a senator in Student Government and was instrumental in getting my cheerleading team’s scholarships and travel fees funded by the university. I was there during the terrible hurricanes of Katrina and Rita, which ravaged my state and disrupted my life.

After the hurricanes, I decided I wanted a change in my life so I moved to South Korea with a couple of my college cheerleading friends and taught English there for a year. I absolutely fell in love with teaching English because the opportunities I had to travel and work around the world were abundant. I then moved to rural Vietnam and worked there for over five years. As you can imagine, very few people in the countryside spoke English so I learned to speak Vietnamese quite well.

While living in Vietnam, I took a tour of Cambodia and absolutely knew I had to be here! So, I submitted my application to ACE, passed my interview, and here I am over two years later. I feel so at home here and was welcomed with open arms by the friendly Khmer locals. I love how engaged the people here are with Facebook as I’m a Facebook addict and even had a viral video with “Apolojoy” last year. That was fun! Teaching here in Cambodia is a dream because I find the students are extremely polite, well-mannered, and really enjoy learning. I can see myself here ten years from now!

How brilliant that I am here at ACE, the most prestigious English language teaching institution in Cambodia! Prior to being employed here, I had always imagined how awesome it would be if I could build my career at ACE. My dreams came true one and half years ago when I eventually made my way up through a variety of staff selection processes to this recognised school. Since then, how wonderful it has been for me and to teach here is indescribable.

It has been a life-changing experience here. In comparison to other schools, ACE is my only most preferred choice. When I stepped into its building for the very first time, my first impression was with the hospitality of the staff. It was an ecstatic moment. My brand new life journey kicked off satisfactorily. However, would it keep moving on that way or slip away from what I had expected? Six terms passed by quickly and guess what has happened? Today my excitement and enjoyment from work are overwhelmed. Not only does it benefit me economically but also professionally. Apart from this, the students have character and a willful heart to acquire the language, which is a motivation and delight for myself to work with them. I’m so grateful to ACE for being a great door for me to the real world.

I am originally from Kompong Chnnang, which is probably two hours away from Phnom Penh. I settled here in late 2004 upon completion of high school. It was my first milestone in life. Soon after that, I was admitted to the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) to do a four-year course. Since I was a new comer in the city, both my city and college life were a great challenge to me. I had to assimilate into this alien life and learn to be self-disciplined and independent. Back then, my financial issues compelled me to work and study simultaneously. It cost me so much that I can’t even describe it. However, my commitment to transforming my life has never failed. The more I failed, the more I tried and the more I learnt. As Benjamin Franklin once said: “There are no gains without pains.” Eventually, I graduated from college in 2009 and have had an unbelievable life since then. The start was rough, the journey was extremely tough, but the finish has been more than fruitful. Giving up precious things won’t do any good. Instead of feeling discouraged from any problem I encounter, I always take it as a challenge to learn new things.

In addition to my service at ACE, I have another perspective which I think helps fulfill my desire in life. I have been involved in community service for the past five years. My main focus is children who are vulnerable to poverty and illiteracy. I am not well-to-do; nevertheless, I think a couple of dollars and some voluntary work for those who are desperately in need are necessary. Every weekend, I spend time with some street or abandoned children at Pacific Baptist Church and do whatever I can such as buying them food, visiting them, and singing with them. Their smiles give me strength and joy. Helping my people is my pleasure. If a little of my time and money makes a difference in their lives, it is worth it.

New Teachers

		Katherine Anderson from Tuol Tom Poung Campus Hello, my name is Katy and I teach at the Tuol Tom Poung campus.  I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA.  I studied Anthropology and Sociology at Oakland University, which is also close to my home.  After I graduated, I spent a few years working in marketing and management, and then spent a few more travelling around the globe to over 30 countries.  I recently obtained my CELTA in Bangkok, and moved to Cambodia this past September to teach with ACE. Working for ACE has been a wonderful experience!  I have learned a lot from my fellow colleagues and management staff, who have helped me grow and improve my teaching skills immensely during my first term.  Additionally, I find my students to be polite, enthusiastic and fun to teach.  I hope that the coming terms in 2016 keep providing me with continued development and a great environment. Thank you to all the staff and my students for making my job such a great one!
		Abigail Gilbert from Santhor Mok Campus Hello, nice to meet you! I’m very pleased to be here at ACE. I’m originally from Bradford in the north of England, but I’ve lived in Phnom Penh for nearly six years. I’ve been teaching since 1997 and I enjoy helping students to improve their English and open up new opportunities in their lives. I’ve also worked in business in the UK and Cambodia. My area of expertise is communications, so I’ve worked in advertising, marketing, publishing and education, as well as for the British Chamber of Commerce. I love reading and my ideal way to spend a weekend is in a hammock by a river with a big book! It makes me happy when students ask me for reading recommendations and I can share some of my favourite authors with them.
		Melanie Villeneuve from Santhor Mok Campus Hello. After a six month hiatus to go back to my home country of Canada, I’m back at ACE and the welcoming country of Cambodia. It’s perfect timing because I get to escape the harsh Canadian winters and am moving back to the warm sunshine and people of this wonderful country! I’ve travelled to many places around the world, including the North Pole, the Philippines, England, all over Southeast Asia and many more. I spent eight years in Korea teaching both children and adults and am excited to be back in the classroom. I’m looking forward to meeting up with old friends and students and meeting the new ones. See you soon!
		Thanith Vat from Tuol Tom Poung Campus Teaching English is one of my genuine passions. ACE is a place where I can utilise my knowledge and skills in English language teaching. After graduating from the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2014, I won a one-year scholarship to study at Ghent University, Belgium in a Master’s program of English Linguistics and Literature. I have taught English for a couple of years in Cambodia and conducted research on English language history and literature during my overseas study. As English is now a wide-ranging means of communication across the globe, ACE plays a major role in providing the quality assurance of English education based on its well-established reputation. I have been pleasantly welcomed and I am excited to become a teacher of English here in such an enhancing learning environment. Finally, I look forward to sharing and working with all students and colleagues.