Instructors

Gail Ann Barta came to West Valley in 1991 and has been teaching ESL since 1974. Her interest in teaching and working with people from other cultures has given her the opportunity to travel to various parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia. She was a foreign student in France, a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, and an ESL instructor in Japan. Originally from the Chicago area, Gail's interests include traveling, cooking, movies, and baseball. It is her fervent desire that the Cubs win the World Series in her lifetime. (408)741-2482; Office LA 3e.

Lisa Bell

Kathy Castello (408) 741-2045, x3387

Deborah Chu

Chris Fathman

Isabel Filiz

Ellen Goldman

Paula Lee

Sylvia Ortega  has been teaching at West Valley since 1997 and was recently hired as a new full-time instructor. She was born and raised in California by immigrant parents from Michoacan, Mexico, where she lived and studied for over 2 years. She enjoys visiting family and friends there as often as possible. Sylvia received a Bachelor's degree in Spanish with a Special Emphasis (minor) in Ethnic Studies from Santa Clara University and a Masters degree in TESOL from San Jose State University. She enjoys it when her students share their culture, customs and food. Sylvia currently lives in San Jose with her husband and two young daughters. Her spare time is spent at local parks with the girls. (408) 741-2465.

Ann Marie Wasserbauer is the Department Chair for the ESL Department. She has been teaching at West Valley College since 1994. She received her training in teaching ESL at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Her hobbies are dancing, doing handwork such as knitting and sewing, traveling, and learning languages. (She already knows German, some French and Polish, and a few phrases in Czech, Thai, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Arabic.) (408) 741-2486; Office LA3e.

Sue Wilson has been working with ESL students since 1995. She has taught at Studies in American Language at San Jose State University and at Mountain View Adult Education. She currently teaches at both West Valley College and San Jose City College. Sue enjoys reading, walking, bicycling, and spending time with her family (and her 2 cats). She has studied Spanish and French and has traveled in Spain, England, and Jamaica. Sue loves teaching ESL because she gets to meet students from so many different countries and cultures. (408) 741-2045, x3709.

To contact us by US mail, write us c/o ESL Department, West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070.