Experienced, engaging teachers.

Our native-speaking teachers are trained industry professionals, all possessing bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Our instructors are equipped with teaching experience and/or certification in TEFL/TESOL/CELTA. Many of our teachers are world travelers and have the experience of learning foreign languages, so they can relate to what it’s like to learn English as a foreign language. Our teaching staff is passionate about education and committed to helping you succeed.

“BETTER THAN A THOUSAND DAYS OF DILIGENT STUDY IS ONE DAY WITH A GREAT TEACHER.”

Jonathan SchneiderESL Teacher
Jonathan has been teaching English since 1994. Originally a GED teacher in the Philadelphia area, Jon switched to teaching English to speakers of foreign languages in 2005, when he moved to Boston. He greatly looks forward to continuing his career here at BIA!
Quillon ArkenstoneESL Teacher
Quillon enjoys both learning and teaching languages, and spent many years doing both before becoming an ESL instructor at BIA. When not in the classroom he enjoys reading, spending time with his family and exploring the city of Boston.”
Philip VaraESL Teacher
My academic background includes a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literary Studies and an M.B.A. I taught English at international schools in Finland for eight years and have been an English teacher in Boston since 2019 – but enough about me.

At B.I.A., learning is a blast because we are able to laugh together, among other things, at the mispronunciations. A suitcase becomes sweet case, coffee becomes cough (the second syllable mysteriously vanishes), office becomes off sea, working out everyday is musculation, and sheets become – well, you get the idea. The laughter helps in the learning process and slowly the student moves from ‘como que fala?’ (How do you say?) to ‘I know ‘ (Eu sei). When a student is laughing, they don’t even realize that they’re learning.

Azza AbugharsaESL Teacher
Dr. Azza Abugharsa, Ph.D., is an accomplished ESL instructor and linguist with extensive experience in TESL, sociolinguistics, and computational linguistics. Currently teaching ESL to international students, Dr. Abugharsa has a rich educational background, holding a Ph.D. in English from Oklahoma State University, and master’s degrees in Computational Linguistics and Middle Eastern Studies. Her research interests include Arabic NLP, figurative language processing, usage-based approach, comparative linguistics, and second language acquisition theories.

With a passion for enhancing language education, she has taught at various institutions, contributed to academic publications in English and Arabic, and presented at local and international conferences. Dr. Abugharsa is dedicated to fostering cultural awareness and improving linguistic skills among her students.

Josiane O'NeelESL Teacher
Josie has taught for 16 years and is well experienced in the field of ABA Therapy. With her passion to give back within her community, she has incorporated her skills for Human Development and Language into learning . Using techniques such as generalization and mindfulness within her classroom, her quirky personality truly resonates. On her down time , Josie enjoys exploring the richness of the city , writing children’s bedtime stories, but most importantly, being creative with her family.
David NathansonESL Teacher

David’s path to become an ESL teacher was a long and winding one, from an African Studies B.A., to graduate studies in Medical Anthropology and Library Science, leading to careers as a Health Science and Law Librarian and in the natural foods and supplements industry.

Teaching at BIA feels like traveling the world. David’s diverse students from Brazil, Turkey, Vietnam, and more, reconnect him with his experiences traveling in Kenya, India, and recently, South America.

David ExeESL Teacher
David is passionate about cultural exploration and education. He holds graduate degrees in Special Education and Business Management. With a background in talent acquisition, David has experienced firsthand the positive impact of English proficiency on non-native speakers’ lives. He helps students achieve their goals by leveraging their strengths and tailoring instruction to meet their needs. Outside of the classroom, David enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and traveling with his family.
Jonathan TardifESL Teacher
Holding both BA and MA in Russian, Jonathan taught English in Russia for over a decade, as well as for six months in Japan. He tries to infuse each class with as much humor as he can while sill teaching grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation to spark student discussion and creativity with language but also tries to connect with each student to help build rapport. When he’s not in the classroom , his passions include playing the piano, composing and singing in choir. He is also an avid walker, and has walked two marathons to support cancer research in Boston.
Elaine SunESL Teacher

Elaine is a dedicated and innovative language teacher at Boston International Academy (BIA), where she teaches ESL and Business English. With a Master’s Degree in Language Teaching Studies from the University of Oregon and extensive experience in teaching Chinese, English, and Japanese, Elaine integrates task-supported and task-based language teaching methods to cater to students’ proficiency levels. Her classroom encourages creative ideas and critical thoughts, helping students learn English for real life and preparing them with excellent English skills.

Elaine’s teaching philosophy emphasizes making language a practical and authentic tool, enhancing the learning experience with engaging resources like videos, digital games, and music. She believes in understanding her students’ backgrounds and motivations to create a student-centered environment. Elaine’s innovative and supportive approach ensures that each student at BIA achieves their dream of learning a new language and broadening their vision of the world.