All of our teachers are certified by the New York State Department of Education and start working here after extensive ESL experience and/or ESL teaching certification training. All our instructors are highly experienced, and each must complete a thorough orientation prior to teaching with NYLC. Additionally, instructors are observed frequently by a supervisor to ensure their effectiveness.
NYLC proudly accepts the following certifications.





Dara Madnick

- M.A. in TESOL, Long Island Univerity at CW Post
- B.A. in Sociology, SUNY Albany

I have my Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language from Long Island University at CW Post, and I am an experienced New York State certified English as a Second Language instructor. I began my career as a teacher in 1995, working for the New York City Department of Education in an elementary school in Queens, and remained teaching there for nine years. I have also been fortunate enough to teach English to adults at New York Language Center for almost two years. I have had the great opportunity to work with many students of diverse nationalities and cultures. As a result, I have the experience and dedication needed to teach English language learners the skills to become proficient in English.
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Benjamin Sanford

- B.A. Government, Cornell University

- 1 year teaching experience in Japan
- 7 years experience in USA

- TEFL Certification, i-to-i

Kai Peronard

- B.A. Communications, CUNY Hunter College

- 4 years teaching experience in Chile

- TESL Certification

Andy Travis

- B.F.A. Theater Performance, C.C.P.A. at Roosevelt University, Chicago

- 2-year post-graduate diploma, Estudis de Teatre (Lecoq method), Barcelona, Spain

- Trinity CertTESOL, Oxford House

Since 2011, I have used my creativity as an actor, singer, dancer and painter to infuse my ESL classes with fun and focus in both Barcelona and NYC. I have also been invited to give ESL instructor workshops about theatre games and pronunciation. Aside from ESL, I also teach ELE (Espanol como Lengua Extranjera) in NYC and do Spanish to English translation and interpretation.
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Ozan Sapso

- B.A. in English Language and Literature, Ataturk University, Turkey

- 9 years teaching experience in Turkey

- TEFL Certification Ataturk University

Izzet Akin

- B.A. in English Language Teaching, Uludag University, Turkey
- M.A. English Language Teaching, Yeditepe University, Turkey

Antoinette Jones

- M.A. TESOL, CUNY City College of New York
- B.A. TESOL, CUNY City College of New York

- 3 years teaching experience in Japan

Grace Persico

- M.A. TESOL, CUNY Hunter
- B.A. English Language Arts, SUNY Stony Brook

Jesse Noppe-Brandon

Brenda Lopez

- B.A. In Communications, University de Leon, Mexico

- ICELT, Cambridge

Viviana Grigware

- B.A. in English- Creative Writing, Westminster College

- 10 months teaching experience in Thailand

- TEFL Certificate, The Council on International Educational Exchange

Brianna Colon

- B.S. in Marine Biology, SUNY Stony Brook University

- 1 year teaching experience in Germany

Callie McManus

- B.A in Anthropology, Auburn University
- M.A. Theology, Samford University

- TESOL Certificate

Amateur learner of Chinese and food enthusiast.
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