Gayle Portugal:  

Upon graduating from Acalanes, I went to Cal Poly (SLO). I married in 1967. I completed my BA from UCRiverside in 1973 and my MA from Arizona State University in 1985. I divorced in 1974, never remarried and never did have any kids. (I guess once was enough!) In 1979 I relocated to Phoenix AZ. I taught at a private post-secondary school until I decided to go back to school for my MA. When I went back to get my masters, I started teaching at ASU as a TA, teaching ENG 101 and 102. When I completed that degree in 1985 I remained at ASU as a lecturer, teaching ENG 301 full time. One summer I went to China on a student tour and was offered a job teaching at Beijing Foreign Studies University. I accepted. Within one month I had relocated to China. I had several great experiences in China. I also taught at the Institute of International Relations in Beijing and was the first foreigner to be invited to work with the government-run (and repressed!) People's Education Press, where I coauthored and edited several school textbooks for China's school children, almost all of whom have some exposure to English at some point or another. My last year in China I worked as a writer/editor for China Radio International and also did some English-languag...Expand for more