Meet Our NY Teachers

David Appelbaum

Like many other Rennert teachers, David Appelbaum started his career in English as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher when he was overseas. "I lived in Brazil for three years," he says. "I found myself in Recife. There were very few native speakers there so I was told I was going to be an ESL teacher. Once I got in, I never got out."

David, who holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Spanish from the highly respected Washington University in St. Louis, has been teaching at Rennert for 15 years. His specialty is Level 9, an advanced class that attracts students who are highly fluent in English.

"My people can say almost anything in their minds and they are usually some of the most interesting people I've ever met," David observes. "So it's a learning process for me as much as anything else." Level 9 students "usually are quite well educated," he says, "there are many journalists, engineers, fashion people, architects -- all the interesting professions."

One recent student, an Italian journalist, called class discussion in Level 9 "scintillating." David's curriculum emphasizes current events and its core materials are centered on broadcasts from National Public Radio, newspapers and the internet. "A lot of our discussions are also based on things our students bring in rather than what I suggest," David says. Students also get a complete review of grammar "although some people need it more than others and sometimes you get a group that just doesn't need any," David says.

Inevitably, the conversation turns to New York City, the great cultural and professional center that draws many advanced students to Rennert. "It's very nice to be in New York City where there are all the things to do and see," David says. He chuckles. "I have done and seen most of them after 20 years here, but my students haven't, so we have something to talk about."