Sonia Da Silva

Director and Adjunct Assistant Professor—EIS (1998). BA Psychology cum laud, 1982, Carleton College, Northfield, MN; MA Applied Linguistics, 1997, University of Illinois, Chicago IL.

As the Director of English for International Students (EIS), an instructor for EIS, and a faculty advisor for KSA (Korean Student Association) and KGC (Korean Graduate Community), I have the great pleasure and honor of working with many of our international students.  They are some of the most talented and most intelligent students I've ever met.

Language is more than just vocabulary lists and grammar rules. Language allows us to express ourselves, to communicate with others, to hold abstract thoughts in our heads. Teaching college-level English to speakers of other languages is an amazing and constantly changing and creative task. Each student is different and at a different stage in his or her learning.  Providing ways for students to improve their English language skills and watching that improvement happen before my eyes is a joy and a pleasure.

In my free time, I enjoy birding, gardening, growing orchids, walking in nature, dancing, yoga and reading. I'm a member of the Greenhouse Community Garden, the Chicago Ornithological Society, and a volunteer at LaBagh Woods.