Five Statements that changed the course of the School of Teaching ESL

2.  Who said it? Joe Helms, Student Advisor, ELS
Language Center
 When? 1984
 Why? Nan Butler had just returned from a
meeting with Seattle University Office of Off-
Campus Education and gotten approval to
offer a course titled “TESL Theory and
Application” (now the foundation course,
EPDES 930 “TESOL Theory and Education”).

3. Nan at ELS in 1984
Some day you’ll be
a school.

4.  Who said this? The two night classes of
“TESL Theory and Application” in Spring
Quarter, 1988
 Why? They were mostly public school
teachers who wanted summer credits in
TESL.
 The result? Nan Butler quit her job at ELS
Language Center and offered the first
Intensive TESL class in her dining room in
August, 1988

6.  Who said this? The August, 1988, Intensive
TESL class.
 Why? They were tired of hearing Nan Butler
say “This is the way I think you should teach”
and insisted we give the overall approach a
name.
 The result? Facilitative Language Teaching.

8.  Who said this? A friend who wanted to
retire from owning/running the Peppermint
Playhouse, a Montessori preschool in Ballard.
 When? 1990
 The result? In 1991, the school was moved
from temporary headquarters near Northgate
to Ballard, where it remained for 13 years.
The preschool was closed.

10.  Who said this? Bernice Ege-Zavala
 When? 2003
 Why? Nan Butler wanted to retire; Bernice
Ege-Zavala was ready to train for transition
to the directorship of the School of Teaching
ESL.
 The result? Bernice Ege-Zavala became the
Director and moved the school to its current
Licton Springs locale.