Today we’d like to introduce you to Aileen Hale.
Hi aileen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts with my father, who always encouraged me to be an explorer and adventurer. Being raised in Cleveland, Ohio during the Great Depression, my father received a full scholarship to attend Colombia University in N.Y. to study medicine. He became a leading cardiologist and started the first cardiology department of Summit Hospital in Oakland, CA, where I was born and raised. When I was accepted to Cornell University in upstate NY, he of course encouraged me to go across country to the cold winter wonderland! From there, my story unfolded to international education. I had studied French since I was a child and spent a semester abroad in Strasbourg, France. This is where my love of languages and cultures began. After working in D.C. for a year after Cornell, I quickly discovered the 9-5pm office job was not for me and I wanted to learn Spanish, so I set off to Quito, Ecuador – the beginning of my true adventurous life. What was supposed to be a 6-week Spanish immersion program through Georgetown University, turned into 6 months of living and working in Quito. I gained fluency in Spanish and was offered an opportunity to teach English at the University of Quito. This is when I discovered my love of teaching. I had studied international relations at Cornell, so I had no teaching experience or training. Thus, when I returned to the US, I pursued a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language as well as a Masters degree in Cross-Cultural Studies. During my graduate school years, I taught ESL at an adult night school in East L.A. I also worked as an interpreter for short-term mission trips to Costa Rica and Argentina. After completing my Masters degree, instead of going to work in Latin America (where I anticipated a career), I ended up working in Indonesia. I spent a month in the jungles of Irian Jaya and then headed to the island of Java to teach English at a university in Salatiga. I eventually made my way back to the U.S. via Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. I had the tremendous opportunity to get certified as an Open Water PADI diver before returning to work at Azusa Pacific University in California. Here I began my educational career in service-learning (SL). I initiated a SL program in Zacatecas, Mexico for students to acquire linguistic and cultural understanding. After a few years, I met my 1st husband and we moved to San Francisco, CA, where I started a Doctorate degree in International Education. As I was graduating with my doctorate, my first child, Katelyn, was born. I taught part-time at St. Mary’s College while raising Katie. Within a couple years, my 2nd child, Johnny, was on the way. Just 6 months after his birth, we moved to Mexico City for a year! While taking care of young children, I continued to work on my Spanish fluency. We returned to live in Oakland for a few years and then made our way to Boise, Idaho, where I started work as a Professor of Bilingual Education at Boise State University. I taught for a number of years and then migrated to working for a nonprofit, helping refugees to learn English. I also started an organization taking students to Belize for service-learning projects. I initially went to Belize as a Fulbright Specialist, training teachers with methods of teaching English as Second Language. Our service projects were related to supporting childrens’ literacy skills.
After both of my kids graduated high school, I decided it was time to leave Boise. I married my 2nd husband and worked in Albania as an English Language Fellow for a year. My son and 3 of his friends joined us that summer to rock climb the mountains of Albania! We traveled extensively during that year and returned to the U.S. as COVID broke out. We moved to Jacksonville, Florida at the beginning of COVID. Thankfully, our new life was based at the beach, so I could walk outdoors and swim in the ocean during the pandemic. In the past 6 years, I have taught English at Florida State College of Jacksonville (FSCJ) and the University of Florida (UNF); started an ESL program at a church; trained teachers; worked as a Fulbright Scholar for a year in Cartagena, Colombia and a Fulbright Specialist in Bogota, Colombia; as well as an English Language Specialist in N. Macedonia.
During COVID, I co-founded a podcast called Teaching Tips for English Language Teachers (TTELT). Subsequently, I initiated my own podcast: Travel with Purpose (TWP). TWP is intended to highlight nonprofit organizations and bring partners alongside their work. Travel with Purpose” shares ways travelers can engage in communities, while visiting a country, making meaningful contributions – impacting lives on both sides.
I travel frequently to support global nonprofits and bring other travelers alongside. I am passionate about traveling, learning languages and cultures, and supporting local communities.
I also am an avid swimmer. When I joined the Duval Ocean Swimmers (DOS) in Jacksonville, I started competing in ocean swims including the local annual Hammer Head challenge; Swim Around Key West (12 miles); and Oceanman! I continue to swim, snorkel, dive, paddle board and enjoy the beauty of oceans around the world, while traveling with a purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well…is anybody’s road smooth? I think it’s the bumps that make us who we are – the pivots we take shape the path we make.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aileen-hale-976a0818/
With a doctorate in International Education & Service-Learning, Aileen has continued to work in these fields for the last 30 years, designing and leading programs in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Cuba, Colombia, S. Korea, and Albania. She has served as a Fulbright Scholar in Cartagena, Colombia; as a Fulbright Specialist in Belize and Bogota, Colombia; as an English Language Specialist in South Korea; and as an English Language Fellow in Albania. She develops curriculum and trains teachers with English teaching methodologies.
Aileen is passionate about designing customized, unique travel experiences, contributing to communities, engaging in cultural excursions, and recreational activities. She both leads retreats and creates customized itineraries for families, groups, and companies.
Aileen is fluent in Spanish; conversational in French and Romanian.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Boating and waterskiing with family on a lake during the summers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.create-connections.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travel_with_purpose_globally/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090704558771
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aileen-hale-976a0818/
