DAVID S. GRABER, Ph.D.
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
University of North Carolina - Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
E-mail: graberd@uncw.edu
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
2009
M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language.
Second Language Studies, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. GPA 4.0
Master’s Paper: ‘Scholars-in-training’ in History and Political Science and their
ability to use foreign languages in research
2005
International TEFL Certificate
ITC Language School, Prague, Czech Republic
1996
Ph.D., Russian Language and Literature
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. GPA 3.9
Dissertation: National Solutions to Cultural Decline in Russian, Polish, and
German Literature at the End of the Great War: Russian Scythianism,
Waclaw Berent’s Living Stones, and Thomas Mann’s Reflections.
1986
M.A., Germanic Languages and Literatures
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL. GPA 3.9
Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society
1984
B.A., German major
Lawrence University, Appleton, WI. GPA 3.7
Graduated cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
Language/Literature/International Studies Teaching
2010-present Lecturer/Instructor, Foreign Language and Literatures, UNC-Wilmington
•Responsible for all aspects of designing and delivering Russian course
•Taught first- and second-year German
•Organized and advised Russian Club
•Developed online exchange with students in Russia learning English
•Created and delivered course on German/Austrian/Polish/Czech literature
in English translation with writing component
2011-present English as a Second Language Instructor, UNC-Wilmington
•Taught speaking and listening, TOEFL, American culture classes
•Led student excursions to area sites
•Created audio files to supplement classwork
2012-present International Studies Instructor, UNC-Wilmington
•Taught course on global political, economic, environmental, cultural
issues
•Added writing assignments and developed simulation materials
2011-present Instructor, Osher Lifelong-Learning Institute, UNC-Wilmington
•Lectured on 19th- and 20th-century Russian literature
•Designed and taught 5-week German for Travelers course for adult
learners
Fall, 2010
English as a Second Language Instructor, Cape Fear Comm. College
•Taught Hispanic adults in local program
•Designed and taught basic English course
•Advised students on community services
2009-2010
English/German Instructor, ILI Language School, Washington DC
•Designed specialty advanced tutorials for individual clients
•Made and utilized audio and video recordings of students
•Adapted authentic texts and recordings online for course material
•Taught TOEFL preparation course
•Taught adult courses for beginning German
2009-2010
English/German/Russian Instructor, Self-Employed, Washington DC
•Responsible for own marketing, fees, billing system
•Taught accent reduction, presentation skills, email writing
•Made and utilized audio and video recordings of students
•Adapted authentic texts and recordings online for course material
•Created course materials with medical, political/economic, cultural focus
•Students included World Bank/IMF staff, Johns Hopkins Visiting
Scholar, Japanese government/French Embassy officials
2010-present English Instructor, ICLS Language School, Washington DC
•Taught workplace English for employees of Army Navy Club
•Designed and taught TOEFL preparation course
2009-2010
English Instructor, ELS Language Center, Washington DC
•Taught beginning to college levels of English for students from
Middle East, Asia, in intensive program (4-week sessions)
•Designed own materials, syllabus, and tests based on course objectives
2009
Counselor/Teacher , Hometown Europe, Ftan, Switzerland
•Taught and counseled in residential summer English camp
2006-2009
Credit Program Facilitator/Teacher, Concordia Language Villages
•Managed teams of 3-7 German teachers
•Supervised intensive (one year’s high school credit in 4 weeks) German
program of 20-50 high school students
2009
ESL Practicant, Minnesota English Language Program, Univ. of MN
•Taught 2nd-Year Academic English to international students
2008
German Instructor, Germanic-American Institute, St. Paul, MN
•Taught 5th-level German to adults
2006-2007
English Teacher, James Cook Language School, Prague, Czech Republic
•Taught Business English, TOEFL, Cambridge test preparation courses
•Conducted courses for corporate clients, including lawyers, accountants,
computer programmers, at Vodafone, Deloitt, PwC
1996-1997
Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, George Washington Univ., Wash. DC
•Taught 2nd-year German, 3rd-year Russian
•Taught German Conversation in Elliott School Graduate Program
1989-1996
Lecturer, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle
•Taught 1st-year, 2nd-year intensive Russian
•Taught writing component of 3-course Survey of Russian Culture
•Directed weekly extra-curricular group in Russian Cinema
1991-1993
English Foreign Lecturer, Teachers Training College, Nitra, Slovakia
•Taught advanced English conversation to teachers-in-training
•Taught Russian teachers re-qualifying as English teachers
1984-1988
Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
•Taught 1st-year, 2nd-year, 3rd-year German
•Received departmental award for outstanding teaching
Experience Preparing ESL/EFL Teachers
2008
Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, MN
•Taught Introduction to Teaching English as a Second Language
2006-2007
Senior Teacher, James Cook Language School, Prague, Czech Republic
•Oriented Americans to cultural aspects of teaching in Eastern Europe
•Conducted observations and provided feedback for beginning teachers
Language Testing
2010-present Test Item Writer, Second Language Testing, Inc., Washington, DC
•Located and adapted online text, audio, video material to create test items
•Wrote listening, reading, gap-fill, summary questions for proficiency test
2010-present Proficiency Interviewer/Rater, School of Advanced International Studies
(SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC
•Conducted interviews for Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs)
•Evaluated students’ English level for purpose of satisfying
graduation requirement (advanced-high)
2007-2008
German/ESL Liaison, Language Testing Program, Univ. of MN
•Administered language proficiency testing for graduation requirement
based on modified ACTFL scale (intermediate-mid)
•Conducted interviews and ratings for Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs)
•Trained course instructors to serve as OPI interviewers and raters
Teaching Writing
2008-2009
Writing Consultant, Center for Writing, University of Minnesota
•Coached writing projects, application essays, dissertations, resumes
•Specialized in working with non-native speakers of English
Translating and Interpreting
2008
Independent German Translator
•Translated advertising materials from German to English for Berlin-based
architectural firm, Berg Ploss Architects GbR
1990
Russian Interpreter, Intiman Theater, Seattle, WA
•Interpreted backstage during performances and escorted members of
visiting Moscow theater company Sovremennik as part of
1990 Seattle Goodwill Games
1989
Russian Interpreter, Veterans Administration
•Interpreted between visiting Soviet veterans of Afghanistan war and
U.S. veterans of Vietnam war as part of exchange on treatment of
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
1988
Russian Interpreter, Jewish Family Services, Seattle, Washington
•Interpreted for refugee being placed in new work position
Other Professional Experience
2000-2006
Correspondent, (based in Berlin, Germany), BNA Inc., Washington DC
•Wrote articles about German laws and court decisions
•Covered areas of environmental law, Internet law, tax law,
business in Eastern Europe, intellectual property, health care, pensions and
benefits, labor law
1987-1988
Assistant to the Director, Austria-Illinois Exchange Program, Vienna
•Supervised and counseled American students in Austrian dormitory
•Planned, organized, and led cultural excursions and social events
•Served as program liaison with local officials and administrators
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
Presentations
Making students aware of Romance language connections. Poster presented at
Spanish Linguistics in North Carolina (SLINKI), UNC-Wilmington, January,
2012.
The Making of World-Class Researchers: Multilingual Graduate Students on Their
Ability to Use Languages Professionally. Presented at Center for Advanced
Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA)/ESL Forum, University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis, 2008.
'God-building’ as Life Creation in Russian Modernism, Presented at conference of
American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages
(AATSEEL), Washington DC, December 1996
The Uncharted Waters of Russian Modernism. Presented at Conference on Russian
Modernism and its European Context, Texas Tech University, April 1996
The Future of Language and Literature Studies. Panel Discussion at Graduate and
Professional Student Forum, University of Washington, April 1995
Pil’njak in the Discourse on the Philosophy of History: The Naked Year as a
Reevaluation of War and Peace. Presented at conference of American
Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages (AATSEEL),
Toronto, December 1993
The Character of Ophelia in Olesha’s Envy. Presented at Slavic Linguistic Circle,
University of Washington, 1994
The Poet as Assassin (the Russian Decembrists). Presented at Slavic Linguistic Circle,
University of Washington, 1992
Publications
"Mom’s on Top of Things: Because I Am Her Son, Working at the Center of the
Universe,“ The Washington Post, Nov. 8, 1998
More than 400 articles in: Daily Report for Executives, Daily Labor Report, Eastern
Europe Report, World Food Report, World Intellectual Property Report, World
Securities Law Report, Daily Environment Report, E-Commerce Law Report, Daily
Tax Report, and other legal and business publications (BNA Inc., Washington DC).
FELLOWSHIPS AND RESEARCH GRANTS
2011
Recipient, US Dept. of Education Fulbright-Hays Grant
•To cover full costs of attending Summer 2011 Russian Language
Teachers Program at Moscow State University
1995
Grant Recipient, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
•For dissertation research at the Library of Congress
1995-1996
Recipient, University of Washington Alvord Fellowship in the Humanities
•For dissertation support
1995
Recipient, University of WA Fritz Scholarship for International Exchange
•For dissertation research conducted at Jagiellonian University,
Krakow, Poland
1994-1995
Recipient, Foreign Language/Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)
•For advanced Polish language study at the University of Washington
1992-1993
Recipient, Foreign Language/Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)
•For Polish language study at the University of Washington
1991-1992
Recipient, Foreign Language/Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)
•For advanced Russian language study at the University of Washington
1988
Recipient, Foreign Language/Area Studies Summer Fellowship (FLAS)
•For summer intensive Russian study in Moscow
1984-1985
Recipient, University of Illinois Graduate Fellowship
•Recruiting fellowship
MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
2008-present American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)
2010-present American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
2011-present American Association of Teachers of Eastern European Languages
(AATSEEL)
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST