Dr. Donald Hones

Don Hones, professor in the ESL/bilingual education program, began teaching English as a second/foreign language in Spain in 1984.  He has taught in Ecuador, California, Oregon, Minnesota and Michigan. Since 1997, he has been at UW Oshkosh.  He has been lead writer for three federal teacher training grants, most recently Project ESTRELLA (Excellent Schools, Teaching and Research for English Language Learner Achievement).  He has written two books and numerous articles.  He teaches ESL Methods, Hmong Language, Culture and Learning (co-taught with Txawthoj Vang), and Principles of Bilingual/Bicultural Instruction.  This summer he and Alfred Kisubi will offer a new course, Education Along the Immigrant Trail, with field experience on the Arizona/Mexico border.

Influential Educator:  Paulo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed.  I appreciate that he envisions the teacher as someone who walks the road with students.

Favorite Book in Translation:  This is a toss-up between William Buck’s translations/reinterpretations of The Ramayana and The Mahabharata, two great epics from India. I’ve been reading these aloud to my youngest son—they are very accessible.

Favorite Poet:  Pablo Neruda (por supuesto).  I would recommend his Versos del Capitan, Memoria de la Isla Negra and La Rosa Separada.

Favorite Hollywood Film about Education:  School of Rock.  Don’t you wish you had Jack Black for a teacher?

Film I Would Like to Make:  A documentary about the immigrant experience, with interviews with immigrants settled in the U.S., visits to their home villages (in Mexico and elsewhere), and stops along their immigration route.  I am looking for a good photographer for the project!