Christopher Vasquez is a fourth year PhD student in the Department of Learning and Instruction. His research dissertation is entitled Life Awareness Topics in the Classroom: An Ethnographic Teacher Research in One Adult Immigrant ESL/ESOL Classroom. His thesis explores how adult English as a second language teachers can use classroom talk  more effectively to develop student voice and language competency. Chris has been teaching ESL for 15 years. He has a MEd in TESOL from UB, a BA from Tufts University, and a BM from New England Conservatory of Music. He is a co-author on three publications: one with data collected in his own class and two with his advisor. He has had the privilege to present his work at LRA and TESOL. Chris is also an award winning Tango singer and actor. He has performed in movies, TV, commercials and on many national and international stages.