“In my class, we practice the phrase, ‘I’d rather not say.’ It gives students permission to set boundaries—something that’s just as important as learning how to ask for help.”
What started as learning Spanish on the fly in a busy restaurant eventually led Paul to a career helping others find their voice in a new language. After over a decade working in New York City’s restaurant industry and learning Spanish informally on the job, he developed a keen interest in adult language acquisition and the challenges of picking up a new language without formal instruction. This experience ultimately led him to pursue a teaching certification and begin volunteering with AAFSC’s English conversation classes. That early commitment laid the foundation for what would become a long-standing role at AAFSC and an inspiring career in adult language education.
Today, as Associate Director of Readiness Initiatives, Paul brings that lived experience into the classroom each day, leading literacy and conversation classes and guiding the curriculum design that meets students exactly where they are. His approach is deeply practical, whether it’s explaining phrases like “stay on the line” during a unit on calling 911 or navigating self-checkout machines. “You want to teach the language they’ll hear in the world, but the explanations have to be incredibly precise. It rewires the way you think about language.”
Paul is also committed to ensuring students feel empowered not only to communicate, but to make decisions for themselves. “In my class, we practice the phrase, ‘I’d rather not say.’ It gives students permission to set boundaries—something that’s just as important as learning how to ask for help.” His work embodies self-determination, reinforcing that English language learning is about far more than vocabulary; it’s about navigating life with dignity.
Looking to the future, Paul is excited by the growing opportunities for curriculum expansion and community connection. Field trips to farmers’ markets, collaborations with programs like Mental Health and Legal Services, and advocacy for better adult education funding all point towards a program designed not only to teach but to uplift. “The greatest compliment is when a former student brings a loved one back to us and says, ‘You need to learn English here.’ That’s when you know the work matters to someone.”
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Paul is the Associate Director of Readiness Initiatives at the Arab American Family Support Center, where he supports immigrant and refugee communities through adult education programs that build language skills, confidence, and connection. To learn more about our work, visit aafscny.org.