Mario Herrera has been an English teacher for 25 years, in programs ranging from elementary to post-graduate. He conducts research on how to teach English overseas more effectively to non-native speakers. Herrera is coauthor of the primary EFL series Parade as well as the pre-school EFL series Balloons and Pockets, and the secondary series My Friends. In addition, he has written for specific junior high school markets in Mexico. As an international consultant, Herrera has traveled on behalf of Pearson Longman, directing seminars and in-service training sessions throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He has won several academic awards for his presentations.
Barbara Hojel has an MA in education from Johns Hopkins University and 34 years' experience teaching very young children and training teachers. As an educational consultant, she has led workshops and seminars throughout Mexico and Central and South America. She has also trained teachers in Japan and the United States. She has authored and co-authored material for very young learners?the My English Book series, Balloons, Buttons, and Star!; and has written material for teachers?EFL/ESL Class Starters, Poems and Fingerplays, and English for Me! Storybooks. She is the co-author of Pockets. Ms. Hojel develops educational materials and gives seminars, workshops, and conferences for teachers.