Born into a diverse household in Brooklyn, NY, Joseph Salvatore Aversano was equipped with both American Sign Language and English. In his younger years, he taught American Sign Language in his community and received awards from Columbia University and the American Red Cross for journalistic writing. Joseph then delved into liberal arts and English literature studies at Nassau Community College and SUNY Stony Brook. Following a study-abroad year at Bosphorous University, he worked at language schools in both Istanbul and Ankara. Joseph now works with colorful young learners at TED Ankara College. His extra-TEFL activities have included studying classical Turkish music on the ney, producing quieter experimental electronic music (with releases in Berlin) and trying to do yoga.