Joann's idea to integrate listening, speaking, and pronunciation in the Talk! series was based on her graduate work and later developed while she was teaching in the intensive English program at Ohio University and the University of California Santa Barbara. Joann worked with Marni Baker, co-author for "Talk It Through!, " at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Currently, Joann works as an ESL Specialist for Houghton Mifflin and teaches as a volunteer at Transition House, a shelter for homeless families.