About
As a linguist I have extensive knowledge on phonetics and phonology. Phonetics is not something that is stressed enough in our current education system but it is a crucial skill that helps students both read and write with incredible improvement.
The teaching styles I adapt are Demonstrator and Facilitator. A Demonstrator teaches and shows by example while coaching and guiding. A Facilitator creates a situation for students to practice what was taught. I
Students want to learn things that they can relate to in their everyday lives. They want to learn about things they can connect with. When learning something new, getting their personal opinion of the text, what they found interesting, what surprised them, will make them more engaged and create a perfect learning environment.
I understand life happens (for both of us) so I do not charge for late cancellations or no shows.
I love watching as students make progress and the confidence in themselves grow as they see themselves improve.
It is important to be kind and make them feel safe as they can close themselves off when they are struggling in an area and their self esteem goes down. It is important to be patient and compassionate especially when working with children. I always do my best to make them feel safe and to be more confident in themselves and to know that making mistakes happen which all leads to successful sessions and improvement.
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Isabelle T.
Maria L.
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Stella M.
Ashley M.
Mary L.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
1. My process starts with getting intial information through a phone or text consulation. Here I will learn more information about the area(s) of need of your child and start making a plan to move forward to improve those area(s).
2. We will start with a free evaluation lesson that will help create a plan moving forward. It will help me to get a better idea of the level they are in and the best learning style specifically for each student.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics with a Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from California State University, Northridge. I also have a Teaching English Certificate.
I have many years of teaching experience working with both children and adults helping them improve in areas such as reading, writting, speech, and editing.
MORE DETAILS:
Linguistics is the study of the nature, structure, and variation of language. This includes phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics.
Phonetics studies the sounds of speech. It includes understanding how sounds are made using the mouth, nose, teeth and tongue, and also understanding how the ear hears those sounds and can tell them apart. Phonology makes use of the phonetics in order to see how sounds or signs are arranged in a system for each language. Morphology looks at how individual words are formed from smaller chunks of meaningful units called morphemes. Syntax studies how phrases, clauses and sentences are constructed and combined in languages.
How did you get started teaching?
I first got started teaching and tutoring while I was finishing my bachelors degree. It was part of some of my course requirements but I also did it as I found people in my community that are ESL speakers struggling with English and having no idea how to improve.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with many types of students including those with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
One of my students wrote me a cute letter full of stickers and drawings thanking me for helping them with their English reading and writting. Apart from the cute note, I loved seeing the huge difference in her self esteem. When I first worked with her she was so afraid to even try to read or give an answer because of her low confidence and she rarely smiled. Seeing that change, seeing her be more confident in herself made me very happy and proud. Seeing their grades improve is incredibly important of course but there is something about lifting a child's confidence and giving them the tools they will need for the rest of their educational journey.