About
I work at a top private school in northern VA, where I teach middle-school Latin and ancient history. After graduating from a well-respected private school in the northeastern US (SAT 2340, ACT 34), I graduated summa cum laude in 2017 from the University of Oklahoma with a double degree in Classical Languages and Linguistics and membership in Phi Beta Kappa, and have been teaching and tutoring since.
Nothing makes me happier than seeing students' "aha!" moments in foreign languages, whether that's finally understanding how accusatives work, understanding how to divide polynomials, realizing that English 'peril' comes from Latin 'periculum', or transforming a particularly complex sentence of Caesar from gibberish into elegant meaning. My job, really, is to help students attack their subject from multiple angles to have more of those 'aha' moments.
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Lara S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
During the intake session, I talk with the student (and parents) about the students' goals, current stumbling blocks, and curriculum. I then craft a medium-term plan for tackling material the student struggles with and work towards that goal, reinforcing old material along with new material every session. I do give "homework" in the form of practice reading and self-study, but I am a firm believer in studying smarter and not harder--I personally use the spaced repetition application Anki for foreign languages, and am a firm believer in extensive reading over dry drilling and translation-in-a-vacuum--the latter have their uses, but they shouldn't constitute the core of the curriculum.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated summa cum laude in 2017 with a double degree in Classical Languages and Linguistics from the University of Oklahoma, where I was a member of the renowned National Merit Scholar program, published an academic article and joined Phi Beta Kappa. Since then, I've taught English in China and Mongolia, done some graduate-level work in Classics and historical linguistics in Europe (cut short by COVID, alas), and now teach at a highly-regarded private school in Northern Virginia. (Note that I will not tutor students from the school I work for). In my spare time, I work on the comparative and historical linguistics of Native American languages.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My Zoom intake session (lasting 20-30 minutes) is free, and the first session is half price ($35 for an hour, with a 5-minute break in the middle to recharge briefly). If you wish to continue working with me, I charge $70 an hour going forward, but offer a discount for buying in blocks of five hours ($325) or ten hours ($650). I will tutor groups of no more than four students; add $10/hr per additional student to the listed price.
Please note that I will be travelling at the end of June and will be Zoom-only from June 24th to July 1st, but can travel to you after that time ($5 flat fee plus $1 per mile away from my apartment in NW DC. There is, of course, no surcharge for Zoom or Skype tutoring). Early mornings and late afternoons work best for me, but I can be flexible.
Note that once the school year starts in late August I will mostly be available on weekends only, but flexible within that time constraint (just talk to me about your availability and I'll see what we can work out). Your generosity subsidizes the future purchase of a lightning-blue Mini Cooper convertible and a lake cabin in Maine.
How did you get started teaching?
I grew up in a teaching household and with many excellent boarding-school teachers as family friends--it was in the water! My passion for languages started early with a close family friend who taught Latin, and my passion has only grown since then. I am a strong believer in rigorous education, but dislike pressure-cooker environments.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students across the board, from middle-aged Mongolian businessmen looking to brush up their English before a trip to 5th graders learning Latin for the very first time. I meet students where they are at and try to spark their interests--there is something in Latin for everyone!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Moving to DC!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Don't just look for someone with a strong interest in the subject--find someone with experience teaching it to students like you. Grad students in Classics might be able to pick up a volume of Cicero or Tacitus off the shelf and read it cold, but they may never have had to work with someone who had trouble remembering how a participle works or which prepositions have to take an ablative. (That one is easy once you know the song--I'll be happy to teach it to you!)
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
--What is my *goal* in Latin/Greek? Try to think of something more concrete than just 'improve my Latin'. Do you want to get a 5 on the AP next year? Turn a C into an A? Pass Latin as a general education requirement at college so that you never have to think about it again? (Secretly, that's OK, too.)
--How much time am I willing/able to devote to studying outside of tutoring hours? (The answer doesn't necessarily need to be 'an infinite amount of time'--I get that people are busy, so let's figure out how to make the most of the time you have.)