Cara Phipps Tutoring
About
I am an experienced theatre professional with a background in English and writing. I have taught at the university level for three years and mentored high school and college students in writing and professional development.
I have an MFA in Directing from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Drama from the University of Portland (Oregon) in addition to ten years of experience in regional theatre.
I have expertise in writing admissions essays, personal statements, artistic statements, and grant proposals. I offer both content and grammatical services for any sort of writing. I have acquired skills in comprehension and close reading from university English classes and new play development.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraphipps/
I love working with students so that they can take full advantage of their education. It brings me such joy to see a student tap into their potential and be able to identify markers of their own success. I enjoy working together to open up new worlds for students to explore.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I do an initial meeting with the student to assess their skill level. I ask questions about their favorite subjects, where they feel their strengths lie, and what they find challenging in their coursework. I issue a series of basic exercises to be able to create an objective profile of their work. I use both those to build an approach to our work together moving forward.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have an MFA in Directing and a BA in Drama with a minor in English.
I have experience working with students at a university level on writing, public speaking, pitching, close-reading comprehension, and speech.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My standard pricing varies depending on the amount of prep work required to best serve the student.
How did you get started teaching?
I began teaching while working on my MFA at the University of Texas at Austin. I have since worked with students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the University of Southern California. I also served as a mentor to high school students during my time working at TheatreWorks in California.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with high school and college students.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I worked on a program called JungleWrites where high school writers took classes learning about plays and play structure. I served as a program assistant and delighted in being a part of the student experience twice a week during Monday and Saturday classes.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would get to know them and their philosophy about both their area of expertise and the way in which they teach. It's important to understand how someone comes to the work which is exactly what I do when deciding to work with a student. The measure of success is based on communication.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Try to think about open questions, that is questions that are beyond a "yes" or "no" answers. Be as specific as you can about where you are struggling so the teacher can do their best to assist you where you need it.