Leah's English Tutoring
About
My passion for English began as a child as I attended various American International schools and studied among kids from all over the world, many of which were attending while learning English as a second language. Later I attended and graduated a Fine & Performing Arts high school in Virginia studying creative writing for 4 years, with an emphasis on poetry. My tutoring began there as I helped peers with reading and writing assigments. I have worked in the editing, revision, and review of two young adult novels as well as a literary and arts magazine. I am a published author, with creative works of poetry and nonfiction published in Eddas literary and arts magazine, The Apprentice Writer, Susquehanna Review, and Inscape. I graduated from Brigham Young University in Linguistics, and I am currently attending the Universitat Rovira i Virgili working on a Master's in TESOL/TEFL. I believe in a positive, creative, encouragement-based teaching environment. When creativity meets learned skill, there is no stopping a young mind!
I enjoy seeing the fruits of effort, application, and practice! There are moments of clarity and understanding that occur in the learning and teaching process. I treasure and work toward these moments because they are the reason I enjoy my work.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I like to begin with getting to know a bit about their personal background. Growing up around international students, I know the importance and effect personal background has on student confidence as well as reading and writing skill. I also like to inquire about methods and environments the student has performed well in. This allows me to know how to best communicate and teach, as well as which resources to use for optimal comprehension. I, in turn, offer some of my personal history, including my interests and hobbies, details about places I have visited and organizations I have been a part of. A positive teaching environment starts with a positive relationship between the teacher and the student. From there, together we will determine appropriate study and practice goals and make plans to achieve them!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School in the Fine & Performing Arts program with a concentration in Creative Writing. My last two years of the program, I studied poetry as a focus genre. As part of the program, I was educated in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and script reading and writing. I also learned technical skills in editing, revising, and publishing. While attending there, I passed two Pre-AP English courses as well as AP Language & Composition and AP Literature.
After graduating high school, I attended and graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's in Linguistics and TESOL. I have studied multiple foreign languages, including French, Mandarin Chinese, and Italian, and Navajo which formed much of my knowledge and skill in English language structure and grammar. I am currently completing a Master's in TESOL/TEFL at the University Rovira i Virgili.
I have taught beginner, intermediate, and advanced English classes. I also have experience preparing students to take the TOEFL and Cambridge English assessments.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $20 per hour of tutoring, but I am flexible depending on the financial and educational needs of the students.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching in the classroom in my first semester attending Brigham Young University. Later, I found a real passion for teaching in the community as I was a volunteer missionary for 18 months in Pennsylvania and Colorado. There, I taught with locally in people's homes, assisting with personal learning needs.
I have taught ESL classes at Brigham Young University and Cumorah Academy.
What types of students have you worked with?
In the classroom, I have worked with mainly peers, high school and college-aged kids from many backgrounds and origins.
In the community and one-on-one, I have worked teaching children as young as three years old, men and women as old as 90 years old, and all ages in between. In the community, I have also worked with female peers in training them to be effective teachers.
Both experiences helped me realize the importance of teaching to meet individual needs.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I recently to a tulip farm for the first time! I have always been fascinated by the language, history, and culture of the Netherlands, including their market in tulips. I spent the day with my sister and my dad, photographing and picking the blooms, enjoying the fresh spring air!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Come to the table with an open mind and a patient heart. The field of English requires being out of your comfort zone and patient persistence in the learning and application process.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What specific skills do I want to improve?
Am I motivated to improve?
Am I willing to try new things?
What methods or resources help me best learn?