Experience Summary
I come from an academic family whose achievements have been in the Humanities, notably in Classics, Language, Literature, Music, and Western History. These topics have been my constant interest and source of inspiration, and I feel a calling and a duty to impart the study of the Humanities to young people today. I have a double-degree in Latin and English, a Master's Degree in English, and a Master's Degree in Librarianship. From early on I was exposed to different languages and my passion in learning and in teaching has always been around Language Arts, whether through poetry, prose, grammar, composition, spelling, vocabulary-building, etc. As a teacher of 7th-grade Latin, I was gratified when my students came to me the following year and told me that they were ahead of the rest of the class of 8th-grade Language Arts because of what they had learned from me the previous year. I have tutored high-school and college students in Latin, Medieval History, and Music. I have tutored middle-school and elementary-age students in basic skills, composition and reading comprehension, and I have been a piano teacher for beginning students. My work as an editor of scientitic papers has been on-going since 1997. Additionally, I have been published in a volume of the Penguin Classics, where I supplied the English translation of a medieval Latin text. I have the ability to engage students in a subject and I am skilled at tailoring the study to a student's own learning style.
Teaching Style
I believe strongly in the importance of traditional subjects such as grammar and composition, reading for comprehension and appreciation, and knowledge of our cultural heritage. I tailor my tutoring to the student's personal experiences and background, in order that he/she has a real connection to the material. I strive to explain fully the practical purpose of any subject we are covering, as well as how study of a given subject can, does, and will enrich the student's life, now and in the years to come. I take time to explain how each bit of new knowledge is a building block, and you must begin with a firm foundation before you can climb high in a subject area and feel the thrill at the pinnacle of your study. I like to incorporate a sense of humor as well as "reality checks" in my communication with pupils; i.e., sometimes we have to reach inside ourselves to find a reason to complete a task, and this might simply be on trust, yet it is always worth it to complete what we begin. I believe a strong grounding in the Humanities, and a comparative approach, is especially helpful for today's American student to understand the world and his/her place in it. When field trips are possible, I encourage site-visits and excursions. I have had success as a classroom teacher and as a private tutor in my subject areas.
| Type |
Level |
Year |
Title |
Issued by |
| Degree |
MLS |
1990 |
Librarianship |
University of Washington |
| Degree |
MA |
1986 |
English Literature and Language |
Univesity of Virginia |
| Degree |
BA |
1984 |
Latin AND English, double degree |
University of Washington |
| Other |
advanced |
current |
Music |
elementary piano teacher; choral singer |
| Other |
thru college study |
current |
German |
family connections |
| Other |
basic |
current |
Ancient Greek, Italian, Polish language |
college or personal pursuit |
| Other |
college, summer school |
1980 |
Polish Language and Culture |
Catholic University of Lublin, Poland |
| Other |
college summer school |
1983 |
Medieval Art and Architecture |
University of Warwick, England |