Experience Summary
I have spent 6 years teaching university-level German language courses and reading comprehension & writing courses. Before this, I spent 2 years as a volunteer instructor of bi-weekly English language classes in Romania and Moldova. In both contexts, I have taught interactive courses for students of various ages, educational levels, and cultural backgrounds. From my background in Linguistics, I understand how language 'works'. I have a quiver full of tools to use in explaining the linguistic nuances, which I use to explain the relationship between thought and language. Additionally, I have been involved in various research projects on language usage, language change, and language learning.
Teaching Style
I approach instruction from the view that “teach[ing] a man to fish, will feed him for a lifetime”. I am committed to building on what my students bring with them, using this as a fulcrum on which to hinge their learning. This approach succeeds in helping students understand that they are capable of and even responsible for teaching themselves?–?a skill I see as a necessity in life, especially once a student can no longer expect formal instruction. In addition to my own experiences with learning several languages, I have benefited from coursework in Behavioral Psychology, which has taught me to create positive classroom atmosphere. My students note my enthusiasm for language and express appreciation for my linguistic explanations.