Experience Summary
I have experience tutoring students as well as working with people individually and in groups, as an undergrad Psychology intern, a cognitive skills trainer, and a counseling student. As an undergrad intern, I worked with elementary school children as a tutor and a mentor. As a counseling student, I have worked with various populations, from grade school students (making healthier choices) to adults (stress, anxiety, career decisions, bereavement, etc.) to older adults in hospice care, as well as facilitate groups with individuals suffering from a mental illness. Also, I teach a beginner ukulele class at a community education center. Through my personal, academic and vocational experiences, I have gained insight about the process of working with people, educationally, musically and through goal setting (counseling and coaching). As a counseling student, I have worked with various populations, from children to older adults in hospice care, as well as individuals suffering from a mental illness. This diversity has given me an all around kind of perspective when it comes to working with individuals and has especially helped me further develop my creativity. As a student of psychology and a former cognitive skills trainer, I have insight about the ways in which the human brain learns new information, through such techniques as mnemonics, priming, and information processing.
Teaching Style
My approach is one that is peculiar to each of my students. As an auto-didactic learner, I believe that everyone has their own way of learning. Therefore, I use an approach that I feel works well for each of my students, with regard to whether a student thinks abstractly or concretely, for example. With so many possible goals, it is important to be flexible to work with each student's learning style. I present concepts with the idea that experience is the key to learning. I strive to create a warm atmosphere that allows students to feel comfortable with making mistakes, with making progress and with being themselves. I see the process as a wonderful opportunity for students to gain knowledge and awareness and to personally develop.
With my patience, positive energy, personal insight and passion for working with people, I help my students work towards progress while having a fun time doing it. I help my students create meaning by keeping the focus of the lessons based on a given student's interests and concerns. My hope is that it is all undoubtedly clear.
Two important things: I strive to maintain a positive collaboration with my students so that learning and development may occur. I believe this is one of the most important parts of the process. It is essential for students to share the same commitment. Also: I promote the idea of Soul. To me, Soul is any sincere display of passion. With Soul, we perform in a most genuine and graceful way. I personally believe that whether one is playing the piano, writing an essay, singing, giving a speech or anything (necessarily peaceful), one should do it with Soul.
Personal Development Coaching: Using my insight gained as a counseling student and my aforementioned experience working with people, I am happy to provide my personal development coaching service. It focuses on providing a safe and understanding atmosphere for one to reflect, process and work towards making personal changes (e.g. career, anxiety management, lifestyle) from an existential perspective. If interested, please, see the details I have provided under Life Coaching. I work with grade school students and adults (including college students).
My approach to personal development coaching is based on a therapeutic intervention called Gestalt Therapy (GT). The underlying idea of GT is that awareness is the key to change. My approach looks to help the individual gain self-actualization. This allows one to discern where such things as anxiety, unhappiness, ambivalence, etc. stem from. I believe that it is important for every human being to go through such a process so that peace and awareness within brings peace and awareness to the outer world. I am inspired by and influenced by the ideas of Carl Jung. I help facilitate the process in a genuinely humane, empathetic and professional manner.
I am absolutely loyal to the idea of confidentiality; therefore, I ensure that information of anybody I work with is not at risk of being shared with a third party.
My Hobbies
I love to think and introspect, read, write, play and sing, ride my bike, have deep conversations, and anything else spiritually, intellectually, and developmentally stimulating.
Other Comments
Personal Development Coaching: Using my insight gained as a counseling student and my aforementioned experience working with people, I am happy to provide my personal development coaching service. It focuses on providing a safe and understanding atmosphere for one to reflect, process and work towards making personal changes (e.g. career, anxiety management, lifestyle) from an existential perspective. If interested, please, see the details I have provided under Life Coaching. I work with grade school students and adults (including college students).
My approach to personal development coaching is based on a therapeutic intervention called Gestalt Therapy (GT). The underlying idea of GT is that awareness is the key to change. My approach looks to help the individual gain self-actualization. This allows one to discern where such things as anxiety, unhappiness, ambivalence, etc. stem from. I believe that it is important for every human being to go through such a process so that peace and awareness within brings peace and awareness to the outer world. I am inspired by and influenced by the ideas of Carl Jung. I help facilitate the process in a genuinely humane, empathetic and professional manner.
Please, contact me if you have any questions!
| Creative Writing |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Creative writing is one of my main passions. If you are a beginner wanting to see if this is something for you or if you are someone who is needing help with working ideas, I can help! I can help with editing and revising as well as help you develop ideas from scratch or further develop ones you already have in mind!
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Elementary Math |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| All I will need to know is what you are needing help with and I can provide it for you. Given that math can be seen as dry subject, I look for ways to help the individual be engaged in working out problems and understanding math's applications in everyday life. If I see it as necessary, depending on the individual's goal's, I use a metronome to keep track of the individual's progress.
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Elementary Reading |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| As a promoter of reading (whether it be fiction or non-fiction), I enjoy being in the position to help students with reading. In my experience of helping students with reading, it has been invariably fulfilling during those moments when a student improves their pronunciation or learns a new words! I can base a lesson plan on the student's peculiar needs. For instance, if I see that the student struggles with five-letter words, I can create a list of five words and develop a technique to help them improve their reading. I will use a metronome to help me check the student's improvement.
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Elementary Science |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have insight into various fields of scientific study. My approach is one that includes visual and aural lessons, as well as seeking various ways to make it hands-on (Q: What is Experience; A: The best teacher!). As long as I am given the student's desired goals to reach (e.g. understanding the process of photosynthesis), I can certainly help the student reach them!
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Elementary Vocabulary |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Part of my teaching style includes helping the student learn through various techniques that I learned from my experience as a cognitive skills trainer and what I develop intuitively. I can help you achieve goals with such techniques as mnemonics and flash cards, not to mention my incessant motivation!
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Guitar |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| After understanding a student's level and what their interests with guitar are, we pick out suitable music to use for lessons, as the student progresses. After a student gains a good understanding of playing a song, I like to go over various ways of playing the song to explore other kinds of expression through the guitar. With this approach, my students may learn to bring logic (technique, scales, theory) and feeling (how music is played) together.
I go over beginning lead guitar with students. My students begin by exploring the use of the major and minor scale using one position, then we explore alternate positions, then we combine them. After a student obtains a good understanding of the above, we explore the use of other scales through the same process. We also consult with method books and recordings of appreciated artists for inspiration and ideas of licks of desired styles. If desired, Lastly, I can include singing- solo and harmony- in the lessons! |
| Literature |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I enjoy deconstructing the building blocks of various kinds of literature (i.e. how it's structured and written). Whether is it an assigned class reading, an assigned home reading, or one I suggest, I can help the individual look at literature in a more healthily critical way. After understanding the individual's goals, I can construct an approach to help them reach them!
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Piano |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| After understanding a student's level and what their interests with piano are, I help the student pick a song or a piece to use for lessons that is according to those interests. After a student gains a good understanding of playing a song or a piece, I like to go over ways to change the dynamics (rhythm and note alterations) of the music to explore other kinds of expression through the piano. With this approach, my students may learn to bring logic (technique, scales, theory) and feeling (how the music is played) together. It is also a great introduction to improvisation.
I go over improvisation with students, if desired. This includes such concepts as playing comfortably with both hands, creating melodies, exploring the use of various scales and voice leading. Lastly, if desired, I can include singing in the lessons! |
| Psychology |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have been immersed in the world of psychology for 6 years. I can help you with various sub-fields of psychology such as theories of various figures such as Freud and Jung, mental disorders, APA style, and neuroscience. Psychology is my specialty.
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Reading |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| As a promoter of reading (whether it be fiction or non-fiction), I enjoy being in the position to help students with reading. In my experience of helping students with reading, it has been invariably fulfilling during those moments when a student improves their pronunciation or learns a new words! I can base a lesson plan on the student's peculiar needs. For instance, if I see that the student struggles with five-letter words, I can create a list of five words and develop a technique to help them improve their reading. I will use a metronome to help me check the student's improvement.
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Spelling |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I can help the individual learn to spell from a created list of words or ones that are assigned in class or at home. My approach to helping the individual learn to spell includes the use of a metronome.
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Ukulele |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Through my chorale experience, I learned techniques to improve various aspects of the voice, including flexibility, head voice and chest voice. I go over exercises with students to help develop desired aspects of their singing. If desired, I provide recordings to help my students go over exercises for singing and ear training. I believe that everybody has the ability to sing in some kind of way, no matter the vocal range. It is just a matter of finding a singing style that the student is interested in and developing it. I shape lessons around the student's interest in music and singing and explore ways the student can use their voice to create music, soulfully. If desired, I can include singing and playing with piano, guitar or ukulele.
If you have any questions, please, ask! |
| Vocals |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Through my chorale experience, I learned techniques to improve various aspects of the voice, including flexibility, head voice and chest voice. I go over exercises with students to help develop desired aspects of their singing. If desired, I provide recordings to help my students go over exercises for singing and ear training. I believe that everybody has the ability to sing in some kind of way, no matter the vocal range. It is just a matter of finding a singing style that the student is interested in and developing it. I shape lessons around the student's interest in music and singing and explore ways the student can use their voice to create music, soulfully. If desired, I can include singing and playing with piano, guitar or ukulele. |
| Writing |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I can help you write an essay or a research paper. I have written many of each. I can help you with the outline, the introduction, the body, conclusion or all of the above! And IDEAS! If you would just like somebody to revise and edit an already written paper, I can do that, too!
If you have any questions, please, ask! |