Samn J.
- Portage, MI 49024 ( 32.9 mi )
- Experienced Russian Tutor
- Male Age 33
- Member since: 04/2014
- Will travel up to 30 miles
- Rates from $15 to $25 /hr
-
On-line
In-Home
- Also Tutors: Latin, German
My comments on tutoring Russian : I learned Russian through 3 years of Russian courses at the University of Michigan, and although I am not completely fluent, I am certainly proficient. In addition to these classes, I have been fortunate to have ample exposure to the language as spoken by native speakers. One of my closest friends is the daughter of emigrants from the former Soviet Union, and I have had many opportunities to practice my Russian with her and her family. Any time I have found myself in need of conversing with a Russian speaker who does not speak English, I have been able to communicate with little difficulty. Although my pronunciation of Russian is admittedly not perfect, it is also doubtlessly comprehensible to native speakers. My strongest asset, however, is a deep understand of grammar and the structure of language. I have long been passionate about linguistics, and am pursuing an academic career as a linguist, focusing on the Indo-European languages. This gives me the perspective to not only understand how Russian works today, but how and why it got that way. As a Slavic language, Russian can initially seem very daunting and unfamiliar to English speakers, however I am very confident that I can use my knowledge to succinctly break down and explain the most confusing features of the language, guaranteeing rapid progress in speaking built on a firm foundation of grammar and bringing this beautiful and rewarding language within reach of any student.
I think it is very important to meet the student at their level of interest and need. If the primary goal is simply getting enough experience to do well on a test or excel in a class, I focus on nemonic aids or other techniques (depending on the students learning style) to ensure success with this shorter term goal. If the student has a thirst for knowledge and wishes to explore the language in more depth, I am also very willing to take them on a journey through all of its intricacies. The point is to not force my own interests and expectations on the student, but to meet them where they stand. I also believe strongly in presenting new information in plain language, often employing the use of easily relatable metaphors to explain abstract concepts. Despite my love of grammar, I also find hands on experience with the target language to be indispensable. For example, when drilling ne ... read more
