Experience Summary
I had excelled in my first American Sign Language class in the 10th grade and proceeded to take the progressive courses that my high school offered. I also took a Psychology course and graduated with an Advanced Diploma in 2005. Immediately following graduation, I enrolled at Germanna Community College and became certified in American Sign Language in 2009 and in 2010, became certified as a Paraprofessional Counselor.
I've completed a 225 hour internship at the disability Resource Center under the supervision of their Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coordinator. The dRC offered a beginner ASL course to the public to which I attended as part of my commitment. During my time there, I noticed structure lacking from the course. I took the initiative to create a more challenging and innovative curriculum. I used the existing teaching method but gave the course a structure and implemented a syllabus. In order to create a more applicable model, I ensured that each class was an expansion from the last.
Teaching Style
I not only tutor American Sign Language, I offer beginner instruction as well. My methods obviously differ between the two, when I tutor I facilitate a very relaxed, fun way of communicating utilizing ASL to appropriate the student's level of skill and determine which areas need work. I like letting the student be in as much control as possible as far as the pace and duration. In a teaching situation, I start with the Alphabet and with the basic building blocks of the language. Each session is then individualized week to week in order to be precursory to the next and structured based on the pace of the student.