Experience Summary
I recently graduated from the University of Michigan where I received a degree in music composition. I also have a long standing fascination with language that I nurtured by studying 6 languages at the University; those being German, Russian, Polish, Old English, French, and Hittite. I have also independently studied Gothic, Old Norse, Norwegian, Danish, Sanskrit, Latin, and Old Church Slavonic. I intend to use these skills to pursue a doctorate in Indo-European studies, a field of linguistics focused on the development of the Indo-European family of languages, to which all of the above languages belong. Although my degree is not in Linguistics, I have taught myself the technical jargon necessary to read specialist texts, and have recently benefited from the mentorship of Benjamin Fortson, an Indo-Europeanist who wrote the standard introductory textbook for the field. The success of my self-motivated learning is attested by the fact that I was accepted to take advanced courses, typically reserved for experienced graduate students, at the Leiden University Summer School in Indo-European linguistics, a program in the Netherlands that I will attend in July. Since I have recently graduated from the University and plan to someday become a professor, I am enthusiastic to share my knowledge and accumulate teaching experience.
Teaching Style
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 new vocabulary, I like to find physical items which can be described by the words on the vocab list, and talk about those items with the student in the target language. I also believe that it is very important to center discussion around the individual students interests. For example, if the student like tennis, we can learn relevant vocabulary for discussing tennis, and center conversations on that. If they are interested in archeology, we can learn to vocabulary to study that. This takes the language out of the realm of boring lists, and brings it to life as a way of experiencing and talking about the world. I do not think that it is possible to master a foreign language without a passionate reason to do so, and finding ways to relate the language to other interests is an excellent means to make the language more vivid and develop a passion for it.
My Hobbies
I essentially spend all of my time composing and listening to music, as well as studying languages.
Other Comments
My rates are rather low, not because I don't believe in the quality of my work, but because I am new to teaching, and don't feel comfortable charging a normal rate without much experience. Despite that I am an extraordinarily successful and rapid language learner, believe strongly in my techniques, and am anxious to share them with students.
| German |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Experienced
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| While I am not a native speaker of German, I do speak it fluently, and anytime I have spoken with a German they have remarked that my pronunciation is nearly on par with that of a native speaker. I learned German at the University of Michigan, where I took 3 years of German classes, but have supplemented these classes with countless hours of self-study of German literature and film. Furthermore, I have intensely studied linguistics, focusing on the history of the Indo-European languages. Although, my primary discipline at the University was music composition, a creative pursuit about which I remain passionate, I have nurtured a parallel interest in linguistics for years, and will pursue a masters and doctorate in this field. I believe that my understanding of the grammar of German, as well as the structure of language in general, allows me to peer into the language with much greater insight than those who learned it through instinct. Essentially, I am able to bring the best of both worlds to the table; speaking the language with the ease of a native, and grasping its structure with the perspective of a linguistically trained foreign learner. |
| Latin |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I have studied Latin for 8 years and possess an expansive vocabulary as well a thorough understand of the grammar. I am deeply passionate about linguistics, and as the first foreign language I studied, Latin occupies a very special place in my heart. I have devoted years to the study of the Indo-European family of languages, and one of my greatest distinguishing assets is an understanding of the history of Latin in terms of its development from Proto-Indo-European, its prehistoric predecessor. This allows me the insight to explain not only how the grammar works, but how it ended up that way, elucidating many seemingly irregular features. Despite my technical knowledge, I am very confident in my ability to reduce concepts to their most basic form and state them in plain language. I will delve into additional information only to the extent to which the individual student is interested, however my historical backdrop provides information which, even if unstated, strengthens my understanding of the Language and ability to help the student explore it. |
| Russian |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| 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. |