Most English teachers don’t have the education or experience in phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, and orthography needed to teach English without requiring your students to memorize endless lists of sight words and exceptions to linguistic rules. This rote-memorization-heavy teaching style can make English frustrating and intimidating for English language learners.
My students don’t need to rely on rote memorization. English has a phonetic system that explains 98% of English words. While the rules are complex, they are consistent, and actual exceptions are rare. I teach my students the phonemes, phonograms, and spelling rules that allow them to decode the English language independently and speak, read, and write fluently.
Many ESL applicants are 20-year-old tutors without an English degree or teaching experience. They often don’t intend to teach long-term and are focused on earning a flexible paycheck to fund gap-year travel, not on honing their skills as an educator.
In contrast, I’m a professional, experienced teacher and homeschooling parent of three with years of experience. English is my career, not a side gig. I earned a B.A. in English from Webster University, graduating with honors in 2014, and I’m an authorized teacher in the state of Illinois.
I’m committed to continuous education and keeping up with current professional trends. In addition to my degree, I’ve received a 120-hour TESOL certification and a CELTA and pursued additional education in the Logic of English method and Montessori principles.
On a personal level, teaching and living abroad nurtures a deeper understanding of cultural diversity and a sense of international responsibility in myself and my family. I want to raise my children to be open-minded global citizens who appreciate their native culture while respecting and learning from others.
In the classroom, I believe in the transformative power of language not only as a tool for communication but also as a bridge that connects individuals from diverse backgrounds. I emphasize the importance of empathy, cultural awareness, and respectful cultural exchange, preparing my students to navigate an increasingly interconnected global society.
I’m a native of the midland region of the U.S. with a neutral, General American accent—the same accent associated with North American radio and television announcers.
My students learn to speak English with a neutral American accent that English speakers around the globe can easily understand. I specialize in pronunciation and have a proven ability to identify and correct student errors in pronunciation patterns.
I’m an experienced professional teacher with experience teaching students from preschool to adulthood and a father of three elementary-aged children. I excel at keeping students of all ages engaged and actively learning.
As a teacher and a parent, I know how important education is, and I use my strong background in differentiated instruction and collaborative learning techniques to drive my students toward academic success.