Fiona: Prospect Heights tutor

Certified Tutor

I am studying Spanish and Education at Columbia University in New York, on track to become a Spanish teacher for grades 7-12. I discovered my love for the Spanish language and culture in high school, and since then, I have studied in Spain, Panama, Argentina, and Cuba to further develop my fluency and enrich my understanding of other cultures.

I have been touched by so many teaching and tutoring experiences that fostered my love for teaching. I decided I wanted to become a teacher the moment I realized that helping others succeed made me happier than my own successes. In addition to studying in Panama, I also volunteered to teach English classes for the community there and had the opportunity to work with incredible people and see such growth in their language abilities. When I returned, I obtained my certification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). I worked at Kumon Learning Center, where I tutored children of all ages, specifically those struggling with English as their second language.

Since I was so passionate about Spanish, I began to teach classes for elementary school students at a local library. In high school, I was the student aide to the Spanish department, where I worked closely with teachers to design lesson plans, create teaching materials, assist with teaching in the classroom, and tutor students one on one. I continued on to student teach middle school Spanish classes as my senior internship.

At Columbia, my love for Spanish and teaching has only grown. In addition to my Spanish and Education classes, I have also created and published online resources for students learning Spanish. Beyond my studies, I volunteered tutoring high school math for underprivileged students here in New York. I am also co-president of CU BuildOn, an organization that builds schools in the countries with the lowest literacy rates. After returning from building a school in Nepal last year, I have seen the tremendous effect that education can have on people's lives, and I feel honored to play even the smallest role in that impact.