Jessica: Lowell tutor

Certified Tutor

My educational background is in English/ESL education and intercultural communication, and I have a vested personal interest in English grammar and writing. These are, of course, the subjects I tutor - ESL, English grammar, and writing.. I graduated with my BA in Intercultural Studies from Moody Bible Institute in 2012, with an unofficial minor in education. I received my TESOL certification a year after graduating from i-to-i, an online TESOL certification company. I am passionate about helping students not only to improve their skills but also grow in appreciation for language and writing as a powerful form of self-expression and as a creative outlet. I am especially passionate about applying those principles in cross-cultural settings and helping students from all over the world grow confident as students, writers, and English-speakers; thus, my favorite subject to tutor is ESL.

My past tutoring escapades have taken me around the globe; I spent several months in South Africa and Swaziland teaching English to preschool and elementary school students. I also worked as the manager for my college's writing center, which involved tutoring many college students from various backgrounds. Some of those students came on a walk-in basis - others I met with regularly. I have also taught ESL online for almost three years. All of these have been rich and rewarding experiences.

In addition to English my educational background has also taken me into theater; I grew up performing in musical productions and, after high school, continued to teach and direct shows for Christian Youth Theater (CYT). I love to sing, dance, and act on stage. These years of theater fostered my creativity, which plays a large part in my tutoring philosophy: being a creative and energetic person, I love finding ways to effectively communicate and capture a student's interest, building on their learning style and unique personality. Learning should be fun; this doesn't mean that it won't be challenging, but I am passionate about helping students to find the joy of learning and working hard to accomplish something great.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and family, running (I'm training for a half marathon!), hiking and exploring the great outdoors, reading, and volunteering at my church.