Jeannie
Certified Tutor
I'm an experienced reading, writing, and ESL instructor who has taught both adolescents and adults in high school and pre-college programs. During my undergraduate years, I studied Spanish at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and participated in study abroad programs at El Centro Bilinge and La Universidad de Las Americas in Mexico. While completing my Bachelor's, I tutored classmates in English and assisted them with proofreading essays. Later, I completed a Master's of Education in Bilingual/Multicultural Education through Northern Arizona University. While studying for this degree, I volunteered at a junior high school and taught ESL classes there. After graduation, I moved to Oregon and began adjunct teaching for a community college in their Adult Basic Skills Program where I taught ESL, PreGED/GED Language Arts, Visual Arts, Graphic Design, basic computer skills, and pre-college Reading/Writing courses. I enjoy teaching ESL and English the most because of the opportunities to help students increase their vocabulary and express themselves creatively through writing. My first goal when teaching is to raise a student's confidence in their communicative abilities and expand upon their background knowledge, so that they are able to increasingly take on more difficult assignments. I strongly believe that confidence is the key to succeeding in any subject. In combining high levels of confidence and a well-rounded education, one will have more opportunities for career, social, and personal growth. Outside of teaching English, I'm also a photographer who enjoys story-telling through visual imagery. When I'm not in the classroom or the studio, I'm out hiking and appreciating the beauty of nature around me.
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Undergraduate Degree: Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus - Bachelors, Spanish
Graduate Degree: Northern Arizona University - Masters, Bilingual / Multicultural Education
photography, mythology, Anthropology, biking, hiking,
- Adult ESL/ELL
- Art
- College English
- College Essays
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Other
- Photography
- Photoshop
- Reading
- Technology and Coding
- Writing
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
In teaching language arts, I have found that asking the student to explain why they wrote or said is helpful in gauging their level of understanding.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I assess my students.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Generally, I bring my own handouts, which I create from lectures on a particular subject. I also bring practice sheets for homework assignments, game cards for interactive learning activities, and books that fit for the subject.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
To build confidence, I begin with small exercises for practice and lengthen these exercises so the student gains familiarity with a particular area of the subject. As they become more familiar with the tasks, I gradually increase these exercises. I also have students keep a learning journal, so they can reflect upon how far they have come and see their gains when they are feeling less confident.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
When I first meet a student, I have them list their goals.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I relate the skill or concept to things that the student already knows. By tapping into their background knowledge, I find that it is easier for the student to move forward with learning new things as they establish connections to what they have already learned and succeeded in doing.