Stephen: Council Bluffs tutor

Certified Tutor

I received a BA in English from Hampshire College and an MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to teaching ESL and English for the past thirty years, I have tutored ESL and English Composition to foreign speaking students for the past ten years. I am a produced Screenwriter and Playwright. Since writing is my passion it is also my favorite subject to teach. I believe writing is really about preparation. Asking oneself the appropriate questions in order to stay on track and respond to the question posed is crucial. Formulating a coherent essay structure relieves much of the student's anxiety so that writing becomes the easy part. Often nerves and anxiety overwhelm a student at test time and the idea of taking pause to structure a response is forgotten. I am confident in my ability to demystify the fear of essay writing by teaching structural approaches that will make writing easier. If a solid structure for an essay is created at the outset, especially under the pressure of a test, more time can be given to reviewing grammar and tone - vital aspects of essay writing that can't be forgotten. Because I love to write and teach and am energetic, I am confident in my ability to make the writing process fun.

I have been a tenured ESL teacher in the adult division of the Los Angeles Unified School District for nineteen years. I use a wide variety of approaches and techniques to teach reading, writing, speaking, grammar and listening. I believe assessment is a key in assisting an ESL student with his/her needs. Once I detect the weaknesses in a student's language abilities, I can better focus on what the student needs. In my nineteen years of teaching ESL, I believe being flexible is a key. A teacher must meet the individual student's needs and not blindly adhere to a formulated agenda.

I enjoy teaching and believe a teacher never stops learning.

My hobbies include reading, exercise, and cooking.