Boyd

Certified Tutor

I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, where I focused on Plato, Nietzsche, Logic, and Existentialism. Upon graduation, I did work for a number of years in the service business. Those years were at times difficult, but it benefitted me in a way that helped me build empathy and improve my communication skills.

In 2018 I joined the staff at EF Education First as an online teacher. EF was able to assist me in obtaining my TESOL/TEFOL certification, and it gave me the opportunity to work with students throughout the world. I worked with students that were new to English, as well as those that had a number of years to English study. I focused on subjects as basic as "Greetings", and "Asking for Directions"; to more advanced topics such as "Running an online meeting", and "Storytelling". What I feel strongly when working with students is that learning a language is a challenge, and sometimes it can be frustrating. But learning a language can also be fun and rewarding.

I try to focus on those attributes and try to empathize with the student. I encourage students to focus on the journey, and what needs to be done on a daily basis. I try to make the classroom an inviting, relaxed atmosphere, and I am always open on what I can learn from the student, as that helps me become a better teacher. I like to encourage first year students to focus on practical vocabulary such as "Asking/Giving Directions", "Reading a Menu", "Navigating the Airport", and "The Weather". This is vocabulary that one will use when traveling to an English-speaking country, and for many, one of the reasons why people study English is for travel. I focus a great dealt also on test preparation assisting with tests such as IELTS, and TOEFL. I believe in education, and that education should be for everyone.

When I am not teaching, I enjoy Dragonboat Racing, working out, reading, creative writing (I am currently writing a book), photography, studying Digital Art, drawing, and studying foreign languages (I am currently studying two).