Claire: Belfast tutor

Certified Tutor

As a passionate educator with an M.A. from Middlebury College in Italian Linguistics and a B.A. from Smith College in World Literature, I am dedicated to cultivating a supportive, inclusive learning environment for my students. I have developed expertise in writing and editing through my experience working as a writing tutor at the Smith College Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching, and Learning, an editor for the Smith Writes literary journal, and an editorial intern for a national news magazine. In these roles, I provided constructive feedback on academic writing, helping writers improve their organizational structure, argument strength, and clarity. As an Italian language instructor at Dynamic Language Services, I have also honed my flexible approach to teaching in a foreign language, harnessing my knowledge of spoken and written Italian gained from a year living in Florence, Italy. In these roles, I have built positive relationships with diverse, multilingual, and neurodivergent groups of students using empathy and active listening, always tailoring my approach to meet their individual needs. I tutor in subjects including Essay Editing, College English, English Grammar and Syntax, Conversational Italian, High School Writing, and College Application Essays, drawing from my experience as a graduate of two top-tier liberal arts colleges. I am also prepared to tutor in AP Language and Composition, having taken the course at Haddonfield Memorial High School, named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2004. My teaching philosophy emphasizes clear communication and patience, helping students to not only excel academically but also to develop confidence in themselves as writers and learners. I find immense joy in guiding students through their educational journeys and helping them reach their learning goals.