I am a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies. My graduate degree is in International Economics and Russian area studies. I also have a Bachelor's degree in International Relations with a concentration in foreign languages. I studied abroad for one year in Vienna, Austria and nine months in Moscow, Russia. I have traveled, lived and worked in several countries overseas. I am currently employed full-time at an executive branch agency with the federal government. I also teach German to adult learners. I am very passionate about language teaching and have a deep understanding and tolerance for diverse learning styles. My students have praised me for my engaging teaching style of incorporating different learning platforms in the classroom (i.e. games, film and video clips) and for being able to make difficult grammar points more understandable for them. As a firm proponent of foreign languages, being part of any educational curriculum, I also enjoy incorporating the relevant culture to the foreign language experience. I want my students to succeed at language study, but recognize that it can be difficult for some, and I always strive for patience and understanding with those who struggle. In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit and spending time with my wife and two children. Alpine skiing in the winter and tennis in the warmer months are my two other life passions.