I have loved books for as long as I can remember, so it was no surprise to anyone when I majored in English at Rutgers University in New Jersey. I graduated with my Bachelors in 2019, and because I love to share my love of books and language with others, especially those for whom English is not the native language, I completed my masters degree in ESL (English as a Second Language) Education in January 2021. I am certified to teach ESL K-12 in New Jersey, and have passed the exam to have the certificate to teach ELA added to my teaching license. In public schools, I have taught middle school ESL, and for tutoring, I have experience in both English and ESL.

My favorite method of teaching both is through the use of stories! English can be dry and boring, especially when focusing on grammar. When taught through the lens of a story, however, even nouns and pronouns can become more interesting. My absolute favorite thing to teach, though, is literary analysis. I confess I was one of those nerds in college who loved the ten-page literary analysis essays! Literary analysis is important because the skill can be applied beyond literature. Of course it greatly aids in reading comprehension. But to learn to analyze literature is to learn to think critically, and to learn to defend an analysis in an essay is to learn to communicate effectively.

More important than anything I've written so far, though, is my love for STUDENTS. Students are hands down the best part of teaching, and I love interacting with them in class. For this reason, I lecture as minimally as possible. Instead, my classes are full of questioning and dialogue, leading the students to come to conclusions themselves rather than giving them the answers in a powerpoint. I am a little silly, and maybe more than a little cheesy, so your student's participation and engagement in class just might have me jumping up mid class to celebrate with a happy dance. Joy is infectious, and my goal as a teacher is to bring joy to every class, to bring dedication, compassion, and respect to every student.

I so look forward to working with you!