I am a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies, where I attained a Masters in Philosophy and Religion, with an emphasis in Asian Comparative Studies. My undergraduate BA is from Southern Oregon University, where I basically made my own major in Interdisciplinary Studies (studying English, Writing, Philosophy, Ethics and Psychology). I have spent the last 20 years teaching ESL/EFL (I have a TESOL certificate) in both China and the US, as well as teaching philosophy and critical thinking in both countries. As a previous IELTS examiner, I am most confident and successful in helping students improve their scores in a short amount of time. I have tutored extensively in ESL and also in essay writing for various standardized tests and overall classroom writing from middle school through college. My experience of teaching and tutoring has generally focused on high school, college, and adult learners from various cultures and walks of life. I can always find a way to put my students at ease and to be engaged in the subject(s) they are seeking to improve on.