I began studying Latin in the 6th grade and have been enjoying it ever since. My B.A. (2000) from the University of Malta (where I was able to study under professors from Cambridge and Oxford) concentrated on two majors -- Classics and Linguistics -- and minor studies in Mediterranean Civ. and Italian. I earned my M.A. in Classics from the University of Maryland (2006), where I studied only Latin, including the major authors, Latin language historical development, archaic Latin, and others. From the time I was 15, I have regularly traveled to Italy and have visited Rome, Florence, Pompeii, and other cities.
I completed my Master of Education degree at George Washington University (2008). This program prepared me for secondary Latin teaching (grades 6 - 12) and certified me for public-school employment. Currently I teach at a public high school in Alexandria, Virginia.
In teaching I avoid the traditional, old fashioned grammar methods since they concentrate on rote memorization and non-contextual study. I prefer to engage my students by making the subject relevant to their lives and personal interests. Yes, some memorization is required, but there are other, higher-order thinking skills that can be more valuable when studying the breadth of a subject such as Latin and Roman Civilization.
I also prefer to engage my students in instruction by making sure they can give me feedback on my methods, their goals and learning needs, and on how *they* feel they are progressing. To me, my goal in all this is not simply to teach but to create learners!
In my capacity as a Latin tutor, I am willing to guide students in reviewing grammatical concepts, linguistic forms and usages, and individual assignments. I will do my best to explain things in a more effective way so that students are able to understand. As long as a student has begun to learn the language in a regular program, I will be able to help. Accordingly, I believe that if a student wants to begin learning Latin from scratch, there are more effective means than hiring me as a tutor.
I live in D.C. and work in Alexandria but do have a car. I am willing to drive to meet a student, as long as that student is a reasonable distance away. I am willing to study with you in your home or at a public place (e.g., the MLK Library), so even if you are far away, we could meet in the middle somewhere. Generally I am available beginning at 4:00 p.m. Tutoring sessions can also take place on the weekend.
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