“Coming into college I was a little hesitant about being able to have a direct connection with the instructor and Luke made this happen with exceptional effort. . . . This class was one of my favorites my first term of college.”—Student review from Fall 2011 (see additional document attached to this application).
As this satisfied student notes, I hold myself and my students to the highest standards of excellence in education while still offering necessary individual attention and support. During my graduate classwork in Education, I developed techniques to present subjects like Latin grammar, which is often perceived as vapid and uninteresting, as something that is relevant and important to students. When I lectured at the University of Oregon, I was able to see my pedagogy play out successfully in the classroom, my gradebook, and most importantly, my students’ essays.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Classical Languages and English from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and a Master's degree in English at the University of Oregon, where my program was ranked 8th in the nation upon admittance. I am a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated from my undergraduate university summa cum laude. During my study for my Masters degree, I took numerous Latin and Greek language courses (16 hours). I am also the recipient of the Miriam Starlin award ($5000) supporting translation of Vergil throughout the summer of my Masters degree.
My lesson plans are dedicated to making Latin grammar relevant and fun to study! I do not focus on route chart memorization but rather use a range of teaching materials to develop translation skills and facility with grammar. The most important part with the study of Latin is to remember that you can read it and do well on exams! Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is your Latin education. Don't give up! I can help you gain practical skills in Latin and overcome any areas that you may be struggling with.
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