Learn or improve language with a multicultural, "mad cool" linguist

Hi there. If you're looking to learn French, Spanish, Italian or English, and seek a tutor with talent and personality as well as training and experience, I could be your guy. I'm definitely not your average teacher. I was born in the US, and grew up multilingual in a multicultural family. I have also lived, studied, taught and traveled abroad. Aside from teaching multiple languages proficiently at all levels including university, I speak many others and am an experienced translator/interpreter. I also do accent acquisition/reduction and skills improvement (reading, writing, conversation, comprehension, sociocultural adjustment/skills). I'm flexible regarding hours and locations in the immediate metro area. I know the City intimately, often a big plus for students new to New York. I work with individuals or groups. And I'm a truly cool guy who believes language study should be as fun as it is serious. Please feel free to contact me via WyzAnt for further information or to arrange to meet. Thanks for reading my profile!

Kip Jalal's Subjects

English:	ACT English, ACT Reading, Bible studies, English, ESL/ESOL, grammar, literature, proofreading, reading, SAT reading, SAT writing, TOEFL, vocabulary, writing
Test Preparation:	ACT English, ACT Reading, GED, GRE, PSAT, SAT reading, SAT writing, TOEFL
Computer:	Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word
Language:	ESL/ESOL, French, Italian, Spanish, TOEFL
History:	American history, anthropology, archaeology, European history, geography, social studies, world history
Special Needs:	hard of hearing, phonics
Elementary Education:	elementary (k-6th), elementary science, grammar, phonics, reading, spelling, study skills, vocabulary
Business:	GRE, marketing, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word
Corporate Training:	ESL/ESOL, French, grammar, Italian, Microsoft Word, proofreading, Spanish
Homeschool:	elementary (k-6th), English, ESL/ESOL, French, reading, SAT reading, Spanish, study skills, writing

American History

Aside from required American History studies in high school (at which I excelled), I also studied Louisiana history, and by extension pre-colonial and colonial history in the Americas. Specifically, I focused on the Caribbean and Creole South in religious and cultural studies, and in Louisiana history studies. Please also see relevant subject descriptions (World and European) for more on my background in history. I have tutored Louisiana, American, European and World History on the high school... Read More

Vocabulary

Functional to native-proficient in eight-plus languages and a capable teacher of at least four, I think I've developed a unique "approach" to learning vocabulary that works. The key element that distinguishes my approach is, I think, a methodology that essentially avoids translation and instead seeks to always correlate code (irrespective of language) and concept, rather than follow a more conventional methodological path that connects word and word or word and meaning (and only then, if ever... Read More

Grammar

I've taught English to native speakers, from the US mostly, since about 2006, at high school and university levels (e.g., grammar, composition, language skills). I have a very solid foundation in language arts, and English, thanks to extensive language study (I speak several fluently, and teach them as well) and a perfect foundation in language at home--I descend from a very long line of educators with impeccable diction, flawless grammar and a famous intolerance for substandard language of any... Read More

European History

I studied European history in undergraduate school, both at Georgetown University and l'Université de Paris IV (la Sorbonne); specifically, I studied it on-site in an in-situ art and architectural history course in Paris. I have lived in both France and Italy, and have both cultural and familial ties to Europe and the UK.

French

I was born in the US' only French-speaking state, and learned to speak French as a child in Louisiana; my uncle and teacher, however, taught me standard modern French first, then Louisiana French. I studied at the Université de Paris IV (la Sorbonne), in complement of my Georgetown University degree in French literature.

I have a lot of language education and instruction experience, having worked and taught in Europe and the US. I taught ESL professionally as an instructor from beginner... Read More

Microsoft Word

The ability to type at lightning speed, and a real aptitude for learning to use computer software, combined with multilingual TEP skills to keep me fed and clothed for years. As a communication professional I use MSWord for a host of things, and I enjoy pushing (my command of) the software to accommodate my vision as much as possible without writing macros or engaging in subroutine coding.

Microsoft PowerPoint

My career in advertising/branding/communication really began because I was a PowerPoint expert who also had multilingual writing and TEP skills. In agency and freelance settings, I wrote and programmed the pitch presentations for a number of products, from consumables to pharmaceuticals to financial products to mergers & acquisitions. I continue to use PowerPoint today, both for presentations of various sorts as well as a "scratchpad" for Web design and print projects.

Reading

A solid foundation in language and expressive arts in a family of educators meant, in my case, learning to spell and beginning to read around age two. Basically, I was bored, and my parents had to do something. I've been reading ever since. I now write professionally, after editing professionally in four (4) languages. I also tutor study skills like speed reading. A passion for reading and words, coupled with extensive language and linguistic training and graduate studies in communication, gives... Read More

Spanish

I have spoken Spanish "by association" most of my life, and studied formally at university while still in high school (Governor's G&T in Foreign Langs., plus Concurrent Placement). I am related by family, religion and culture to Puerto Rico, Cuba and Panamá. (Most know Louisiana linguistically for French and Creole; Spanish is also tradition, among Louisiana "isleños.") I have also worked in and taught Spanish (Int'l and Latin American standards), among other languages, since returning from Europe... Read More

Writing

I have been writing since childhood, having been born into a family with immense respect for language and expression in all forms. Not only have I taught grammar and composition in English and other languages, I have worked professionally as a multilingual editor. I am currently a professional wordsmith, crafting messages principally in advertising, branding, and marketing. I also maintain two blogs on the Web, to which I regularly contribute both prose and poetry.

Geography

I was blessed to be born into a multi-cultural family of educators who love travel. My foundation in geography was further cemented by my father's love of maps, and the atlases we kept in our home where I would trace my larger family's various origins and travels, and learn about the layout of those places. Having a photographic memory also helps a lot.

English

Aside from extensive experience and credentials relative to teaching ESL and other languages, I've taught English to native speakers, from the US mostly, since about 2006, at high school and university levels (e.g., grammar, composition, language skills). I have a very solid foundation in language arts, and English, thanks to extensive language study and a perfect foundation in language at home. I descend from a very long line of educators, known for impeccable diction, flawless grammar and a... Read More

World History

Aside from required American history studies, I also studied European history in undergraduate school, both at Georgetown University and l'Université de Paris IV (la Sorbonne); specifically, I studied on site in an in-situ art and architectural history course in Paris. I have lived in both France and Italy, and have both cultural and familial ties to Europe and the UK. I have studied West African and Asian histories both through religious studies and art studies; I have also traveled in Asia,... Read More

Italian

My undergraduate minor is Italian--I spoke it prior to studying and therefore skipped into intermediate advanced--and I lived in Italy for three years. Officially I lived in Milano, and actually I lived both in Milano and the Riviera Adriatica (Rimini/Riccione), and traveled all over northern and central Italy. While there, I taught language, translated, interpreted, and worked in entertainment (specifically music and nightlife) domestically and internationally. I have taught Italian in school... Read More

GRE

I will be of little help on the math section, but I scored perfect on the verbal... and I'm a great teacher!

Proofreading

I served as Multilingual Technical Editor for several languages at Berlitz Translation Services, Inc. in NYC, where much of my work involved simultaneously proofreading voluminous technical documentation in the original and one or more target languages. I have since worked in language and communication, specifically branding, advertising and marketing, for many years, and rely heavily on proofreading skills in my work.

SAT Reading

I’ve been reading and writing since I was a bored two-year-old—my parents needed to occupy my mind. Another advantage of an educator family was attention to test-taking skills. As a result, I scored a perfect 100% on the GRE verbal, and consistently scored above-average to excellent on the periodic scholastic evaluations, PSAT, SAT and ACT (I took both), with particularly high scores in reading comprehension. I've also tutored HS and university students in language arts (e.g. reading, writing)... Read More

SAT Writing

While I am not a math whiz, I do know the written word. I typically did very well to perfect on the verbal portion of the standardized tests I've taken (i.e., PSAT, ACT, SAT, GRE). Moreover, I read and wrote on a large number of books during my undergraduate and graduate careers; the latter, completed in 2010, focused on mass communication, was highly writing-intensive and included a thesis. I've tutored language arts at the high-school and university levels for a number of years, most recently... Read More

TOEFL

I have a lot of language education and instruction experience both in English and ESL, having worked and taught in Europe and the US. I'm degreed in language/linguistic studies (BSLi, Georgetown University/La Sorbonne) and mass communication (MMC, LSU).

In terms of experience specific to TOEFL, I taught ESL professionally to TOEFL candidates from beginner through advanced levels at British Institutes in Milan, Italy (EU), and at Rennert Bilingual in NYC, NY, in classroom and private... Read More

PSAT

While I am not a math whiz, I typically did very well to perfect on the verbal portion of the standardized tests I've taken (ie., PSAT, ACT, SAT, GRE). I've tutored high school students for about five years, and have taught and tutored a number of subjects at the high-school and university levels for a number of years, most recently while in graduate school (2006-11).

Spelling

Elementary (K-6th)

I actually grew up in a family of educators--some say I've been teaching all my life. :) I have lots of teaching experience, notably as a multilingual omnibus substitute at the New Orleans International School for grades K through 6. I've also tutored elementary-school students privately (e.g., home-schooled, physically/medically challenged).

Phonics

I have taught various languages, including English, for over 25 years (since undergraduate school). I also studied linguistics in undergraduate school. I specialize in helping students improve accent and pronunciation. My approach involves explaining to students HOW they produce various sounds with which muscles and parts of the mouth/nose/throat, and WHY. I also help my students learn HOW to HEAR not only the sounds they wish to learn to make, but importantly those they ALREADY make, and how... Read More

Study Skills

I directed tutees for all other subjects in improving general study skills as well as for specific subjects (e.g. language arts/languages, soft sciences for 4 years). I taught English, Italian, French and Spanish at Rennert Bilingual in NYC where I also directed students in improving study skills, e.g., how to outline, condense, bullet-point; how to skim, glean, speed-read; how to use indices, TOCs, TOAs, etc. as study aids/guides/time savers; how to master vocabulary, points of grammar, as well... Read More

ESL/ESOL

I have a lot of language education and instruction experience both in English and ESL, having worked and taught in Europe and the US. I'm degreed in language/linguistic studies (BSLi, Georgetown University/La Sorbonne) and mass communication (MMC, LSU).

I've taught ESL professionally from beginner through advanced levels at British Institutes in Milan, Italy (EU), and at Rennert Bilingual in NYC, NY. I also taught in four languages (Eng., Fr., Sp., and Mand. Chi.) at the Int'l School... Read More

Social Studies

I tutored high school social studies for three (3) years during graduate school; I won first place in social studies fair 4 years running in high school.

Read all subject qualifications »

Education

Georgetown University School of Languages/Université de Paris IV Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge (Master's)

Hourly Fee

Standard Hourly Fee: $50.00

With Prepaid Discount: $42.50 - $47.50

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Travel Policy

Kip Jalal will travel within 15 miles of New York, NY 10001.

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Kip Jalal B.