German Language Native; European Business, Traveling; World History

Hello everybody, und Herzlich Willkommen !

My name is Harald - with the German spelling of 2 "a"s.

I first came to the USA in August 1990 with a 1-year exchange program comprising 4 months of college and 6 months of work - while living with a host-family in the suburbs of Chicago.

Originally I'm from Wuerzburg, Germany (Northern Bavaria), a medium-size city with a lot of history (incl. a fortress from the 900s, a Baroque palace from the 1760s, a scenic river right through the middle, and lots of vineyards on the slopes of surrounding hills.)

I've spent extensive time abroad (from Germany) in the 1990s: 9 months in Sheffield, England (1992/93), 6 months in Chicago, IL (1994), 4 months in Moscow, Russia (1995). From September 1996 until June 1997 I've worked at SFU's Center for Global Competitiveness in Loretto, PA, incl. giving speeches to economics & business students at SFU. My primary job at the CGC was to help regional companies with establishing or growing overseas business (particularly EU).
From 1998 until spring 2011 I managed the US Shipping Center for German Graphics Software company Dosch Design GmbH.

I'm a patient person/teacher and still remember my own frustrations of language learning quite well (English in my school days; Spanish in College; Russian, while living in Moscow).

I love history, cultures and people in general. Language is quintessential for any culture's character and growth - it's a culture's "soul", so to say! While there are no "easy" languages, I found the tricks for learning a language effectively are TRUE MOTIVATION and PURPOSE! Whether it is through foreign language music lyrics, movies, poetry or TV, there has to be an obvious purpose and goal, and it has to be FUN !

That's my basic philosophy regarding learning in general, and learning a language in particular. A language is a living thing, and it's the soul of its respective culture.

I'm looking forward to helping German students in the Altoona, PA area to improve their German skills both, in writing, and for conversational purposes like business or traveling.

Outside my German skills I can also help to unlock economic and business teachings and realities as we all face them in our daily lives, or to catch up with the fascinating history of Europe, the USA or the World at large.

Sincerely und "mit freundlichen Gruessen",
Harald

FYI: Within the last 3 months I've passed employment-based background checks through both Macy's (Altoona-store) and the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA, both of which are my current part-time employers.
I am a full-time employee of ALDI Inc. (groceries store chain)

Harald's Subjects

English:	ACT English, English, grammar, proofreading, reading, SAT reading, SAT writing, TOEFL, vocabulary, writing
Test Preparation:	ACT English, SAT reading, SAT writing, TOEFL
Computer:	general computer, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word
Language:	German, TOEFL
History:	American history, European history, geography, government & politics, world history
Elementary Education:	grammar, reading, vocabulary
Business:	economics, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word
Corporate Training:	economics, general computer, German, grammar, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, proofreading
Homeschool:	economics, English, reading, SAT reading, writing

American History

History is a great teacher - maybe the best there is ! Most important things, and many situations or problems aren't new ... they might be somewhat different from situations of the past, but they are not uniquely new.
This means the past can help us understanding and prevailing in the present ! Since history is right there, like an open book (for anybody who will take the time and effort to look and ponder) good citizenship pretty much demands learning about the past, and to apply it to our... Read More

Vocabulary

While grammar is important for learning a language properly, VOCABULARY is critical.
No vocabulary - no communications !

Vocabulary without grammar will sound rough, but it can nevertheless accomplish a lot.
Grammar without vocabulary is like a car without wheels ... it doesn't go anywhere!

As a German native I have studied English since age 10. After high school and a 2 1/2 year apprenticeship (1985-89) I've spent 1 year in the USA as part of the 1990/91 US-Congress/German... Read More

Grammar

I know what it's like to learn a foreign language, especially the grammar side of it !!!

Microsoft Excel

Over the last 20+ years, I've used most established spreadsheets (Lotus 123, QuatroPro), but predominantly MS Excel, as it evolved from a almost minimalistic spreadsheet to the powerful tool it is today.

I've used Excel (at times in conjunction with database software like DBase IV) in order to process data from various sources and for different purposes (taxes, business figures, financial data, statistical evaluations).

A.o. the course covers setting up a data-structure in... Read More

European History

People who don't know (their) history (well) are doomed to repeat it ... and they are like a ship on the ocean, without sail or rudder, just drifting about - improvising at best.
History is a key-compass for living a successful life ... individually, and as a community (family, town, country), privately and in business.

One's history (the city, country and continent) we grow up in, is very important to learn about and understand ! It helps us to avoid mistakes of the past and to... Read More

General Computer

My computer experience goes back to the days of green-on-black monochrome screens and DOS-prompt command entry in the mid 1980s. 720 kB was the 5 1/4" floppy-disk capacity of the time, and only room-filling mainframe computers were thinking in Gigabytes dimensions ... something hand-held devices have now done for several years.

Since then I've witnessed enormous progress in speed (processor clock-speed, data-transfer with storage media), storage capacity (RAM, hard-drives) as well as... Read More

German

I'm a German native (Bavaria) who has lived in Altoona, PA for 14 years now. In the 90s I lived & studied in Sheffield, England (9 months) and Moscow, Russia (4 months) on top of 2 stays in Chicago, IL (12 & 6 months) and one in Central PA (9 months).

I know what it takes to learn a foreign language to fluency as well as flawless writing skills.
I know that learning a foreign language can be hard at times (when things seem to not move ahead), but I also know that there are many... Read More

Microsoft Word

Since my early computer-days some 25 years ago I've used most established word processors (WordPerfect, OpenOffice), but predominantly MS Word as it progressed from minimalistic word-processor to powerful creation tool for just about any text-heavy document (but also incl. basic charts or spreadsheet-elements.)

I've used Word to write lengthy reports, press releases, product descriptions, software manuals, resumes, concert programs and much more.

The course covers basic text-editing,... Read More

Microsoft PowerPoint

Since the mid-1980s I've used most established presentation software brands (CorelDRAW, Lotus Freelance Graphics), but predominantly MS PowerPoint as it evolved over the last 20 years or so.

I've used PowerPoint in order to visualize data from various sources and for different purposes (taxes, business figures, financial data, statistical evaluations, trends, survey results).

The course will cover many of the basic functions of MS PowerPoint, from use of background colors,... Read More

Geography

As somebody who has grown up in Germany and lived in 3 other countries (USA, England, Russia) for a least 4 months each ... and as long as 16 years, I've had the opportunity to learn a lot about geography in those countries (continents), and geography on a global scale.

My fascination with geography goes back to my teens, when I memorized most of the capitals of the world after learning just about all countries' names and location ...
From the major mountain ranges of the world... Read More

English

Growing up in Germany I first lived in an English-speaking country from 8/1990 until 7/1991 (Chicago, USA), then in England (9 months), Chicago again (6 months), Russia (4 months; speaking mostly English), Central PA (9 months) ... and then moved to Altoona, PA for good in late 1997.

My spoken and written English is quite meticulous, and having learned English as my second language I believe I understand English more "inside-out" than native British or Americans.
I guess one just... Read More

Government & Politics

Any modern, democratically defined nation depends on a properly functioning government and a healthy political culture where "compromise" is a cultured art, and not a word used to demean the process, or -particularly- the other side.

Obviously we live in a time where the political climate is -at best- mostly cool, and at times outright frosty ... and at worst selfish and obsessively opportunistic.

When asked what the founding fathers had given the nation "A republic or a... Read More

World History

People who don't know (their) history (well) are doomed to repeat it ... And the world has gotten into trouble many times already because history was repeated that had already been proven "a bad move" or outright "disastrous" in similar historic situations.

Yes, every time & age is different, but the underlying forces and mechanisms of society and human behaviour are more alike than we often acknowledge. Human action needs a compass, or a couple of them actually. One is "What's wrong... Read More

Proofreading

I admit it ... I'm pretty meticulous !

Sure, there might be some typos in the newspaper or Online that I miss, but -boy- I do see a lot, and sometimes I am wonder whether writers or editors read over their piece even once after they write it.
Some mistakes are SO OBVIOUS ...

I guess proofreading starts with discipline; the discipline to take the time for 1) reading the text carefully and 2) as often as necessary until there is a sense that all mistakes (typos, grammar,... Read More

TOEFL

TOEFL stands for "Test of English as a Foreign Language" ... and anybody whose native language is one other than English can benefit from taking it in their educational or professional careers.

"The TOEFL test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries. Wherever you want to study, the TOEFL test can help you get there."

I possess, and can communicate in-depth... Read More

Read all subject qualifications »

Education

Fachhochschule Wuerzburg, Germany (Intl. Business) Sheffield Hallam University (Other)

Hourly Fee

Standard Hourly Fee: $35.00

With Prepaid Discount: $29.75 - $33.25

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Your first hour with any tutor is always 100% refundable. You must be completely satisfied or we will gladly issue you an instant refund.

Travel Policy

Harald will travel within 15 miles of Altoona, PA 16602.

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Harald D.