I enjoy working with a number of students with a variety of learning styles and goals. I take great pride in tailoring lessons to a student's specific needs; for example, I am perfectly comfortable teaching one person simple, conversational Spanish while supporting another in developing a rigorous study plan to pass the AP exam. I'm a very personable, fun, and well-rounded person with heaps of unique experiences to draw upon and I've tutored many people of all ages over the years. I really enjoy sharing my experiences with others and helping them achieve success.
Spanish Language:
I am a non-native Spanish speaker, which has helped me immensely to become an excellent instructor since I've personally struggled with the concepts and pitfalls that all students encounter at some point. While I double majored in finance and international business, I also completed my minor in Spanish; I've taken every undergraduate linguistics course offered at the University of Minnesota and never received less than an A. I've traveled to Spain four times, the longest period in 2006 when I spent 3 months interning for a fashion multinational in Madrid and then 4 studying abroad in Barcelona for a semester. I recently returned in the summer of 2008 to visit friends and found, to my delight, that I still consistently pass as a native Spaniard.
I have very specialized experience with the AP Spanish Language exam as I was the first student in my high school to attempt it. I used a free period to teach myself how to study for the exam and eventually passed with the highest score of 5. During another free period I was also given the opportunity to tutor younger students and, on occasion, lecture personally. I've tutored many individuals since then and have really enjoyed the experiences.
I also work as an independent contractor for a translation agency in my spare time and provide professional interpretation services in various circumstances such as official government procedures, school parent-teacher conferences, and other situations as they arise.
Piano:
I've studied piano for 11 years and it remains a very important part of my life. Music has always played a major part of my plans in some form; I played piano and trombone throughout high school in several organizations and even now continue to play keyboards and sing in a local rock group.
I specialize in jazz and improvisation, though I was classically trained. I sat Minnesota Music Teacher's Association exams and passed them all with distinction or high distinction including advanced musical theory exams. After passing level 8 I officially became qualified to teach MMTA coursework.
I have taught several students in the last few years and each has had a different set of goals; just as with Spanish instruction, I enjoy working with students to customize lessons to the specifics of what they want to achieve. I also received the Arion award as a senior in high school, which is the highest musical honor available to high schoolers.