My name is Austin M. and I'm a recent graduate from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Having just finished a four year degree in English Education, I possess a passion for both learning and teaching the subject. I've worked extensively with a variety of ages, ranging from sixth grade all the way to seniors in their final stretch of high school. I also boast a passion for history and research, having completed a variety of courses that span across ancient civilizations to contemporary...
My name is Austin M. and I'm a recent graduate from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Having just finished a four year degree in English Education, I possess a passion for both learning and teaching the subject. I've worked extensively with a variety of ages, ranging from sixth grade all the way to seniors in their final stretch of high school. I also boast a passion for history and research, having completed a variety of courses that span across ancient civilizations to contemporary America. My absolute favorite thing about teaching is providing efficient methods for students to learn and grow from; I don't see much value in making things complicated, especially if a student tends to dislike a subject.
On a more personal note, some of my favorite books include Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. Though I enjoy all genres of books, my favorite would have to be fantasy on account of it being an untapped mine of potential. Regarding hobbies, I'm an avid reader, amateur author, and occasional backpacker. The three of these tend to blend as the reason for camping is to get away from everything and focus on what a person truly enjoys. Teaching affords me the opportunity to share what I gain from both reading and writing in an authentic environment, even if students aren't always going to see things the way I do. This is really no problem at the end of the day and if I'm able to help someone's progress even just a little bit, that's a success in my book.
Though people often think that English is a process of memorizing book information and arcane terms, I approach the subject more holistically as a skill set. What really is the difference between reading Hamlet and To Kill A Mockingbird? Each has characters, themes, and plot; the trick is being able to consistently identify these elements regardless of the text. Once these have been identified, the reader is then tasked to make meaning of these components, often through speech or writing.
Tho
