Jeff V.

About Jeff

Self-taught in German and holding a B.A. in German Language and Literature from Marquette University, I understand the motivation and dedication required in learning a foreign language. More importantly, I understand that tutoring foreign language is not like tutoring other subjects - the language must be given life for the student. Having taught German and other languages privately and in class settings to all ages, one of the most important things I have learned is that everyone learns differently. It is for this reason that when you learn with me, your lessons will be designed to best suit YOUR learning style. Preconceived notions of how one should learn a foreign language do not exist here.

So, what's my story? When I was in high school, I studied French. However, I was also fascinated by the German language and having no other options, I decided to try teaching myself to speak German. For a good two years, I spent every single day from anywhere between three and five hours per day, studying German (copying vocabulary, dialogues, and paragraphs, repeating audio, etc.) Then I had an opportunity to go on my first trip to Germany - only 9 days, but long enough to become immersed in the language and learn to THINK in German and not have to rely on a quick translation method. Prior to beginning my studies at university, I took the test administered by the National Association of Teachers of German and was one of the finalists to win a trip to Germany.

While at university, I studied German as my major, concentrating in particular on short stories and poetry - as well as writing. While at university, I also worked as the German tutor for our peer tutoring program. I finished my studies in 2007 and shortly thereafter spent a summer in Germany where I studied at the Internationale Institut für Kommunikation at the Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany, obtaining certification of having the equivalent of C1 mastery in German.

In 2009, I left for Bangkok, Thailand. Yet my adventures with German were far from being over. Apart from having friends with whom I communicated (and still do communicate) regularly in German, I was hired as a German teacher at a high school in a neighboring province. Currently, I translate novels and various documents from German into English. I have also worked as a freelance writer and social media marketer, using German as the primary or sole language.

Whether you want to learn German because of family heritage, because it sounds cool, because you want to take advantage of one of the largest markets on Earth, or for any other reason, I will help get you to the level you need to be at. Already fluent in German and want help with fluidity or grammar? You've come to the right place.
Self-taught in German and holding a B.A. in German Language and Literature from Marquette University, I understand the motivation and dedication required in learning a foreign language. More importantly, I understand that tutoring foreign language is not like tutoring other subjects - the language must be given life for the student. Having taught… Read more

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