Retired English Professor Specializing in Writing and Literature

Virginia H.

I’m Virginia! I’ve been teaching and tutoring students in composition and literature for more than 20 years at the community college and university level in the US and abroad. I specialize in tutoring writing, guiding people through the writing process, keeping them accountable and working daily through regular check-ins, and offering timely, honest and constructive feedback for revision. I have worked recently with students who speak English as a second or third language, offering lessons in grammar, usage, syntax and structure. I use my years of theater experience to create fun and exciting lessons, using music, film, video, pop culture, and productivity apps. But really, the only way to get better at writing is to do it. I can guide anyone through this process successfully.

Most recently, I retired from teaching literature and creative writing to English majors at the University of Belize. I also use a method based on the “They Say, I Say” textbook used by many universities, which helps students understand how to enter and participate in academic conversations that lead to good writing. I continue to teach online and advise graduate students who are working on their theses. In each case, writing was the most important element of these courses. For university level writing I read excerpts from assigned materials (literature or journal articles) aloud with students during class to ensure understanding of historical and cultural context, as well as vocabulary and writing structure. Additionally, we regularly practice APA or MLA citation format.

My current schedule is flexible, and I welcome students who are serious about improving their college level reading, writing and critical thinking skills. I am easy to reach and respond quickly. Feel free to get in touch with any questions you have about my approach or to schedule a lesson! I can provide testimonials from former students and professional writers upon request.