I'm a writer and a dedicated student of language. I believe that our languages are alive, constantly changing and shifting meaning. Language is dynamic and magical, shaping reality and our lives at every moment. I have the unique ability to teach you to ‘say what you mean’, and raise the level of your communication.
I received a BA from NYU in 2000 and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Idaho in 2013. I've since written a novel and short stories, but I've also discovered the...
I'm a writer and a dedicated student of language. I believe that our languages are alive, constantly changing and shifting meaning. Language is dynamic and magical, shaping reality and our lives at every moment. I have the unique ability to teach you to ‘say what you mean’, and raise the level of your communication.
I received a BA from NYU in 2000 and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Idaho in 2013. I've since written a novel and short stories, but I've also discovered the joy of tutoring. The chance to teach students the richness of language and reach new understanding is a very rewarding experience.
I promote a pressure-free environment for learning. I’m not one to chastise. Most often, I find that a student’s desire for learning, and their inmate curiosity, ultimately determine the pace and tenor of our lessons. Mostly, I've taught one on one sessions. These seem most productive. I’ve tutored teenagers and speechwriters in their 40’s; it's been a fantastic ten-year journey.
It’s difficult to describe my methods in a few short words. That said, I have a unique ability to locate language weaknesses that are confusing a student’s communication. I then turn these into strengths in a manner very few can. By breaking down ‘problem areas’, I’m ultimately able to allow the student to see their ‘faults’ and imprecision in a new light. They’re then able to auto-correct, simultaneously building new skills and forming new perspectives. There’s certainly tuition and memorization involved in my method. But also intuition —the chance for the student to develop, and then ‘find the right answer’.
My very first student was a friend of a friend. This, unknowingly, was the beginning of my career. ‘Andrea’ needed help writing essays to get into business school. While her sentence structure lacked, and her vocabulary needed a lift, the most important thing I taught her was that she had something valuable to say. As her tutor, I built in her the belief that her new voice would clearly be heard.
