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Empowering English / Test Prep Coach | 20+ yrs, all ages
Jesse B.

5.0 (135 ratings)

201 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $75
Contact Jesse
Response time: 26 minutes

About Jesse

Bio

Want to boost your test scores or English skills? I’m here to help. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, I’ve empowered learners of all ages—from preschoolers to professionals—from many different language and cultural backgrounds. My approach is grounded in research on how people learn, and I tailor lessons to your unique strengths, goals, and motivations.

If you're preparing for tests, I offer coaching for the LSAT, GRE, ACT, GED, and TOEFL. I also help with college...

Want to boost your test scores or English skills? I’m here to help. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, I’ve empowered learners of all ages—from preschoolers to professionals—from many different language and cultural backgrounds. My approach is grounded in research on how people learn, and I tailor lessons to your unique strengths, goals, and motivations.

If you're preparing for tests, I offer coaching for the LSAT, GRE, ACT, GED, and TOEFL. I also help with college applications and coursework, specializing in personal statements and thesis research & writing.

I support English learners at all levels, whether English is your first, second, or third language. If you're preparing for work, school, or daily life, I’m here to help you build confidence and skill. I also work with multilingual students and families who want to develop home / heritage language skills alongside English.

My English instruction covers all core skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—and includes academic and informal English, public speaking, discussion and note-taking skills, research writing, literature analysis, and creative writing. I also guide students with effective study habits and strategies for academic success.

I hold an MA in Linguistics, with a focus on language learning, memory, attention, and culturally responsive instruction, as well as a BA in Linguistics and English Lit. Additional training includes coursework in child development, education, psychology, and emotional health, with a recent OR license for PreK-12 Restricted Substitute Teaching.

My teaching includes work in public schools (PPS), universities (UO, PSU), and in community and home settings. I’ve supported students with disabilities, and helped design, coordinate, and evaluate language programs for universities, Tribes, and school districts. I currently work as an education consultant, specializing in program & curriculum design, teacher training, and grant writing.

I look forward to working with you!

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Education

The University of New Mexico
Linguistics
The University of Oregon
Masters
The University of Oregon; Portland State University
Graduate Coursework

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $75
  • Rate details: *Late Cancellation & No-Show: full fee charge *Discount for package commitment after 5 lessons *Rates may be higher for test prep, college-level support, specialized support for neurodivergence
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • No background check

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Elementary (K-6th)

Elementary (K-6th)

As a PreK-12 substitute teacher for Portland Public Schools, I've led, assisted, or provided specialist support to classrooms in more than a dozen schools. •I've often been requested as a repeat substitute, including for elementary reading intervention, early childhood English / Spanish language development at immersion schools, and Special Ed Learning Center support. • I've had success supporting students who are BIPOC, multilingual, newcomers, gifted, developmentally delayed, lacking motivation, and/or having difficulty regulating attention or emotions • I foster SEL, emotional regulation, engagement, critical thinking, and performance sometimes beyond students' expectations, through a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

I can help you learn English, because I have good training and experience teaching this language, and I’m also a native speaker. I have been teaching for more than 20 years now. I got my Master's degree in Linguistics (the study/science of all languages) from the University of Oregon in 2006. At the University of Oregon, at Portland State University, in Portland Public Schools, and privately, I have taught ESL to many students from all over the world -- listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and other skills, at beginning through advanced levels. I’ve also trained language teachers and future teachers.
GED

GED

*I have more than 20 years of experience effectively teaching young adults through elderly adults. I respect your experience and goals, build on your strengths, and empower your next steps. *I have a Master's degree and have researched how people learn best. *I am certified for GED through Wyzant's testing. *I had high scores on ACT and GRE (a test of all major subjects for graduate school). *Specialties: patience, humor, adult learning, study skills, motivation, speakers of English as a second language.
Linguistics

Linguistics

Both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees were in Linguistics, with research in language acquisition, morphosyntax, and documenting and revitalizing endangered languages. I've taught or assisted with 9 different university linguistics courses for positive student reviews, including courses on language use, learning, teaching, structure, processing, sociology, etc. Over the last 15 years, I've utilized linguistics in teaching ESOL, training teachers of English and other languages, and developing language curricula and programs.
LSAT

LSAT

I'm a 20+ year educator, with experience teaching subjects including English communications and test-prep in universities (UO, PSU) and communities. I coach students to higher LSAT scores and better chance at admission -- through targeted support for logical reasoning, reading comprehension, argumentative writing, and/or learning & testing strategies. My research background in cognition and learning (incl. attention and memory) helps me effectively guide students to success with their goals. I enjoy connecting with learners, and take a personalized, strengths-based approach with each person.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

As a 20+ year educator and university instructor, I've coached high school and college students to write personal statements for successful college, scholarship, and job applications. My experience as a writing instructor helps me connect quickly to the student's writing skills, and their unique values, experiences, and goals, to then guide them in crafting a clear and compelling essay. (Grant writing utilizes similar skills, and my win rate is higher than average when securing grants for my consulting clients.)
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

I've enjoyed teaching Public Speaking and other oral skills courses for more than 10 years, in 2 universities and privately in the Portland area. I effectively guide beginning, intermediate, and advanced speakers to their presentation / speech goals. We focus on all aspects: confidence, message, content research & writing, practice and delivery (including voice and body language). I've had hundreds of happy students who felt successful, and appreciated how the new skills helped them connect with more people or deliver important information. Some students have told me their learning was "life-changing."
Reading

Reading

Professional English teacher with a Linguistics M.A. (as well as work toward a Ph.D.) Enhanced understanding of how we read, from coursework and/or research in reading, sentence processing, general cognition, vocabulary learning, and other aspects of language learning
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

As a 20+ year educator and researcher, I've written and coached many research papers. This includes 1) crafting and polishing my own thesis and other papers for my Master's in Linguistics, as well as 2) teaching undergraduates the basics of research methods and research writing, and 3) editing Ph.D. dissertations for my colleagues. Students appreciate my positive, strengths-based approach as a writing coach. And as a longtime ESOL instructor, I am skilled in coaching both native and non-native users of English.
ACT English
ACT Reading
English
GRE
Psychology
TOEFL
Vocabulary
Writing
Jesse B.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Jesse before you book.

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Response time: 26 minutes

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (135 ratings)
5 star
(133)
4 star
(2)
3 star
(0)
2 star
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1 star
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Reviews

Expert Tutor Who Truly Cares About Your Success

One of the biggest benefits of working with Jesse is that she never rushes; she truly cares about your understanding and will take as much time as needed. She also explains concepts in a clear, simple way that makes even the toughest questions feel manageable. In addition, she helps you build strategies and habits that prepare you for any circumstance.

Dylan, 36 lessons with Jesse

Great tutor for students who excel at school!

Jesse has been a great tutor for our daughter, who is dyslexic but is a straight A student. Very patient. I would highly recommend Jesse.

Sarah, 7 lessons with Jesse
Hourly Rate: $75
Response time: 26 minutes
Contact Jesse