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Claire S.'s Photo
Claire S.'s Photo
Claire S.'s Photo

Claire S.

An English Tutor, for All Your Language and Literature Needs!

An English Tutor, for All Your Language and Literature Needs!

$45/hour

5.0 (514 ratings)

  • 1,372 hours tutoring

About Claire

Bio

Hello there!

I am a graduate of the University of Washington, with a BA in English language and literature, and a current Masters student through the University of Southern Maine's low residency MFA Creative Writing program. I'm well-versed in British prose and poetry from the 19th and 20th centuries, have a background in English linguistics, and am an extremely knowledgeable writer of fiction and non-fiction. I maintained a high level GPA while at the UW and I've taken creative writing...

Hello there!

I am a graduate of the University of Washington, with a BA in English language and literature, and a current Masters student through the University of Southern Maine's low residency MFA Creative Writing program. I'm well-versed in British prose and poetry from the 19th and 20th centuries, have a background in English linguistics, and am an extremely knowledgeable writer of fiction and non-fiction. I maintained a high level GPA while at the UW and I've taken creative writing classes from New York University. Basically, I'm an enthusiastic literature and language geek, and I'm passionate about helping people master the subject I love so much!

If you need help:

a) learning to write an academic essay,
b) analyzing story themes or critical linguistic structures,
c) understanding complicated novels,
d) writing articulate and elegant non-fiction memoirs,
e) learning the ropes of creative fiction and poetry,
f) learning better pronunciation and articulation,
g) just getting the basics of grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and the English language in general,

I'm your gal!

Due to the ongoing pandemic and shelter-in-place order, all lessons will be offered online!

Additional areas of expertise:
*~I'm a published author (for poetry and pieces of short fiction), and I've acted as a tutor at both college and elementary school levels. In high school, I took the SAT, three SAT subject tests, as well three AP tests, so I know how to help prepare students intellectually and mentally. (Even the best of us can get caught up in some test anxiety!) I also prepare students for college applications, helping them learn to write as passionately as they can about why they want to pursue higher education.

*~Additionally, I've done significant work helping adult learners with technical writing, presentation work, understanding the differences between informal and formal language, pronunciation and articulation when speaking, and a myriad of other things.

*~Finally, I also have a background in American hi

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Education

University of Washington (Seattle)
English Literature

Policies

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Subjects

Corporate Training

ESL/ESOL,

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.
Grammar,

Grammar

Grammar--often the most dreaded component of understanding any language--is not impossible to understand. Over the years, I've studied Russian, Japanese, and Italian, and each language (paired with my progression through my English major) has helped me understand the mechanics of grammar from an outside view. I've also studied it from an internal linguistic standpoint during my time in college.
Proofreading

Proofreading

You can't get through an English major without learning to proofread your own work and the work of others. Some students and writers are under the impression that to be considered "good" everything you say must be perfect the first time around. And that is so patently untrue, it's laughable. Proofreading is an art that needs to be practiced to be perfected-it's attainable, and you don't even have to revise your essays five times over, as I did in my first years of college.

Elementary Education

Grammar,

Grammar

Grammar--often the most dreaded component of understanding any language--is not impossible to understand. Over the years, I've studied Russian, Japanese, and Italian, and each language (paired with my progression through my English major) has helped me understand the mechanics of grammar from an outside view. I've also studied it from an internal linguistic standpoint during my time in college.
Reading,

Reading

I've been reading for pleasure and for academic purposes for many years now. I've been through mountains of books, articles, essays, and plays, and learned a number of tricks. There are always novels and assignments that might seem impossible to understand or impossible to get through awake, or even impossible to read through before the assignment is due! Speed reading is something I HAD to master to get through my degree, verbal tricks helped me conquer the foreignness of Shakespearean works and others like it, and I always found ways to restructure what was sleep-inducing! There is no need to be afraid of reading!
Vocabulary

Vocabulary

I have read a variety of books over the years, stretching from those published in the late sixteen hundreds, to those published just last year. My vocabulary has been tested by professors on tests, papers, and demanded by the particular world and time period each novel comes from. Part of a successful journey through college requires that your papers stand out from others--and that includes having a sophisticated vocabulary that articulates your point MORE clearly, rather than obscuring it. (It's also necessary to study up because no professor is going to consent to be your personal dictionary.)

English

English,

English

I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in English Language and Literature and loved every minute of it. Over the course of my studies, I've passed every English class with flying colors, written a multitude of papers, read a mountain of books, published several pieces of my own work, and wrote a novel that I'm starting to shop around to book agents. Multiple professors have complimented my ability to help my peers with their own essays, and the quality and clarity of my writing. My grasp and command of the English language has always been fueled by my love of literature and the vast amount of books I've read, and it's therefore been a great pleasure to me whenever I can help someone else figure out how to master the English language.
ESL/ESOL,

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.
Grammar,

Grammar

Grammar--often the most dreaded component of understanding any language--is not impossible to understand. Over the years, I've studied Russian, Japanese, and Italian, and each language (paired with my progression through my English major) has helped me understand the mechanics of grammar from an outside view. I've also studied it from an internal linguistic standpoint during my time in college.
Literature,

Literature

I first read Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE when I was 11 years old. Since then, I've fallen head-over-heels in love with books. Not only have I undergone multiple rigorous reading courses (absolutely piled with novels) at university, but I spend my free time reading as well, trying to work my way through all the classics. To understand a novel-who the characters are, what the point is, and the significance-is an essential process of reading!
Proofreading,

Proofreading

You can't get through an English major without learning to proofread your own work and the work of others. Some students and writers are under the impression that to be considered "good" everything you say must be perfect the first time around. And that is so patently untrue, it's laughable. Proofreading is an art that needs to be practiced to be perfected-it's attainable, and you don't even have to revise your essays five times over, as I did in my first years of college.
Reading,

Reading

I've been reading for pleasure and for academic purposes for many years now. I've been through mountains of books, articles, essays, and plays, and learned a number of tricks. There are always novels and assignments that might seem impossible to understand or impossible to get through awake, or even impossible to read through before the assignment is due! Speed reading is something I HAD to master to get through my degree, verbal tricks helped me conquer the foreignness of Shakespearean works and others like it, and I always found ways to restructure what was sleep-inducing! There is no need to be afraid of reading!
SAT Reading,

SAT Reading

I took the SAT practice test, as well as the official SAT test three times over, in an attempt to improve my scores. I took the test at the time when the written essays were required, and the test as a whole was scored out of 2400 points. My final score was a 2030. As an English major, book nerd, and experienced test taker--both the SAT Reading and Writing sections are both things I am quite familiar with.
SAT Writing,

SAT Writing

I took the SAT three times, in addition to the practice test, eventually scoring a 2030. I managed to perfect the Writing section (along with the Reading section), and they were consistently my highest-scoring sections. SAT Writing is all about clarity and articulation--and I have studied and refined both instincts through a myriad of university classes and standardized testing rounds.
Vocabulary,

Vocabulary

I have read a variety of books over the years, stretching from those published in the late sixteen hundreds, to those published just last year. My vocabulary has been tested by professors on tests, papers, and demanded by the particular world and time period each novel comes from. Part of a successful journey through college requires that your papers stand out from others--and that includes having a sophisticated vocabulary that articulates your point MORE clearly, rather than obscuring it. (It's also necessary to study up because no professor is going to consent to be your personal dictionary.)
Writing

Writing

In addition to being in the English department at the University of Washington, I've also taken creative writing classes at New York University. My own work (poetry and short stories) has been published in college literary journals, and I've done extensive academic work within my major. Writing has been absolutely essential to my success within college, and for my extracurricular and professional work. (It's also a result of life-long love of reading!)

History

American History

American History

I scored a four on the AP US History exam, and I'm an avid student of history in my spare time!

Homeschool

English,

English

I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in English Language and Literature and loved every minute of it. Over the course of my studies, I've passed every English class with flying colors, written a multitude of papers, read a mountain of books, published several pieces of my own work, and wrote a novel that I'm starting to shop around to book agents. Multiple professors have complimented my ability to help my peers with their own essays, and the quality and clarity of my writing. My grasp and command of the English language has always been fueled by my love of literature and the vast amount of books I've read, and it's therefore been a great pleasure to me whenever I can help someone else figure out how to master the English language.
ESL/ESOL,

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.
Reading,

Reading

I've been reading for pleasure and for academic purposes for many years now. I've been through mountains of books, articles, essays, and plays, and learned a number of tricks. There are always novels and assignments that might seem impossible to understand or impossible to get through awake, or even impossible to read through before the assignment is due! Speed reading is something I HAD to master to get through my degree, verbal tricks helped me conquer the foreignness of Shakespearean works and others like it, and I always found ways to restructure what was sleep-inducing! There is no need to be afraid of reading!
SAT Reading,

SAT Reading

I took the SAT practice test, as well as the official SAT test three times over, in an attempt to improve my scores. I took the test at the time when the written essays were required, and the test as a whole was scored out of 2400 points. My final score was a 2030. As an English major, book nerd, and experienced test taker--both the SAT Reading and Writing sections are both things I am quite familiar with.
Writing

Writing

In addition to being in the English department at the University of Washington, I've also taken creative writing classes at New York University. My own work (poetry and short stories) has been published in college literary journals, and I've done extensive academic work within my major. Writing has been absolutely essential to my success within college, and for my extracurricular and professional work. (It's also a result of life-long love of reading!)

Language

ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.

Most Popular

English,

English

I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in English Language and Literature and loved every minute of it. Over the course of my studies, I've passed every English class with flying colors, written a multitude of papers, read a mountain of books, published several pieces of my own work, and wrote a novel that I'm starting to shop around to book agents. Multiple professors have complimented my ability to help my peers with their own essays, and the quality and clarity of my writing. My grasp and command of the English language has always been fueled by my love of literature and the vast amount of books I've read, and it's therefore been a great pleasure to me whenever I can help someone else figure out how to master the English language.
ESL/ESOL,

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.
Reading,

Reading

I've been reading for pleasure and for academic purposes for many years now. I've been through mountains of books, articles, essays, and plays, and learned a number of tricks. There are always novels and assignments that might seem impossible to understand or impossible to get through awake, or even impossible to read through before the assignment is due! Speed reading is something I HAD to master to get through my degree, verbal tricks helped me conquer the foreignness of Shakespearean works and others like it, and I always found ways to restructure what was sleep-inducing! There is no need to be afraid of reading!
Writing

Writing

In addition to being in the English department at the University of Washington, I've also taken creative writing classes at New York University. My own work (poetry and short stories) has been published in college literary journals, and I've done extensive academic work within my major. Writing has been absolutely essential to my success within college, and for my extracurricular and professional work. (It's also a result of life-long love of reading!)

Other

ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.

Summer

ESL/ESOL,

ESL/ESOL

In addition to being an English major, I have also taken linguistics classes and complementary hybrid English/linguistic structure courses that covered most of the basic tenets of ESL and EOSL. Over the course of my degree, I have frequently volunteered with non-Native speakers of English to help them improve their language skills, confidence, and comprehension. I find it best to create an encouraging and supportive environment, while addressing speaking and writing skills in turn.
Reading,

Reading

I've been reading for pleasure and for academic purposes for many years now. I've been through mountains of books, articles, essays, and plays, and learned a number of tricks. There are always novels and assignments that might seem impossible to understand or impossible to get through awake, or even impossible to read through before the assignment is due! Speed reading is something I HAD to master to get through my degree, verbal tricks helped me conquer the foreignness of Shakespearean works and others like it, and I always found ways to restructure what was sleep-inducing! There is no need to be afraid of reading!
Writing

Writing

In addition to being in the English department at the University of Washington, I've also taken creative writing classes at New York University. My own work (poetry and short stories) has been published in college literary journals, and I've done extensive academic work within my major. Writing has been absolutely essential to my success within college, and for my extracurricular and professional work. (It's also a result of life-long love of reading!)

Test Preparation

SAT Reading,

SAT Reading

I took the SAT practice test, as well as the official SAT test three times over, in an attempt to improve my scores. I took the test at the time when the written essays were required, and the test as a whole was scored out of 2400 points. My final score was a 2030. As an English major, book nerd, and experienced test taker--both the SAT Reading and Writing sections are both things I am quite familiar with.
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

I took the SAT three times, in addition to the practice test, eventually scoring a 2030. I managed to perfect the Writing section (along with the Reading section), and they were consistently my highest-scoring sections. SAT Writing is all about clarity and articulation--and I have studied and refined both instincts through a myriad of university classes and standardized testing rounds.

Examples of Expertise

Claire has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 6 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Claire ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (514 ratings)
5 star
(498)
4 star
(15)
3 star
(1)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

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All reviews accomplished listens responsible tailored encouraging

Featured review

The Best English Tutor I have ever had

I have worked with Claire in linguistic phonetics for about 2 months and I have learned so much more than I ever expected. As a foreigner, I learned English writing and listening skills just fine, but I have been struggling with speaking English clearly for years. I have worked with over 10 tutors and Claire is the most accomplished and gifted tutor I have ever worked with. It's hard and frustrating to learn a second language, however, Claire was able to identify my strengths and weaknesses at our first meeting, and then tailored her teaching method to maximize my learning progress. It's amazing how she can tell what difficulties I was encountering and teach me exactly how to correct and form the sounds in my mouth. In only 2 months, I am able to identify and pronounce sounds that I have been having trouble with for decades. I just wish that I met Claire sooner. Claire is not only knowledgeable in what she does, but she is also very patient, friendly, and she truly cares about her students. I have not only learned a lot from her, but also become more confident to communicate with other people in English. I can't tell you how many times that she encouraged me when I was defeated by reminding me how far I have come from the 1st lesson. I highly recommend Claire and she is definitely the tutor you want if you are looking for a talented, accomplished and responsible tutor who also also has a lovely personality.

Edith, 6 lessons with Claire

A patient and professional tutor.

She is really understanding the foreigner students’s issues on the pronunciation and she has a lot of patience to repeat the content she tough to until you get right. She is a awesome tutor for me.

May, 1 lesson with Claire

Enjoyed Claire's first class

Claire's class is very informative. She is able to recognize my pronunciation issues immediately and give very useful tips to improve it. We also discussed some interesting topics. It was a fun and satisfied experience overall.

Linxin, 14 lessons with Claire

Studying for the CSET

Claire defined some CSET terms that I had confused and guided me to a book that would help me make better use of the time I have. I would definitely have her as a tutor again!

Anna, 3 lessons with Claire

Effective & passionate tutor

Claire has been a great tutor helping me with an article I am working on. She’s really great at helping me frame narratives effectively with a blend of personal memoirs and essay-like commentary. Very content-focused versus getting stuck on the little details which is something I appreciate given past tutoring experiences. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her to refine my writing!

Mahika, 2 lessons with Claire

Resume, cover letter, and personal statement

Claire is amazing. She helped me with my resume, cover letter, and personal statement. I was in a rush and she helped in a short notice. She responded to my emails in a timely manner. I'm looking forward to working with her again.

Sami, 6 lessons with Claire

knowledgeable and patient tutor

I learned the sound of vowels and what is my weakness. she helped how I can make the exact sound and gives proper advice. And whatever you ask for, she provides the materials that I did and would be helpful. She is patient and listens to me with care.

Hanna, 9 lessons with Claire

Excellent Tutor!

It was a pleasure working with Claire. She did a good job reviewing my son's 12-page research paper. I appreciate her knowledge and help! Thanks.

Cathy, 1 lesson with Claire

very pleasant experience with Claire.

I had two lessons with Claire so far, she is definitely a specialist in English. She taught me where to put my tongue in my mouth, she also sent me charts and other documents to help me get a better understanding of the pronunciation. Lessons are organized and structured, not jumpy or random. Her instructions are straightforward and effective(scientific). Moreover, she has a really nice personality, very communicating and nurturing, taking classes with her is a total enjoyment .( class is informative and fun) I'd love to take more classes with her down the road in the hope someday I will be as half good as Claire. I'm very lucky to find her in a sea of instructors. Copious thanks to Claire.

tiantian, 14 lessons with Claire

Knowledgable and patient tutor

Claire prepared my lesson very well and we had a one hour talk which helps me improve my listening and speaking. Claire is patient and I am very happy to talk with her.

Jinmeng, 19 lessons with Claire
Contact Claire

Response time: 6 hours

$45/hour

Claire S.'s Photo

Claire S.

$45/hour

  • No subscriptions or upfront payments

  • Only pay for the time you need

  • Find the right fit, or your first hour is free

Contact Claire

Response time: 6 hours