My role as a teacher is to provide an enthusiastic, interactive learning experience that adapts to the needs of the student, welcoming mistakes as learning tools and fostering lifelong language development.
• Academic background in languages and linguistics, including a graduate degree in Linguistics from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, with coursework in TESOL.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring adults and children, tutoring language learners, conducting oral proficiency interviews, organizing grammar clinics, delivering talks to high school and college students, teaching swimming to elementary school children, directing a children's church choir summer program, and training adults. Currently teaching beginner adults at the International Language Institute in Maryland.
• Fluency in and familiarity with Germanic-based, Latin-based, and Semitic-based languages, giving insight into why a speaker is making specific syntactical and phonetic errors.
• Travel to over 35 countries, resulting in immersive multi-cultural exposure.
Current and Recent Affiliations:
Member, TESOL International Association, since 2016
Member, Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, since 2016
Member, Foreign Language Advocacy for Grade Schools, since 2010
Member, MENSA (Metropolitan Washington Mensa), since 2009
Member, American Association of Teachers of Arabic, 2003-2012
Member, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 2006-2012
Member, American Dialect Society, 2010-2012
Student Member, Linguistic Society of America, 2009-2012
Member, Middle East Studies Association, 2004-2009
Member, National Council on Less Commonly Taught Languages, 2006-2012
Student Member, National Museum for Language, 2010-2012
Corporate Member, Association of Language Companies, 2006-2007
Associate Member, American Translators Association, 2006-2009
Corporate Member, Northern California Translators Association, 2006-2007