"My students have come to refer to me as their mentor friend and an effective English tutor for foreign visitors and new arrivals in the United States as well as for current students in Chicago's school system. They have come to trust me and rely on my help and interest in their situation as they struggle to understand their lessons and assignments and (for the foreigners) their new home here in America. I break down complex language in their reading passages and assignments into simple, understandable terms so they can continue with the rest of their academic requirements on their own. I provide resources and leads to encourage self-directed learning. I coach them on accent neutralization and rudiments of daily conversations, among other critical needs, improving verbal and social skills in the process. I expose them to real-life settings that challenge their imagination, and the interaction, whether one-on-one or as a group, can be truly exciting.

My students are a very diverse group -- graduate and college scholars from Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Poland, working professionals from Cuba and Poland, nurses and health care workers from the Philippines, Mexico, Vietnam, Bulgaria and Costa Rica and members of religious organizations from different mission countries in Asia. These students all demonstrate varying levels of language competency; I carry them through fun and rewarding exercises tailor-fit to their levels. This builds their confidence and strives them to acquire the language skills that enable them to improve integration into the US setting. I always incorporate components of culture about the US as a relevant feature in language instruction, leading into learning as an integrated process.

I also do tutoring in reading, writing and general language comprehension -- e.g., understanding news stories as they unfold in the media, providing in-depth backgrounds and perspectives to heighten students' appreciation and understanding.

Navigating life in America can be a terrifying experience" less...