"I am Patrick Gabriel L. I was born in Paris France where I lived until the age of 14 when I emigrated to Israel. After three years, I returned to Paris where I met my American wife. After spending 10 years traveling in Eastern and Western Europe, we lived 10 years in SE Asia working as teachers for the deaf, teenagers, and counsellors for adults. In 1995 we came to the States and settled in Oregon with our six homeschooled teenagers. When I arrived, I went to the World Trade Center in Portland where I was hired as sub-contractor French teacher/translator/transcriber/interpreter at the School of Languages. I have since continued trying to find my own students or getting sub-contracted in various tutoring schools and interpreting agencies.

I have had to learn English as a 4th language after learning Hebrew and dabbling in Italian. Because of my extensive traveling and being exposed to different cultures, I feel that I am well equipped to understand what people go through learning English. I am also a qualified medical interpreter between English and French. I also interpret in Hebrew.

I like to model my teaching according to the need of the student. I try to have a casual conversation with the prospective student which helps me pitch my teaching style. I try to be organic and go with the flow.

I do not have a teaching degree but I have had 40 years of experience teaching starting with my own 6 children. I still teach the deaf here in the States. I believe that that my extensive travels and experience teaching children of all ages and adults from various cultures have given me an unparalleled education in the matter." less...