"I grew up and went to school in Newport Beach.

I have bachelor's degrees in Humanities and Psychology (Honors Student) from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in Teaching English from San Francisco State University. I taught English as a foreign/second language in California and in Japan for ten years.

I tutored undergraduate students when I was in graduate school. I have studied and have some facility with Spanish, French and Japanese and I can tutor students in the beginning levels of those three languages.

I believe in student-centered teaching/tutoring, which means that I believe that what the student LEARNS is more important than what I try to teach. I am very sensitive to the needs of my students. Hey, I was a student once myself!

I have also worked as a freelance editor/writer/proofreader and I have had ten books published (or have a contract to be published). One of my books is on English usage and another is on English vocabulary.

I am very knowledgeable and well-read in a broad range of subjects. In my spare time I like to read books and magazines (I subscribe to about as dozen magazines), surf the Internet and do crossword puzzles.

I also appeared (and won!) on "Jeopardy!" !" less...