Credited ESL instructor with over 15 years experience teaching international university students.
Teaches
English
Native
Speaks
Italian
Credited ESL instructor with over 15 years experience teaching international university students.
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume
From United StatesLiving in Grand Rapids, United States (23:42 UTC-04:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Feb 14, 2020
Interest topicFilms & TV SeriesTravelGamingWritingBusiness & Finance
I am a native English speaker and US citizen currently living in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I was born in Seattle and grew up in Washington State. My accent is from the Pacific Northwest and is what is usually considered "neutral" American. I lived in Florence, Italy for nearly three years and can speak basic conversational Italian. I have been a English teacher at our local university for more than twelve years, teaching both domestic American students as well as international students. I live with my wife, two kids (one who is also an italki teacher!), two cats and a dog.
Me as a Teacher
In 2006, I began teaching English as a second language to international students at Western Michigan University. I have taught students from all over the world: Saudi Arabia, China, France, and the Dominican Republic are among some of the places my students call home. I specialize in academic and professional English focused on speaking, listening, grammar, reading and writing. However, I have also worked with students developing basic vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversational skills. Although I am rooted in the United States, my greatest pleasure in teaching English comes from the connections I make to other lands and cultures through my students.
My lessons & teaching style
My general approach to language instruction is task-based. Rather than focusing on discrete grammar points or lengthy vocabulary definitions, I ask my students to use and stretch their language skills by performing communicative tasks. Example tasks might include creating a professional powerpoint or reading an article from a peer-review journal. The goal is to practice English in authentic, real-world situations. However, an understanding of grammar and vocabulary is important as well and are dealt with as needed in the context of communication. For example, I use the Academic Word List (AWL) to help draw attention to key words used in nearly all professions and university majors.
My teaching material
PDF file
Text Documents
Articles and news
Quizzes
Test templates and examples
Homework Assignments
Education
2000 - 2007
Master's - Teaching English as a Second LanguageEastern Washington University
Work Experience
2007 - 2020
Language InstructorWestern Michigan University - Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
5.0
Rating
267
Students
3,486
Lessons
100%
Attendance
100%
Response
5.0
Rating
267
Students
3486
Lessons
100%
Attendance
100%
Response
English Lessons
Trial Lesson
137 lessons completed
USD 8.00+
Reading & Writing English for Professional or Academic Purposes
B1 - C2Language Essentials3,330 lessons completed
USD 22.00+
Package with 14% off
Conversation & Communication for Professional or Academic Purposes
B1 - C2Conversation18 lessons completed
USD 18.00+
Package with 11% off
Test Preparation: Preparing for the IELTS (Academic) or the TOEFL iBT exam
B1 - C2Test Preparation1 lessons completed
USD 16.00+
Package with 12% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
172 Reviews
Cherry
8 English lessons
fabulous!
Aug 26, 2024
Cherry
8 English lessons
best italkie teacher ever!
Aug 19, 2024
Olga
16 English lessons
Excellent teacher!
Jun 2, 2024
Ferdos
1 English lesson
Joseph is a good tutor, he can help improve your English superbly