melanie r.
Private tutor in Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Education
specialize in helping students to enjoy language learning. My Bachelors Degree in Spanish is from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. I also attended the University of Seville, Spain. My teaching experience includes young adult ESL classes in Madrid, coaching Corporate Executives in English conversation, also in Madrid, and most recently, teaching elementary school age group classes beginner Spanish here in Manhattan. The 7-11 year olds I teach all advance daily through the exercises, vocabulary drills and verb usage games I provide. My methods are designed to strengthen grammar skills and conversation. I also tutor teenagers on advanced Spanish grammar and Spanish Literature, targeting curriculum goals for the high school and college levels.
Experience
I can help any student learn Spanish at any level. My pedagogy was developed at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana as a Spanish major/French minor. Not only versed in grammar, I carry a deep respect for Spanish Literature and Latin American studies and live the experience as a Latina in the world and a chicana of Texas origins. My respect for a pan-american approach to Spanish language learning means I value dialects from every Spanish speaking region and country. New York City is the place to find them all. I have been working most recently at the Different Directions school in midtown Manhattan with 9 elementary age school children in grades 3 through 5. I also tutor teens who have Spanish in the home but lack Spanish grammar skills. My teaching experience also encompasses adult ESL classes during my time in Madrid as well as coaching Corporate Executives in their English conversation skills. All my students have shown growth for the last year with increased use of present tense, question words and phrases, direct and indirect object usage, irregular verb conjugation, vocabulary expansion and most importantly a passion for studying and memorization directly linked to my classroom methods; games, physical exercises and music are heavily incorporated. I bring with me a deep understanding of how to improve pronunciation through exaggerated mouth movement by using songs and well known rhythms. And if you need to improve your grasp of Spanish Literature, I would like to help you approach Spanish drama and poetry or prose with the excitement and enthusiasm that I feel whenever I read Lorca or Paz, Borjes or Neruda, Marquez or Rojas. I have proven methods that can awaken a student's writing skills and unlock comprehensive grammar in ways that make it fun. You'll find yourself drawn to learning not because you have to but because you can't help yourself. I have taught grammar in English and Spanish. And I have analyzed drama, poetry and prose literature for students and adults seeking insight into the Spanish masters and the Latin world. Please schedule a lesson and find out how much fun you can have with grammar basics. And if your journey is at a different stage or level I would love to unlock your passion for what comes next in Spanish writing, conversation, drama and literature. Together we can bring about accelerated mastery in order to achieve your language learning goals.
Availability
Any day at any time
Can Meet
Up to 30 minutes away at my regular hourly rate
Hobbies
I love Spanish and I want to help others fall in love with Spanish too. I am a theater professional (AEA & SAG-AFTRA Actor) and an admitted anglophile in terms of theater and literature. I also crave a good song and I look for ways to integrate music into each lesson. I want the cultures of Spain, Latin America and all the places where Spanish is spoken to be included in lessons as well. My hope is to use Spanish as outreach to the wider world as a whole!
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