Writer, Teacher & Tutor with decades of experience
Back to School in Uncertain Times
Ella, one of my IB Diploma Programme students, felt a lot of dread in anticipation of the IB Assessments in her Senior year. She described the sensation as a pit in her stomach, as if all the years of her international school education were insignificant in comparison to what lay ahead in this final year of her schooling.
Whether you are preparing to enter the 2-year IBDP or you are in your final year, you are not alone in feeling some pressure. We all need a little hand-holding sometimes, and as a tutor, I feel we have two roles, the most important being to help you gain confidence in your own writing. You are enough, just as you are in this moment - you’ve got this! My second role, likely the reason you are looking for a tutor, is to get some help to improve the analysis and writing skills you need to be successful in the IB and have a professional set of eyes on the assessments you are preparing. I’ve got you!
There is no precedent for this year in your lifetime. Most of us have just come through some kind of online or hybrid version of learning, and some of you are still in this situation. As a result, you may have realized the value of having a tutor for the first time this year, but let it be known, the value of having a tutor is an asset not to be underestimated in any given year. Think of it this way; your lessons are tailored for you alone, and I’ll meet you exactly where you are at right now. I’ll work with you on the specific homework assignment you just got yesterday, I’ll work with you on your specific IB assessment. This is not a general overview, you will get a highly skilled professional, an IB examiner, to talk you through every step of your specific assessment.
1-1 tutoring is by far the most efficient way to prepare yourself for what lies ahead. I understand how demanding the IB is and we get right down to the business of getting the work done. I can’t promise that the cloud of anxiety that you feel looming over you will evaporate completely, but I sure can help. If you are working on an Internal Assessment, I can help you choose a focus, suggest an approach, make a plan and help you with the execution, or just a final review. Wherever you are at, I’m happy to step in and lend you a helping hand. If you need support preparing for the IB exams, I can show you specific strategies for how to manage your time and provide you practice papers, graded student work and examiners’ comments for review. These strategies are invaluable in helping you gain confidence and be successful on the exams.
Finally, a word of encouragement; being successful on IB exams is not the end goal. The purpose of all your hard work is ultimately to become a critical thinker, a compassionate and conscious human being out in the world adulting on your own. The IBDP may help you get there but the process is different for everyone and that is why tutoring is by far the most personal, efficient and rewarding way to get you to that way of being in the world.
So, let’s get to it. Reach out, set up that first appointment and know that you will receive the support you need, wherever you are at this moment. I look forward to hearing from you!
Reading and text analysis
Bring me your texts and I will show you specific and easy to remember approaches to language and visual analysis. By identifying characteristics of the text type, interpreting the language used in the text, the parts of a story, or the incorporation of images used, you will soon recognize specific word choices, common structures and visual elements, and you will become a critical reader.
Writing
Bring me your writing and presentation assignments, and I will work with you on structuring responses to an argumentative essay, a comparative essay, a research essay, a dissertation or a single paragraph response to about a theme or topic. I can also review the formal aspects of your writing, such as MLA and APA citation.
ESL
I am certified in Teaching English as a Second Language and I have worked with students in an international school setting for most of my career. I am familiar with many of the grammatical and vocabulary differences between English and Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Germanic languages, latin-based southern European languages and more.
Proofreading
Sometimes all you need is a review before you submit your work. I can suggest edits for grammar, spelling, citation (APA, MLA and Chicago), formatting, paragraph structure, organization and progression of ideas.
The College Essay
The college essay is one of my favorite things to help you with because it’s personal and it’s about you. I will ask you to recall specific details from your story that will make the language you use in this essay interesting and fun. I taught a college writing course in which I was trained by the former Director of Admissions to MIT so I have lots of great insider advice to give you on this important essay.
Specialties
IB English Language and Literature
Over a decade of experience as an IB Language and Literature teacher and IB Examiner. Trained and experienced in the new curriculum. I will help you plan, outline and edit your HL Essay. I will help you organize your IO, describe your Global Issue and guide you as you select your text choices. I will help you prepare for the Paper 1. (The Paper 2 is cancelled for the 2021 cohort due to Covid-19).
IB Theory of Knowledge
Over a decade of experience as a ToK teacher and I have been trained in the new curriculum for the 2022 cohort. I can help you understand, plan, organize and edit the ToK Presentation (2021) the ToK Exhibition (2022) and the ToK Essay.
IB Extended Essay
I am trained and I have served as an Extended Essay Coordinator. I have supervised hundreds of Extended Essays and I am an expert at planning, structuring, organizing, editing and formatting this research essay using proper citation.
The College Essay
I have excellent insider information from the former Admissions Director of MIT on selecting an essay topic that makes sense for you from the Common App essay prompts. I taught a high school College Writing class in which this essay was the main focus of the class.
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