English teacher · Languages · Literature · Culture

Languages, literature, music, and the art of learning

I’m an English teacher with more than fifteen years of experience and a lifelong student of languages. This site is a place to learn about my private lessons and to collect essays, notes, and occasional media on subjects that interest me.

Private English lessons Explore the journal

Conversation with substance.

Lessons often begin with something worth talking about: an article, podcast, essay, story, interview, or question from professional or everyday life. The material gives us a natural reason to speak while providing vocabulary, useful language patterns, and ideas to explore.

Conversation & Fluency

Develop confidence, spontaneity, and more natural spoken English through sustained conversation.

Writing & Academic English

Improve organization, grammar, style, and clarity for academic, professional, or personal writing.

Literature & Cultural Discussion

Use essays, stories, music, art, and cultural topics to build vocabulary and nuanced expression.

Advanced English Development

Refine precision, register, idiomatic expression, and the ability to articulate difficult ideas.

How lessons work

Essays, notes, and writing in several languages.

The journal is primarily a home for writing I have already done and for anything I may want to add later: longer essays, shorter reflections, and occasional articles in English and other languages. If audio or video ever becomes part of it, there is room for that too — but the site does not depend on it.

Writing

Essays & articles

Language, literature, music, culture, travel, education, and other subjects worth returning to.

Languages

Multilingual

English first, with room for Russian, French, Spanish, and other languages where appropriate.

Old & new

Older pieces can sit alongside anything new I write, without requiring a regular publishing schedule.

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Teaching shaped by literature, languages, and long experience.

I hold an MA in Comparative Literature and have more than 15 years of teaching experience in universities, community colleges, private high schools, and online. My background in literature and languages has shaped a teaching style that combines practical communication with serious attention to ideas, culture, and expression.

Education

MA in Comparative Literature

Languages

English (native)
Russian, Spanish, French (fluent)

Experience

More than 15 years teaching English, writing, literature, and rhetoric.

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Start with a conversation.

If you are looking for thoughtful, personalized English lessons, get in touch and tell me a little about your goals, level, and interests.

Contact me about lessons