BA, Linguistics, USC
AP Spanish Tutor specialized in test prep, formal writing and speaking.
Areas of focus
High School Spanish - All levels
AP Spanish Language and Culture Test Prep
High School French - All levels
Background
BA, Linguistics, University of Southern California
12 years tutoring all levels of Spanish, French, Portuguese and American Sign Language
Recent outcomes
AP Spanish Language | 11th grade | Chadwick | AP Score: 5
AP Spanish Language | 10th grade | Trinity School | AP Score: 5
AP Spanish Language | 12th grade | University SF | AP Score: 5
AP Spanish Language | 12th grade | Sidwell | AP Score: 5
Approach
Language learning in schools is not exactly the best way to retain or “live” a language because it is taught in steps, not in context. Language is a lived experience that creates a whole new identity that requires several supplemental tools to reinforce language. Most, if not all schools, teach grammar and “steps”, however, I teach by explaining the root, origin, contextual and cultural relevance of every part of Spanish. Understanding the “why” behind why certain structures exist, connecting it to psychology and ways of thinking in different cultures, lands far better than just memorizing conjugations. My students are far more connected to the language and see themselves as part of the language rather than as an unattainable goal.
Q&A
A resource you’d hand a curious student?
A playlist of Spanish music in their genre
The mistake you see most often?
Coherence - noun-adjective agreement
What you look for in a good-fit student?
That the student is curious, engaged and enjoying learning Spanish
What parents or students get wrong about prep?
The AP Spanish test is far more methodical and structured than one thinks. It requires high levels of critical thinking that needs development throughout the year.