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A photo of Bill, a tutor from University of Maine

Bill

Certified Tutor

I have a B.A. and M.A. in English, and a M.F.A. in Creative Writing. I have been tutoring writing since 2014. I truly enjoy discussing syntax, content, and structure, not only because I may impart my own knowledge and experience, but because I may learn from the incredible diversity and uniqueness with which people approach language. I believe tutoring is mutual, and I am excited to work with as many different students as possible.

I enjoy novel writing, playing guitar and piano, programming, playing RPGs (I'm a big Final Fantasy fan), and meeting new people!

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Bill’s Qualifications
Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: University of Maine - Bachelors, English and Philosophy

Graduate Degree: University of Maine - Masters, English

Hobbies

Novel Writing, Programming, Guitar, Piano, MMORPG

Tutoring Subjects
Adult ESL/ELL
American Literature
College English
College Level American Literature
English
English Grammar and Syntax
ESL/ELL
Essay Editing
Graduate Test Prep
GRE Verbal
High School English
High School Level American Literature
High School Writing
Other
Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?

Teachers should be as motivated to learn as their students. An important part of the teaching process is learning the characteristics of each student, and then tailoring the lessons to them.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

Writing is about the self. Each person must discover his/her own style. In the first session with a student, I would try to get to know him/her. I am particularly interested in what intrigues the student. It's much easier to write a strong paper if the topic is something the student cares about.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

As someone who struggled to compose a novel for many years, the most significant thing I learned is that you need to practice every single day. You simply cannot improve if you aren't trying and making mistakes. Failure is the greatest form of success.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

It's important to understand that "struggling" is merely your brain's way of telling you that you need more practice. It does not reflect your actual competency. Do not be discouraged by failure. Keep practicing!

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

First, I would explain the concept, and then I would ask the student to employ the concept in some manner. If we are discussing thesis statements, I would provide a potential topic and ask the student to compose a thesis statement on that particular topic. I might also provide a concluding statement and ask the student to infer a thesis from that.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

I struggled with writing for a long time, and then I ended up with a Master's in English. The way I improved was to write about things I enjoyed. The same goes for reading. If the student is not familiar with any texts they might enjoy, I would offer some possibilities.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

It's important to understand the idiosyncrasies of each student in order to understand their writing. Everyone has their own syntax, and rather than trying to homogenize everyone's writing, it's best to tailor critiques and suggestions to the individual style of each student.