Francisco R.

What are my qualifications? Consider the following:

1) Native speaker of English
2) Bachelor's degree in English from the U.S.
3) Master's degree in International Relations from the U.S.
4) 2 years teaching at public school through Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia
5) 2 years teaching at university level in Moldova through Fulbright
6) 2 years teaching at university level in Ukraine through U.S. embassy program
7) 3 years of tutoring experience in college
8) Multilingual: English, Spanish, German, Russian

I'd like to expand on the details mentioned here. I come from the United States, which means I'm a native speaker of English and can explain the nuances of the language from a local perspective. In terms of education, I have a bachelor's degree in English with a focus on literature and minors in German and philosophy. My studies helped me to think critically about language and analyze texts more deeply. I went on to complete a master's in international affairs.

My teaching career began in 2006 as a writing tutor at Armstrong State University. There I helped international students brainstorm fresh ideas and sharpen up essays for composition classes. After graduating from college, I began teaching at Atlanta's International Language Institute, where I learned to carefully plan my lessons and incorporate technology into the classroom. I made the biggest strides as a teacher, however, as an English Education Volunteer with Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia. Three months of intensive training on teacher methodology equipped me with knowledge about assessment, correction, and lesson planning. Beyond teaching at a Georgian high school, I ran an international creative writing competition, managed a regional spelling bee, and produced content for an English-language newsletter.

In 2016 I began teaching English through the Fulbright program at a university in Moldova. I became the first teacher assigned to Transnistria, a frozen-conflict zone controlled by Russia. As a university instructor I helped my students learn to deliver effective presentations and write coherent essays. Two years ago I became an English Language Fellow (a position sponsored by the State Department) in Ukraine. While here I've led more than forty teacher training sessions across the country and was awarded Fellow of the Month in November: https://elprograms.org/story/ukraine/