Hello, my name is Karen Van Wyk and I'm an experienced native English language tutor currently living in the United States. I have been teaching English online since 2016. I am currently offering a free initial trial lesson for new students.
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About me - English
I live in Syracuse New York and presently teach at a Community College. Presently I teach a writing course to second language students and an English Literature course this semester. I have taught second language speakers English for ten years now and in varying contexts.
When I was studying my Masters at the University of Massachusetts Boston, I wrote an independent study on language use in education which was later published. I feel very strongly that language carries a power in our societies and those seeking to learn English in the mode necessary for their lives should be afforded the best instruction to achieve their goals and therein is where I fit. I am able to help all types of students to acquire English in an effective manner as I have worked with diverse students and have an educational skill that leads them to acquire the necessary goals as they stay engaged in the process.
When I am not teaching English I love to read, and listen and play music.
I enjoy meeting people from all over the world and assisting them in their learning of English which they seek within in their unique circumstance.
Qualifications & Experience
I have a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston (2010).
I have taught English as a Second Language (reading, writing, speaking, grammar) for 10 years now. I have taught online and in Community Colleges, K-12 Public School and in an Intensive English Institute. I specialize in many areas: English for Specific Purposes, English for Academic Purposes, Business English and General Adult language learning.
I began teaching online through Nexus Learning and then began to work as an ESL district coordinator at a K-12 district for six years. There I developed and established the ESL program. Following this, I taught at Syracuse University at the English Language Institute.This intensive program consists of writing, oral, grammar and reading courses. The program prepares the students to pass the entrance exam so that they may enter the University. I also taught Business English at Syracuse University during summer sessions to business men and women who came from all over the world representing their companies to excel in the acquisition of the English language. During the same time I was also teaching some online courses through Excelsior College which consisted of research writing mainly.
In my first year of PhD study at the University at Albany, I was awarded an assistantship where I taught writing to international students and trained teachers on how to teach second language learners. In addition, I traveled overseas to teach English Emirate women in the United Arab Emirates for one year. And once returning to the United States I again returned to Syracuse University to teach some courses there as well as the Community College where I am at present.
I am very glad to share my expertise with clients seeking to learn English through Verbal Planet.
Teaching Approach
My teaching approach is largely student centered and I view myself and behave as a facilitator for the most past. I have found that this best draws students into the language acquisition process where they can acquire language in the most efficient and meaningful way.
As an educator I seek to learn as the students learn. I facilitate learning and have the training to do so and I understand the value of a student.
I assess their goals and strengths and help them begin the journey to achieve it. Depending on what vein we are working, be it writing or Business English or oral skills I make the lessons practical and memorable and interactive. Language is something we use and so safely venturing out allows the student to see how much they can do. I believe that taking pieces at a time allows the student to gain confidence and to move forward as he internalizes and expresses more English concepts in a meaningful way.
All this is facilitated by me, the tutor. I do not filling empty vessels but student and teacher have an exchange. I must direct and correct as necessary but more importantly assist the student in self confidence and proper tools they can carry on even after the lessons.