Karina Mercedes Martinez

I believe in the importance of practice and patience. A consistent repetitive pattern of reading, writing, and speaking allows students to approach English from every direction, while fomenting their strengths and uncovering areas that need to be improved. Diverse reading materials can expose students to a wide variety of vocabulary, and guided reading ensures that we are able to correct common errors at the source. My approach is to pay close attention to detail, often pausing to discuss, check for comprehension, and make crucial connections, so that nothing is lost between the lines.
Each student confronts a unique set of challenges and misunderstandings when it comes to learning, especially reading and writing. There is always room for questions to be asked, critiques to be made, and lessons to be adapted to the particular learning style of the individual. Depending on the age and experience of the student, materials and teaching styles will vary. I have taught five years olds how to read, elementary school students how to write essays, and I have helped seventeen year olds who were failing language arts to break out of poor study habits. Often, in my experience, I find that students are able to succeed only when they are given the proper tools to support themselves mentally.
Apart from English literature being my field of expertise, I am the kind of teacher who understands not all minds work the same way. By balancing serious academic expectations, with down-to-earth human experience, I believe any student can become proficient in English.