| Name | John S. |
|---|---|
| City | Toronto, ON |
| Teaching | Polish |
| Native Language | English |
| Originally From | New Zealand |
| Working With | Youth, Adults, Groups |
| Levels I Teach | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Lessons Take Place | My Home/Office, Learner's Home or Work, Public Place |
| Hourly Rate | C$25 |
I am an experienced educator who originally trained as a linguist. The bulk of my working life has had a focus on adult remedial education but has also included second language acquisition with motivated adults. I know Polish very well through travel and personal and professional contacts over the last dozen years.
As a linguist I have studied several languages, including some to an advanced level, and I have done a lot of research into the process of adult second language acquisition. I have also evaluated the design and presentation of language textbooks and second language teaching methods.
As a face to face educator I have worked with both individuals and small groups taking a skills building approach tailored to needs and goals. I have also designed appropriate learning plans and evaluations to support skills development and consolidation.
For conversational competence I take a spoken language approach (no books or paper based exercises). For the beginner this approach is focused on building a complete skeleton of the language in an active, practical way in the shortest possible time. Other skills such as reading may be developed later.
Currently I am available in the afternoon Mondays to Thursdays.
While I can be flexible as to meeting place I would prefer to meet either at my apartment (near Wellesley subway station) or in the Toronto Reference Library where quiet study areas are available.
