I named my company English on Fire because my unique blend of training and experience has made me exceedingly successful at helping language learners (and even a few native speakers) achieve better, more inspired fluency. 

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Part of training as an opera singer is years spent in private lessons and university courses working on clear diction in German, Italian, French, Latin, and even English. Because of my years of intense focus on the functioning of the mouth and how sound is produced, I am keenly aware of how small movements of the mouth can create big differences in the quality, and therefore comprehension, of sounds. 

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My particular method of teaching is a combination of methods learned as a singer, from coursework in Speech Language Pathology, and my MA in Linguistics. For clients and students, that means that I address how language is built in the brain, how the body produces and interprets language, and how to use skilled performance of language as a tool for clear communication.

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I've taught private students for many years, mostly working professionals who work in tech and finance. I also have experience working with people who have mother tongues from almost every continent.

 

I have taught various levels and topics of Academic English at the following institutions:

• Virginia Commonwealth University

• Reynolds Community College

• Northern Virginia Community College, Woodbridge

• Shanghai Institute of Visual Art

• Tulane University

• Cleveland State University

• University of Dayton

• Gonzaga University

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My approach marries the theoretical and the practical. Are you curious what I could do to help you achieve your language goals? Schedule a 1-on-1 Discovery Call to ask some questions, get to know each other, and identify objectives and plan of action. 

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My goal is to give you the tools you need to continue learning and improving with confidence for a lifetime.

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