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Benji M
Community TutorCommunity Tutor![]()
Teaches
English
Native
Spanish
Speaks
German
Finnish
US English and Spanish Teacher - Energetic, Friendly, and Queer-Inclusive 🌟
Teaches
English
Native
Spanish
Speaks
German
Finnish
US English and Spanish Teacher - Energetic, Friendly, and Queer-Inclusive 🌟
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From United StatesLiving in Milwaukee, United States (01:49 UTC-05:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Nov 3, 2024InterestsGamingMusicReadingFoodAnimation & Comics
Hello! My name is Benji; I'm an American teacher of English and Spanish who's been hopping around the world for the past few years. I've studied in Chile, met and spoken German with family in Germany, and taught English across three continents. In my free time, I love tabletop role-playing games, video games, fantasy books, and nice cafés. I'm also queer, so in my classes you can come as you are! ✨Me as a Teacher
My teaching style is a mix of formal and informal - I like to follow student interest, and let the lesson content dictate the formality. That is to say, I'm a language guide, not the king of a classroom. Beginners' language lessons will be more structured, while conversation hours will be more free-form. We'll learn some cultural tidbits in between denser lessons, and I'm more than happy to provide a movie, song, or comic rec to help you learn!
I've also got experience working with all levels of learner: kids in school, university students, and adults (including immigrants and refugees) who are trying to develop or polish their skills! :)My lessons & teaching style
In class, I love to use media to help learning; music, art, and even podcasts can be GREAT sources to learn from! My other strong suits for teaching include developing accurate pronunciation (you don't have to be perfect!), improving understanding of grammar, and learning to use language in both formal and everyday ways.My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Presentation slides/PPT
- Audio files
- Image files
- Flashcards
- Articles and news
- Quizzes
- Test templates and examples
- Homework Assignments
Teaching experience
2023 - 2024
English Teaching AssistantTaught at Oberschule Findorff in Bremen, Germany through a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant. Taught English to students from grades 6-13 through solo-teaching, leading small groups, and co-teaching with faculty.
2022 - 2023
Interim Spanish TeacherTaught Spanish from levels II-AP. Topics included grammar (present subjunctive, present perfect), Spanish-language music, and Gothic Spanish literature/Spanish horror stories. Additional presentation on sociolinguistics capstone project from undergraduate studies focusing on phonetics and articulation of the "ch" sound in Chilean Spanish.
2022 - 2023
Volunteer English Teaching AssistantAssisted for summer term (July 2022) working with adult refugee and immigrant learners. Worked with advanced students to improve pronunciation. Supported the other teaching staff in group activities, and took part in a class field trip to the Minnesota state capital.
2019 - 2020
Volunteer English Teacher (TEFL Practicum)Taught English (solo) to adult learners at the pre-literate level as part of a semester-long practicum (Spring 2019) at the University of Minnesota in the department of Teaching English as a Second Language. We worked on building foundational literacy skills and navigating topics of daily life for adult refugees and immigrants. Activities included games, formal instruction, reading and writing worksheets, and practice dialogues.
2018 - 2019
Volunteer Spanish Teaching AssistantSupported high school Spanish students at levels II-IV in May of 2018. Co-taught, led speaking activities, evaluated presentations and gave individual feedback to students.
Education
2017 - 2022
Bachelor’s - Spanish; GermanDouble-major in Spanish Studies and German, Scandinavian, and Dutch Studies (with a German emphasis). Also obtained a minor in linguistics. Took courses in the departments of Curriculum and Instruction, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Translation. Semester-long practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language.
Additional study abroad experience in 2019 at the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile. Course topics included Chilean poetry, linguistics, and translation.
Work Experience
2023 - 2024
Interim Spanish TeacherInterim teacher of Spanish to high-school students of all levels of proficiency!
5.0
Rating
4
Students
22
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
English Lessons
English
Spanish
Trial Lesson
4 lessons completed
USD 10.00+
Let's Go! English Conversation with Notes
A1 - C2Conversation1 lessons completed
USD 17.00+
Package with 10% off
English from Scratch: Beginner A1-A2
A1 - A2Language Essentials0 lessons completed
USD 17.00+
Package with 10% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
1 Review
Taylor Ly
15 Spanish lessons
Teacher’s pick
Benji has been an excellent teacher for me so far!
The first thing he did was talk with me about my priorities and why I am learning Spanish. He has been so kind has to identify vocabulary and phrases specific to what I need, and that's been amazing.
He is patient and understanding, and makes me feel supported through my mistakes, rather than embarrassed by them. Which is huge because that's where my anxiety always stops me from learning languages.
So far we have gone over pronunciation, and Spanish is wild because there are lots of different ways to pronounce the same sounds, depending on regional dialect. Originally I was nervous that it would be an issue, but Benji is teaching me *all* the common ways to pronounce words. So I will know what I'm hearing no matter what! That's so amazing, and I'm really grateful for it.
Overall, Benji is super chill, super attentive, and really cares about making sure I learn what I need in a way that makes me feel positive!
Jun 10, 2025
Trial Lesson
USD 10.00
Your final payment will be made in USD