Visited 10 hours ago
Joseph Ruppert
Professional TeacherTeaches
English
Native
Speaks
Italian
Credited ESL instructor with over 15 years experience teaching international university students.
Teaches
English
Native
Speaks
Italian
Credited ESL instructor with over 15 years experience teaching international university students.
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From United StatesLiving in Grand Rapids, United States (01:07 UTC-05:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Feb 14, 2020InterestsFilms & TV SeriesTravelGamingWritingBusiness & Finance
I am a native English speaker and US citizen currently living in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I was born in Seattle and grew up in Washington State. My accent is from the Pacific Northwest and is what is usually considered "neutral" American. I lived in Florence, Italy for nearly three years and can speak basic conversational Italian. I have been a English teacher at our local university for more than twelve years, teaching both domestic American students as well as international students. I live with my wife, two kids (one who is also an italki teacher!), two cats and a dog.Me as a Teacher
In 2006, I began teaching English as a second language to international students at Western Michigan University. I have taught students from all over the world: Saudi Arabia, China, France, and the Dominican Republic are among some of the places my students call home. I specialize in academic and professional English focused on speaking, listening, grammar, reading and writing. However, I have also worked with students developing basic vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversational skills. Although I am rooted in the United States, my greatest pleasure in teaching English comes from the connections I make to other lands and cultures through my students. My lessons & teaching style
My general approach to language instruction is task-based. Rather than focusing on discrete grammar points or lengthy vocabulary definitions, I ask my students to use and stretch their language skills by performing communicative tasks. Example tasks might include creating a professional powerpoint or reading an article from a peer-review journal. The goal is to practice English in authentic, real-world situations. However, an understanding of grammar and vocabulary is important as well and are dealt with as needed in the context of communication. For example, I use the Academic Word List (AWL) to help draw attention to key words used in nearly all professions and university majors.My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Articles and news
- Quizzes
- Test templates and examples
- Homework Assignments
Education
2000 - 2007
Master's - Teaching English as a Second Language
Work Experience
2007 - 2020
Language Instructor
5.0
Rating
278
Students
3,717
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
English Lessons
Trial Lesson
142 lessons completed
USD 8.00+
Reading & Writing English for Professional or Academic Purposes
B1 - C2Language Essentials3,461 lessons completed
USD 22.00+
Package with 15% off
Conversation & Communication for Professional or Academic Purposes
B1 - C2Conversation113 lessons completed
USD 18.00+
Package with 12% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
175 Reviews
Liana
8 English lessons
The teacher had selected an interesting authentic material ( a short story) which we discussed in depth and in this way I learned some useful vocabulary in context and practiced for fluency.
Feb 15, 2026
Cherrie
37 English lessons
brilliant teacher！always gives interesting materials to discuss with
Oct 20, 2024
Cherrie
37 English lessons
best italkie teacher ever!
Aug 19, 2024
Cherrie
37 English lessons
very funny and inspiring teacher!
Nov 24, 2024
Cherrie
37 English lessons
fabulous!
Aug 26, 2024
Olga
16 English lessons
Excellent teacher!
Jun 2, 2024
Trial Lesson
USD 8.00
Your final payment will be made in USD