Melinda
Visited a day ago
Melinda
Professional Teacher
Teaches
English
Native
Speaks
German
Personalized English conversation that builds your confidence, competence & cultural understanding
Teaches
English
Native
Speaks
German
Personalized English conversation that builds your confidence, competence & cultural understanding
From United StatesLiving in Chicago, United States (06:01 UTC-05:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Mar 2, 2020Interest topicBusiness & FinanceHistoryTechArtTravel
Raised in Indianapolis and living in Chicago, I am a native English speaker with a clear American accent.
Passionate about teaching English and intercultural awareness, I have over 20 years experience in TESOL instruction (in California, Germany, Indianapolis, and Chicago) and educational ESL/EFL publishing in New York City. I have taught in academic settings, businesses, private language schools, as well as private one-on-one classes for immigrants and expats.
Committed to language acquisition, I have spent 14 years raising three bilingual German-English speaking children. Guiding them on the path to fluency and literacy in both languages, has truly been a tremendous experience.Me as a Teacher
As a teacher, I understand that English language learners have various learning styles, strengths, and needs. My lessons are designed to help students meet their individual goals. I create a supportive atmosphere and help students build confidence so that they can overcome personal challenges, connect the dots, and find real-life applications for their English skills.
I look forward to helping you reach your personal language learning goals.My lessons & teaching style
My lessons encourage students to talk confidently so that they can use English at the time and place they need it.
Working together, we will build vocabulary and functional language, improve intonation and pronunciation, answer grammar questions, and craft small talk skills. I can help you use your English in the ways you want to.
I also consult families on how to raise bilingual children from birth into the early teenage years. During these sessions, I provide easy and practical tips, discuss expectations and desired levels of language acquisition, and provide motivating coping strategies for when things get challenging.My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Audio files
- Image files
- Video files
- Flashcards
- Articles and news
- Graphs and charts
- Homework Assignments
Certificates
Bachelor of Arts - Indiana University, Bloomington - 1998Diploma with distinction
Certificate uploaded
Professional Educator's License - Indiana State - 1998Complete university coursework, take state exam and area proficiency exams, complete student teaching, teach in a public school (Note: This license was issued under my maiden name but it is still considered a valid inactive license.)
Certificate uploaded
Education
1994 - 1998
Bachelor’s - Germanic Studies, Secondary Education, ESL endorsementDouble major in Germanic Studies and Secondary Education with an ESL teaching endorsement
Work Experience
2008 - 2021
ESL Instructor• Teach ESL lessons to adults with varying needs and proficiency levels
• Compile learning resources for students’ continuing independent study
• Facilitate interpersonal conversations targeting student objectives
• Assess student needs and design differentiated lessons
2016 - 2021
German Instructor• Teach courses to native and non-native German speakers
• Collaborate with colleagues to create materials and select course books
• Wrote curriculum for accreditation by the German Ministry of Education
2006 - 2014
ESL/EFL Freelance Editor• Read manuscript for cultural accuracy and American English usage
• Authored short stories for an EFL textbook published in Germany
2002 - 2006
Associate ESL Editor• Read manuscript for consistency, accuracy and pedagogical effectiveness
• Responsible for taking ESL/EFL books and ancillary materials through all
stages of development and production
2000 - 2002
ESL and German Teacher• Created and enhanced the ESL and German curriculum
1999 - 2000
English for Specific Purposes Instructor• Designed and conducted seminars on American cultural awareness
• Taught Business English to German professionals at diverse companies
• Developed and taught EFL coursework for college business students
1998 - 1998
ESL Instructor• Designed differentiated lesson plans and tests using a variety of materials
• Taught young adults reading, grammar, listening, and conversational skills
• Administered placement tests
5.0
Rating
49
Students
941
Lessons
100%
Attendance
100%
Response
English Lessons
Trial Lesson
18 lessons completed
USD 15.00+
Personalized Conversation Practice + personalized written & audio notes – Basic
A1 - A2Conversation Practice93 lessons completed
USD 32.00
Package with 6% off
Personalized Conversation Practice + personalized written & audio notes – Intermediate
B1 - B2Conversation Practice266 lessons completed
USD 32.00
Package with 6% off
Personalized Conversation Practice + personalized written & audio notes – Advanced
C1 - C2Conversation Practice230 lessons completed
USD 32.00
Package with 6% off
Personalized Conversation Practice – Basic
A1 - A2Conversation Practice37 lessons completed
USD 25.00
Package with 4% off
Personalized Conversation Practice – Intermediate
B1 - B2Conversation Practice85 lessons completed
USD 25.00
Package with 4% off
Personalized Conversation Practice – Advanced
C1 - C2Conversation Practice212 lessons completed
USD 25.00
Package with 4% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
My creations
Quiz (2)
60 Reviews
Luca
84 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
I highly recommend Melida as an outstanding teacher. From Business English to refining my everyday language skills, Melida's adaptability and deep knowledge have made our lessons invaluable. Her exceptional availability and commitment create a supportive learning environment. Melida not only ensures understanding of complex concepts but tailors her approach, instilling confidence in both academic and practical language use. Choosing Melida means gaining a mentor who seamlessly guides from business-oriented language to everyday linguistic proficiency.
Nov 16, 2023
Ivan
140 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
Melinda's English lesson was truly exceptional! Her teaching style is engaging and effective, making even the most challenging concepts seem simple. Melinda is an outstanding teacher, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to improve their English proficiency.
Nov 8, 2023
Stefan
51 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
Melinda not only offers conversation training tailored to my needs with same day prepared lesson notes (text and pronounciation notes). Since I often have to give keynotes, the excellent presentation training also helps me a lot. Here we work specifically on a presentation and the language variations for different audiences (English nativespeakers and global settings). Very, very helpful and highly professional. Thanks a lot!
Oct 26, 2023
Anna Kopteva
15 English lessons
I have been learning English with Melinda for 3 months. I feel more comfortable in conversation with native speakers. I highly recommend Melinda if you want to improve your Business English. She is a great teacher!
Mar 5, 2024
Cindy Chen
13 English lessons
Melinda is amazing. She designed and customized the class based on my needs. Professional, positive and encouraged.
I like to spend time with her and improve my English.
Jan 31, 2024
Cindy Chen
13 English lessons
Melinda's class is very interesting and diverse. We can use any materials that are suitable and comfortable.
Her class is designed with structure and depends on the students' needs. I recommend Melinda as a professional English tutor on the way to improving our English!
Jan 3, 2024
Trial Lesson
USD 15.00
Your final payment will be made in USD