From United StatesLiving in Knoxville, United States (10:19 UTC-05:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Nov 27, 2025
InterestsTechTravelScienceSports & FitnessMusic
Hello! My name is Richard. I am a native English speaker, born and raised in California, in the USA. I have been to all 50 states in the US and my goal is to make it to all the continents (only 3 so far). I have many interests, but my passion is learning languages and discovering new cultures. My love for languages and cultures was sparked when I lived outside the USA for two years, in Guatemala. I speak Spanish and Portuguese at an advanced level, French at a high intermediate level, and Italian at a low intermediate level. I am a chemist professionally with a love for learning new things.
Me as a Teacher
I double minored in Spanish and French at a four-year accredited university in Utah, USA. During this time, I lived in a full-immersion program in French housing. I was a teaching assistant for four semesters, which included giving lectures, helping students prepare for tests, and grading assignments. I earned a PhD in chemical engineering and have published over 20 articles in scientific journals. Although I was educated with a traditional academic background, my biggest strength is that I have tested several non-traditional language learning methods.
My lessons & teaching style
I believe that the key to learning a language is finding a method that is enjoyable to you, that you can maintain without getting burned out, and that is as close to an authentic experience as possible. This is why informal, casual, natural conversations are one of the best ways to practice, improve, and maintain a language. This technique has allowed me to speak multiple languages with confidence. And I know it will work for you too!
Teaching experience
2010 - 2014
Teaching AssistantBrigham Young University - Provo, United StatesI was a teaching assistant for four different undergraduate courses in chemical engineering. I taught lectures, gave test reviews, held office hours, and graded assignments.
Education
2012 - 2017
Doctorate - Chemical EngineeringBrigham Young UniversityPhD in Chemical Engineering
2005 - 2012
Bachelor’s - Spanish / FrenchBrigham Young UniversitySpanish minor
French minor
2005 - 2012
Bachelor’s - Chemical EngineeringBrigham Young UniversityBS in Chemical Engineering
5.0
Rating
5
Students
5
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
83%
Response rate
5.0
Rating
5
Students
5
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
83%
Response rate
English Lessons
Trial Lesson
4 lessons completed
USD 5.00+
Informal Conversation in English
B1 - C2Conversation0 lessons completed
USD 15.00
Package with 20% off
Inglês para Brasileiros
A1 - C2Language Essentials1 lessons completed
USD 10.00
Package with 20% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
1 Review
loic
1 English lesson
très gentil, intéressant, un méthode qui je pense me convient parfaitement. un premier assai avec lui très prometteur je pense.