Chinese, Mandarin, German Teacher & Tutor: Elliot Bougis
Private lessons, classes in Monmouth, Oregon, United States or online via email.
Buy custom lessons from Elliot Bougis.
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Profile of Elliot Bougis
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Date: April 29, 2009
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The Basics
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| Name: |
Elliot Bougis
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| Feedback rating:
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No student feedback
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| Self-study lessons:
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No online lessons
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| Language(s) to teach: |
(N) = Also native language of teacher.
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| City: |
Monmouth |
| State, province or region: |
Oregon |
| Country: |
United States |
| Services: |
Teaching
Tutoring
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| Lessons delivery: |
Live in person
Email
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Program Summary
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| Class sizes available: |
Private Lessons
2-3 students
4-8 students
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| Student proficiency levels: |
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
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| Facets available:
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Grammar
Conversation
Study Abroad
Test Preparation
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Teaching Approach
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I use a lot of humor when I teach. If students can learn to laugh in a foreign language, they will never love that language. And if they don't love it at some level, they will always see diminishing gains in their studies. I also sometimes like to bring in current news stories as a warm-up activity. This allows students to see an immediate, "real world" use for the language they are learning.
I have a real knack for making analogies and explaining complex ideas in simple terms. This makes lessons more entertaining and less threatening. Also, since I have a broad cultural and intellectual background, I am able to integrate interesting perspectives and anecdotes from literature, history, science, etc., which appeal to students from many backgrounds.
I have found that music is one of the best teaching tools across cultures, so I often like to play songs, asking students either to go over the lyrics part by part with me, or simply to express how the song makes them feel. This always triggers a lot of interest.
Another aspect of my teaching method that I firmly believe enriches students' experience, is my willingness to hear what students really want and to adapt lesson plans based on their actual needs and interests. Basically, I take a "horizontanl" view of language learning. Rather than speaking "top down" from a book, I want to "share life" with the students in a language they want to learn.
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Program Description
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I have a BA (summa cum laude) in German from the University of Florida and over five years of experience teaching English in Taiwan. This combination of experience means I am able and happy to teach literature and history for some students, or basic conversation and "survival" reading comprehension for others. I prefer on-going, multi-step lessons, such as reading a book over several weeks, or composing a story/script lesson by lesson. This gives my students a sense of "ownership" and helps integrate the content over a longer period of time. I like watching segments of movies for discussion and posing hypothetical challenges/qu estions to students, so they can learn to *imagine* in a foreign language, rather than merely learn to take tests.
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Teaching Experience
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?Private German tutor, University of Chicago (1998)
?Near ly 6 years of teaching experience in Taiwan (ages ranging from 5 to 50, class sizes ranging from 1 to 60 students)
?Consistent experience writing and revising new textbooks for employing schools
?Wro te script for and advised production of senior high drama contest
?Service volunteer and interpreter at World Youth Day in Köln, Germany
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Teacher Training
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?One year of study at the University of Chicago, including graduate electives (1998-1999)
?Two-month high-intermed iate study at Goethe Institut Iserlohn, paid for by U. of Chicago grant
?"Breaking Into Print" certificate, Long Ridge Writers Group
?BA (summa cum laude) in German, University of Florida (2003)
?German Honor Society
?Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
?Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
?TEFL Certificate from UCSD
?One-ye ar private study with Austrian native through a language consulting company in Taichung
?5+ years of daily interaction with Taiwanese and personal study of Chinese Mandarin in Taiwan
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is your teaching schedule?
-- I am available every evening and some day times.
What is your payment policy?
-- I ask students to pay for two weeks in advance. This motivates us all to stick to the schedule and allows them to modify their schedule each month, if need be. I accept checks but prefer cash. I do not accept "bartering" (i.e., meals, gifts, etc. in lieu of payment), but I am happy to meet with students now and then for merely social times outside of class.
Where do you hold classes?
-- That depends on the student. We can meet at a quiet public venue or can meet at the student's own home. I do not hold class, however, in moving vehicles.
How can I contact you outside of class?
-- I will provide my teacher email address and will leave my phone numer with the language consulting company through which students found me.
What other relevant experience makes you a more effective teacher?
-- I myself am a student for many years of foreign languages, so I know how it feels to struggle with a new language. I know what pitfalls to avoid, what habits to develop, what resources to invest in, and so forth. Plus, I have a good deal of experience in foreign settings, which has taught me to be very patient with students' culture-speci fic needs and interests. Moreover, I have a keen interest in linguistics and cognitive psychology, which allows me to apply scientific pedagogic theory to in-class interactions.
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Cost of Lessons
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$15 per hour, one-on-one
$ 2 cheaper per hour for every additional student (i.e., two students pay $13 each per hour, three pay $11 per hour, etc.)
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Activity
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| Profile Creation: |
April 29, 2009
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| Profile Last Edit: |
April 29, 2009
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| Last Login: |
April 29, 2009
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Contact Information
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Buy custom lessons from Elliot Bougis.
Send email here.
Telephone contact is not available. Please send email here.
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