Erica

Certified Tutor

I got my undergraduate degree at Oberlin College in Ohio, and graduate degrees in Law and Chinese (JD/MA) from the University of Michigan. My undergraduate major was in Law and Society, with a minor in politics.

I have always been interested in teaching and tutoring. I participated in peer tutoring programs in middle school, taught and tutored third grade Hebrew and B'nai Mitzvah students in high school, participated in a program teaching Spanish at a local elementary school in college, and spent the year after college teaching English in China. While teaching in China I worked mainly with high school students (mostly seniors) and provided individual tutoring to middle and high school students. When I returned to the US I also spent some time as an SAT teacher for Princeton Review, and then later worked as a Graduate Student Instructor (TA) for an undergraduate course in Zen Buddhism while in graduate school pursuing my MA/JD.

I really enjoy teaching, particularly when I have the opportunity to work with students who are motivated and engaged. My strengths are in reading, writing, and English. I love stories and I love explaining concepts in an accessible way.

I believe in holding students to the highest reasonable standards - I don't expect students to perform beyond their current capacity or understanding, but I do expect students to try and to produce their best work-effort. I also believe that learning can and should be fun, and that students learn best when they are engaged with the material.

In my free time, I like to read, write, ski, go to live theater and shows, travel, and watch foreign films.