Diana

Certified Tutor

I have a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Distinction from the University of Toronto ('U of T') Centre of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. I regularly organized and hosted study sessions with my peers throughout my undergrad studies, including in my Philosophy and Political Science minor courses. I enjoyed tutoring students to improve their academic writing and nudging students' toward those "eureka moments" during office hours as Teaching Assistant for "Punishment" and "Youth Justice" courses in Crim & Sociolegal Studies. Immediately after completing my M.A. in 2017, I worked for an Indigenous organization, with funding from the Ministry of Attorney General, to develop and coordinate extrajudicial services for Indigenous persons undergoing criminal prosecution in Ontario. These unique diversion and "restorative justice" services were highly well-reputed; several of my written submissions for clients' defense were key in establishing important precedent at local courthouses. I was promoted to Advisor of Justice Programs in 2021. Throughout my 4+ years in these roles, I created and hosted numerous learning materials, presentations, and training sessions related to law, society, and justice reform: R v. Gladue 1999 / Ipeelee 2012, Aboriginal rights in Canada, youth justice, criminal justice vs. restorative justice, and restorative practices when delivering diversion for audiences of program volunteers, community members, staff, interns, lawyers, courtworkers, etc.

I am a native Portuguese speaker (i.e. Lisbonite Portuguese) with a certification in Portuguese Language Fluency from the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre ('FPCCC'). I am also certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language ('TEFL') from U of T's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education ('OISE'), with specialities in Business English and Test Preparation. I am looking to gain more teaching experience as I consider my next career move in academia, whether it involves pursuing a PhD, a second Master's degree, or an equivalent in advocacy or legal practice.

What I most enjoy about teaching, whether high-level material, like with my Community Justice Coordinator role, or everyday-use skills, like with practicing conversational English or Portuguese, is when I get to work one-on-one, understand students' learning goals and personal interests, and cultivate a space where eureka moments can flourish in a low-pressure, personally relevant, authentic, and meaningful way. If we can connect lessons to your favourite episode of Star Trek, a genre of music that speaks to you, a hobby you can't stop talking about, or your trippiest video game experience to date; let's do it.