Lila Ann

Certified Tutor

The ability to articulate one’s thoughts fluidly and convincingly in writing and in speech – that is, to construct logical, coherent, well-researched arguments – is an essential skill for students to build for college. Using words and language effectively is crucial to students’ success in any major or discipline, and beyond graduation in the job market or graduate school. I teach and tutor from an honest enthusiasm for words, language and the writing process. I work with students from elementary school through college on building fundamental reading and writing skills, completing assignments above standard, and finding their own voice through the written word and oral response. I tutor a range of subjects with a focus on language arts – for example:

• Reading: both elementary skills and critical reading for high school or college students; reading strategies for dense texts and complex assignments.
• Writing: grammar and punctuation, including for ACT/SAT; introduction to essay writing (thesis statement, hypotheses, supporting claims, concrete details); advanced essay writing; college application statements; editing.
• French: reading, writing and speaking in the French language, beginning through advanced; grammar, conjugations, pronunciation, conversation, culture.

I completed my M.A. at Yale University (African Studies, 2014), and my B.A. magna cum laude from Smith College (American Studies & Dance, 2009). During college, I studied in Paris, France for a full year, and successfully applied for a Fulbright Grant that allowed me to do ten months of research on contemporary dance in Burkina Faso (in francophone West Africa) after graduating. My teaching experience includes serving as a T.A. at Yale College, Santa Barbara City College, and Education Française Bay Area, and teaching study skills and ACT preparation courses at College Track Oakland. Independently, I have tutored English skills and French for elementary and high school students. I am proud to say that I had strong success in teaching French to a high school student with learning differences, using a completely oral and visual approach. In addition to my teaching experience and my own academic track, I have worked on various projects as a grant-writer, editor, research assistant and translator. My verbal GRE score is in the 99th percentile, and as for foreign languages I am fluent in French, have a strong background in Spanish, Arabic and German, scored 100% on the First Year National Latin Test, and have recently taken up Portuguese while studying dance and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Brazil for two months.

I hold students to high standards, but with a light humor and sensitivity to each student’s unique situation. I believe that developing personal discipline, organization and accountability can improve students’ experience of school and make the pleasure of learning itself more available.