TESOL/TESL student gives ESL lessons for all ages from children to adults in Langley

Find out more about Maya

• When and why did you develop an interest in your chosen field?

  I started becoming interested in teaching English to ELLs (English language learners) in my later years of high school, when I started to become fascinated with a variety of other cultures. Initially, it was one of the excuses I could think of to travel abroad and learn other languages, as well as meet people of different cultures, but later on as I gained experience I realized teaching English was much more fulfilling than simply becoming involved with people of other cultures.
  As a musician, I developed an interest in music way back when I was a child. I picked up the violin at 6 years old and have never understood how people can live without music since. That is why I want to impart that joy to others.

• What makes you passionate about your subject?

  Learning English not only changes lives in modern society, but also as student and teacher we impart each other with views into different worlds as well as potentially strong personal connections that can enhance life at cosmic levels.
  Learning music changes lives as well, except that almost everyone can listen to or feel music as a (somewhat) universal language.

• What do you like about tutoring? What makes you a "Superprof"?

  Knowing that the knowledge and skills I vomit can be consumed to create better lives for others makes me so excited that I want to vomit even more.

• Do you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  In high school, I had a music teacher who is still my role model for an amazing all-around mentor to this day. He was strict and wanted his students to strive for the best 'product' (in this case, music) they could possibly output, but he was also kind and took the time to know all of his students on a personal level. Most importantly, he had an otherworldly mustache that fluttered substantially when he imparted wisdom to his students.

• What are your keys to success? *

  There are 2 important keys to success in my opinion: 1) hard work, and 2) a desire to be the best at what you do. These are cliché because they're true; hard work will get you to your destination much faster than mediocre levels of work, and a desire to be the best at what you do (even if there will always be someone better than you) will provide you with acceleration to your goals. If you're learning English, maybe you won't be the best English speaker or writer in the world, but if you work as if you are striving for that and have high expectations for yourself, then you'll very likely reach your initial goals anyway. If you work hard at learning to play music, maybe you won't play for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but you'll very likely not obliterate your parents' eardrums when they listen to your music.