Business and Conversational English, TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, and accent correction coach. Certified teacher from Boston, USA with 7 years of experience.

Find out more about Andrew

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I am an English native speaker, born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  As an English major, I am tempted to answer "William Shakespeare," but the boredom I suffered in my Shakespeare classes still haunts me! As a true New Englander, I pledge my allegiance to "Robert Frost," who captured the independent spirit and natural beauty of New England better than any writer I can think of.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  To quote the aforementioned Robert Frost's - "Nothing gold can stay." The impermanent beauty of the spring is a reflection of the beautiful impermanence of everything. This quote is despondent yet hopeful, because on the flip side, nothing terrible can stay either.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Not everyone speaks English, but no matter where you go, you will always find people who speak English. While calling it the "universal language" feels arrogant (are aliens really speaking English on the other side of the universe?), English is an immensely powerful tool to have.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  English is the language with a million rules and a million exceptions to each rule. There simply is no textbook that can fit it all. That's why practicing with a native speaker is crucial!

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I always thought of myself as a talented writer. My pride was met with a wrecking ball when I handed in my first paper in my first composition class in college. My professor read it in front of me, threw it on her desk, and shrugged, "I have no idea what your paper is about."
  
  
  At first, I was offended-how could she not understand? I had used advanced vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and even thrown in a Latin phrase or two for good measure. But after listening to her critiques, I reread my paper and realized she was right. I had buried my point under layers of convoluted sentences and unnecessary complexity.
  
  That moment changed everything. I stopped writing to sound smart and started writing to be understood. Now, as a language teacher, I pass that lesson on to my students. Clarity isn't just a skill, it's a superpower. It's what allowed history's best communicators to change the world with just the stroke of a pen or the utterance of a sentence.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I have lived in the Spanish-speaking world for several years, putting me in my students' shoes, granting me a deep understanding of and compassion for their learning journeys.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I teach English in a way that is relevant and applicable to each of my students' lives. What's the point in perfecting your language skills if you are not able to use them and reap the benefits? Whether it's helping a student ace an international exam, land a job, or simply express themselves with confidence, I make sure every lesson has a purpose. Learning a language should open doors, not just notebooks.