Inglés | Native |
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Griego | Near-Native |
Hello everyone,
Call me Aristo G. My very Greek name can be uncomfortably long so it is shortened here. Nevertheless, I am especially proud of my first name. It comes from an ancient Greek word meaning one having a flawless will.
To me that’s inspiring to know, and I love getting into the deeper meanings and etymological foundations of words. They reveal so much that gives meaning to our experiences of our selves, the world and each other.
Greece is my country of birth. Around the time I turned three, my parents moved to the United States, and I became a citizen of that country five years later. My school years were split between Greece and the US. In total, I have changed schools, curricula and speech - from English to Greek and back again - about five or six times to the age of eighteen.
Currently, at age 60, I reside in a picturesque village in north-central Greece with my companion and a few kitties, shown in the pictures. I have a soft spot for pets.
Education and Teaching Experience
Most of my education is English-based. I got my Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degrees in the physics of materials (surfaces and interfaces), and their behaviors at the atomic scale. This was in the US, with the PhD thesis completed in Greece, and written in both that language and English.
I have privately taught High School and basic University Physics on and off over the years, while as a researcher, I published over thirty papers in respectable journals.
For several years, where a given research environment did not include native speakers of English, other researchers (graduate and post-doctoral level) entrusted me to correct and sometimes revise the language structure of their manuscripts to be sent for peer review and publication.
Interests
I have a passion for creative writing and enjoy public speaking. Both were subjects I have studied and applied. Speaking skills especially came in handy when giving talks at the conferences I attended.
I also love animals and being in nature, composing music, and have been a fan of Japanese animation since I was old enough to turn on the television. I am especially into myths, legends and archetypes, especially when expressed artfully in works of fantasy fiction, old and new.
One of my main passions has been the study and practice of inner alchemy/cultivation, East and West, since I was a teenager. I got to use my creative writing, negotiating and consultation skills for several years when moderating and administering online esoteric/occult forums.
Esoteric topics have been an interest of mine since childhood. I've done divination since high school and have translated a few basic texts from Hebrew and Sanskrit on meditation and inner alchemy as well.
Any esoteric type services, would be in English. If you are a non-native speaker of the language, you get practice in it as well as esoteric instruction and consultation.
Teaching Style
Being bilingual in Greek and English, and educated in American and Greek schools, has given me an appreciation of the nuances that separate thinking in a specific language as opposed to just speaking and writing correctly.
I like teaching, and I like engaging in constructive communication. It is a rewarding challenge to structure lessons to hold the attention of the student, and conversation allows grammar and syntax to work for the speaker without them having to consciously reference it.
I very much agree with those that claim there is something very satisfying about a student's eyes lighting up when they “get” the thinking behind English expressions.
To be honest, at this stage of my life, I would much rather engage in helping with English proficiency than teaching science. I am, however, interested in helping students apply English in professional and academic writing as well as speech. That includes science and business proposals.
I have written a few of my own, and have helped scientists with rather poor English skills write theirs. I can also proofread and correct less formal works such as essays, blog posts and correspondence in English. Even fiction writing if one is inclined.
Since I only speak English and Greek, I prefer not to teach beginners with little or no conversation ability. That does not mean I cannot craft a lesson to beginner requirements. Right now, however, I am presenting my strengths; what a student can trust will do the job.
I encourage repeated lessons of the conversation type, so we may work through a student's particular disposition and needs, delving into more advanced expressions, so progress is not something one takes on faith.
With progress comes confidence, which releases blocks to further immersion, which leads to more success and confidence. The positive cycle is something any student will appreciate. One can be shy in their native tongue, and experience the paradox of being confident with a second language.
As it stands, conversation lessons include assessment, immersive dialogue and supplementary teaching to compensate for areas needing attention. The student will, therefore, get something out of every conversation, beyond just practicing.
One on one communication with a real bilingual English speaker is about the nuances of thinking in English. For me, that makes a difference between speaking understandable English, and conveying their thoughts with the same clarity as in one's home tongue, regardless of accent.
When that happens, native speakers can tell. They cannot help but listen, acknowledge and take that committed individual seriously.
Thank you for taking the time to read this rather lengthy description. I am very much looking forward to your lesson requests in any of the several topics I offer. To those who are interested, see you on the inside.