Dr. Amy R Nestor English, Writing

I have a wealth of knowledge. I impart complex skills clearly and effectively. Yet the qualities that make me a uniquely excellent teacher lie in my creative responsiveness: with each student, I listen before I speak, learning his or her weaknesses, anxieties, and desires, while intuiting unknown strengths and abilities. Such listening enables me to craft an individual program for each of my students, one that not only imparts specific skills and relates specific bodies of knowledge—but also builds long-lasting intellectual power and self-confidence.

On the day-to-day level, this means giving clear assignments and timely and detailed feedback; holding well-structured lessons; and being available between sessions, without asking for pay, should questions or crises erupt.

The effectiveness of my approach manifests itself in my results: as a tutor, my students have raised their grades, uniformly attaining A's, while those I have tutored in test preparation have raised their scores by 25-35%. Last, the fact that I remain in touch with many of my former students as a mentor bespeaks the bonds I have forged with them.

Subjects

  • Literary criticism (Grade 9-Doctorate/PhD)

  • GRE Verbal (Beginner-Expert)

  • LSAT (Bachelors/Undergraduate-Masters/Postgraduate)

  • Philosophy and Critical thinking (Grade 10-Doctorate/PhD)

  • Literature (Grade 9-Doctorate/PhD)

  • Writing skills and Creative writing (Grade 6-Doctorate/PhD)

  • College Applications (USA) Essay Preparation (Grade 11-Masters/Postgraduate)

  • SAT English (Grade 8-Grade 12)

  • SAT II Literature (Grade 9-Grade 12)

  • Writing academic papers (Grade 8-Doctorate/PhD)

  • Poetry (Grade 7-Doctorate/PhD)

  • AP English (Grade 9-Grade 12)

  • Literary theory (Grade 10-Doctorate/PhD)

  • English test preparation (Grade 9-Masters/Postgraduate)

  • SAT Essay (Grade 8-Grade 12)

  • Critical Reading, Writing, and Research (Grade 9-Doctorate/PhD)

  • Critical Theory (Grade 10-Doctorate/PhD)

Experience

  • Independent Tutor (Oct, 2018–Present) at Creative Tutoring, Oakland CA
    I have tutored high school students, college students, and adults in writing, creative writing, literature, college essay applications, test preparation (SATs, GREs, and LSATs), critical theory and philosophy, honors thesis research and writing, and business writing. Through working with me, each of my students has achieved an A in his or her given course, successfully completed her thesis (often scoring amongst the highest in her year), or raised his or her test score by 25-35%. Beyond these technical measures, my power to intuit my students' shrouded skills and draw them out has allowed me to strengthen all their intellectual abilities—as they pertained to our particular course of study and extended beyond it. They thus leave me with critical power and self-confidence that will serve them in all they seek to do within academia and after they leave it to explore the opportunities and challenges of the world outside its bounds.
  • Assistant Professor of English (Aug, 2008–Jul, 2018) at Georgetown University Qatar
    Created and taught classes in Writing, Literature, Creative Writing, Critical theory and Philosophy; this included regular individual tutoring sessions with each student to work on their weaknesses and draw out their as-yet undiscovered strengths, building their intellectual power and self-confidence. Mentored senior honors theses in Literature, Palestinian Studies, Internet Studies, and LGBT+ Studies, as well as American and Media Studies Certificates in Literature and Critical Race Studies. Mentored students over the course of their careers at Georgetown, even after they had ceased to be in my class, concerning the course of their academic studies, their plans for graduate school and work, and other matters. Tutored students in the GREs, aided them in their graduate school and scholarship application essays, and wrote recommendations. Was known as the professor to whom one went if one truly wanted to learn how to write, no matter one's year. Elected by student vote, in different years, "Most Inspiring" and "Most Caring Professor."
  • Visiting Professor of English (Aug, 2007–Jul, 2008) at Grinnell College, Grinnell Iowa
    Created and taught courses in writing and American Literature (surveys and advanced seminars); met regularly with students to work upon their papers and research projects. Advised students concerning their plans for graduate school and wrote recommendations.
  • Adjunct Instructor of English (Aug, 2002–May, 2007) at SUNY Buffalo
    Created and taught courses in writing, African American Literature, World Literature to 1600, Chaucer, Chaucer and Boccaccio, and Medieval Romance and Saga. Worked individually with students to improve their writing, analytic skills, and critical thinking. Advised students in their academic courses of study, as well as their graduate and work plans; this included helping them with their graduate school application essays and writing recommendations for them.

Education

  • PhD American Literature and Poetics (Aug, 1994–May, 2005) from SUNY Buffalo
  • BA (Aug, 1979–May, 1983) from Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

Fee details

    US$70–100/hour (US$70.0–100.0/hour)

    $70 for English, Writing, Academic Papers, Creative Writing, Literary Criticism, Critical Theory/Philosophy, College Application Essays
    $100 for Test Preparation

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