Experienced, licensed English teacher and native speaker from the United States has helped hundreds of ESL students reach their language goals.

Learn more about Maria

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

  I'm a native English speaker, born in Indiana. But my love for the language extends to reading, writing, speaking, and listening because of teachers who brought language to life for me. I have studied foreign languages as well. I minored in French in college, and I worked hard to develop conversational and writing skills in Japanese while I lived there for four years. I used to be somewhat proficient in American Sign Language, and my Spanish is coming along.

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

  Although I'm American, I think most people would agree that William Shakespeare, the Bard, might be considered the father of English literature. A prolific poet and playwright, he coined so many phrases that are still spoken today.

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

  I like how flexible English is. We have borrowed so many words and phrases from other languages. I have some favorite words to say, like perspicacity, chaos, and obstinate. I just like how they sound!

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

  English is spoken worldwide, and it's my native tongue. If you can speak English, you can get along in a lot of places.

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

  English spelling is horrible. The grammar is not bad, but there are so many exceptions to the rules when it comes to spelling. My American students as well as my foreign speakers often ask, "Why?" when I teach them a grammar construct or a spelling exception. I just say, "Because English is a cruel mistress."

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

  When I first moved to Japan, I had only taken Japanese 101, so my language skills were very rudimentary. I went to the grocery to buy sugar to bake a cake, but I quickly realized that I didn't know what the packaging looked like, or how to read the words on the packages, or even what the word for sugar was. I found a bag of something white and grainy: but was it sugar, or was it salt? I DID know the word for salt. So I asked a man in the aisle, "Sumimasen. Kore wa shio desu ka?" (Excuse me, is this salt?) I didn't understand everything he said, but I recognized "iie" (no) and I understood by his head shaking that I was not holding salt. Success! It must be sugar! I thanked him and took the bag up to the cashier.
  
  But he followed me, very distressed. I imagine he was saying, "Little sister! Little sister! That's not salt! That's sugar!" I could only say, "Thank you! I understand! I am happy! It is okay!" I didn't know how to tell him I didn't want salt. He followed me to the checkout, and told the cashier that I was buying the wrong thing. She tried to tell me that this wasn't salt. I just smiled and said, "I am okay! Thank you!"
  
  It was an embarrassing situation, but I'm happy to say that I did buy sugar, and I made that cake. (And I also looked up the word for sugar so I never had that problem again.)

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

  Well, as a native speaker, I developed most of my skills right here at home. But I have enjoyed traveling to countries like the U.K. and Australia where English is spoken with a different accent.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I have B.A. degrees in professional writing and secondary English education, and a masters degree in Educational Psychology. I've published a number of books, both fiction and nonfiction. I love the language, and I love teaching, and I think that's a great combination.