About Me:

My name is Lauren. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in International Studies, a minor in Russian language, and a TESL/TESOL/TEFL certification (ESL certification).

I spent several years teaching conversational English and culture to international graduate students at Texas A&M with the volunteer organization iHouse (International House). Later I taught group lessons in grammar, conversation, and speaking with a local language school. I worked as a Program Manager at the Korean-owned SAT Solutions Test Prep Center for a year, helping organize and build programs that would help high-school students improve their English as well as their performance on standardized college-entrance exams. I also taught for 2 years as the high-school reading teacher there, where many of my students had recently immigrated from Korea and sought to improve their English.

I have traveled to over 30 foreign countries exploring culture and language. I spent time studying in St. Petersburg, Russia and teaching in Tainan and Hsinchu, Taiwan. My travels help me better understand the culture and background of my students. I love learning about my students’ cultures, just as much as I love sharing my own with them. I have taught students from all over the globe – from countries including: China, Korea, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia, Spain, France, and many others.

I am a native English speaker, and I am conversationally proficient in Russian and somewhat proficient in Spanish. My travels and study of other languages have given me a more rounded grasp of the English language and a deeper understanding of the challenges of learning a new language and culture.

Meet Our Newest Teacher!

About Brianna:

Brianna studied history and western culture at Rice University. While there, she worked with Rice’s reputable ESL program as a language and culture partner. She was paired with international students in the program to help them improve their language skills and understanding of culture as it relates to every day life.

After graduation, Brianna spent time doing research in both France and Italy. She also spent time working in Australia and Angola. She coached several basketball teams and taught additional English classes for Sudanese and Chinese immigrants. She has traveled to 5 continents and has spent time studying Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and French. She understands the challenges of adapting to a new culture and learning to communicate in an unfamiliar area.

When she came back to the USA, Brianna started working as a private cultural advisor for employees at a multinational corporation. Now, she is continuing to share her love of teaching English while working on her Masters in International Business and Intercultural Communication.

“I find it is extremely rewarding to work with and learn from people from other cultures. In my experiences (overseas), I have had great and memorable interactions with people who were passionate and kind enough to share their cultures with me. In turn, when instructing, teaching, or tutoring, I always try to accommodate them in the same way I have been.”