Meet Our Tutors

Ellie Wolf

Ellie Wolf is an English as a Second Language instructor with five years of experience as a writing tutor. She graduated from the MIIS MATESOL program in summer 2013 and currently teaches Reading and WritingOral Communication, and Active Listening Strategies in the MIIS Intensive English Program. In spring and summer 2013, she was an ESL instructor for the Kanda and Shimane University special English programs, as well as the writing tutor for the English Preparation for Graduate Studies program at MIIS. Writing instruction has been one of Ellie’s primary professional interests since earning a BA in Writing and Spanish at Pitzer College, where she worked for four years as a writing tutor in the Pitzer Writing Center.

Vincent Lauter

Vincent Lauter is a third-semester MATESOL candidate at MIIS and a veteran teacher of English to speakers of other languages. Before coming to MIIS, he earned a BA in English with an emphasis in writing from the University of San Francisco, worked at the San Francisco Bay Guardian newspaper, and then taught English as a foreign language for eight years in the Czech Republic. Writing instruction and tutoring for writers of various language backgrounds has long been Vincent’s primary focus, and he’s had the pleasure of teaching writing courses at many different levels both here and abroad.

Adrienne Matunas

Adrienne Matunas is a MATESOL candidate in the Peace Corps Master’s International program at MIIS.  She earned a B.A. in philosophy and religion at Middlebury College, where she worked as a writing tutor for three years and conducted research on tutoring outcomes at Middlebury’s Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research.  She also tutored calculus and astronomy, and taught English as a foreign language during a semester abroad in Italy.  This past summer, Adrienne worked as an ESL instructor for international students at Exploration Summer Programs.  Adrienne also has a special interest in writing poetry.  For the time being she is nervously awaiting her Peace Corps placement, where she hopes to teach English as an education volunteer beginning in the summer of 2014.

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Danny McCarthy was born and raised in the Monterey area. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Oregon in Linguistics with a minor in Business Administration. During his time as an undergraduate, Danny tutored all steps of the writing process for the College of Education. Additionally, he worked with ESL (English as a Second Language) learners on improving their spoken and written English. In his free time Danny enjoys playing basketball and baseball recreationally as well as sitting down to read a good book.

Margaret

Margaret Conant began working at the writing center last year.  She is working towards a degree in International Policy Studies with a focus on Human Security and Development and attempting to gain a career in either the human security or national security sector. Originally from Massachusetts, she received her bachelors degree in History from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2012. Her research interests include security studies, human rights, conflict resolution, and Islamic studies.

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Milk and Cookies at GWC

MilkandCookies

Stop by the GWC for milk and cookies from 9am-12pm this week!

Meet tutors, get your questions about the writing center answered and enjoy some yumminess!

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Now Open: The Graduate Writing Center

by Mike Cline at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikekline/

by Mike Cline at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikekline/

Tired of multi-tasking? Take your writing into your own hands this semester at the graduate writing center. We are now open to serve all of your writing and revision needs. Drop in from 9-12pm Monday through Friday to learn more, or make a free one-on-one appointment for 4-8pm Monday through Friday. Visit us at gwc.genbook.com to make your appointment today!

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Graduate Writing Center Offers Extended Hours Next Week!

To assist you with final papers, the Graduate Writing Center (GWC) is offering extended hours next week by appointment only. If you are interested in an appointment, please email writingcenter@miis.edu with the day and time you would like to come. Please offer 2-3 possible time slots. We will get back to you promptly to set a time.

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Come to the Fellowship Writing Workshops!

The Graduate Writing Center and the Center for Advising Services present a three-part workshop series designed to help students write competitive and creative fellowship essays. Workshops will be held in Casa Fuente 434 on Tuesdays, October 9th, 16th, and 30th. See you tomorrow at 12:15 sharp!

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Meet Our Tutors!

With the first week of tutoring behind us, the Graduate Writing Center would like to extend a welcome to all students by telling you a little about who we are…

 

Kimby Murakami (Mon/Wed 4-6)

Kimby Murakami is an MATESOL candidate at the Monterey Institute. She has taught Business English to adults and integrated language skills to university students in Istanbul, Turkey. This past summer, she was an assistant teacher in the EPGS academic reading and writing classes. This will be her first semester at the Graduate Writing Center.

Leslie Hayner (Tuesday 4-6)

Leslie has a BA in French and is currently in the third semester of her MATFL and TESOL Specialization at MIIS. She has taught high school French and worked in literacy education. Before enrolling at MIIS last year, Leslie worked at Monterey Peninsula College in the Reading Center as a tutor for students who needed to improve their reading and writing skills. She has also worked in finance and healthcare in the past.

John Jordan (Tues/Thurs 6-8)

I am a third-semester TESOL student here at MIIS. Before coming here, I have been lucky enough to live and teach at different places around the world. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar, teaching at a rural middle and high school in the dirty south of the country. After coming home and substitute teaching in the States, I was lucky enough to be one of the first teachers at the Asian University for Women, teaching grammar and presentation class. Two years ago, I taught English in Tunisia with a U.S. government organization and got to live through Tunisia’s revolution. This summer, I taught reading/writing and oral communications  with the ESL program here at MIIS. I always enjoyed reading (I think Steven King’s It is the best novel ever written), and my journalism major got me interested in writing. I am always looking for a good basketball game, and I have coached and refereed on three continents.

Sean Malvey (6-8 Mondays; 4-6 Thursdays)

Sean is a Human Security and Development student with a regional focus on Latin America. He has conducted research on transitional justice issues on-site in Chile as well as academic research for the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Most of his academic coursework has been devoted to migration economics, illicit markets, and small arms and light weapons. Prior to graduate school, Sean worked as a paralegal for a prominent immigration law firm in Vermont. He is a passionate supporter of the Boston Celtics and he loves teaching his international friends ridiculous English idiomatic expressions. Personal favorites include, “If you get lost, just follow your nose” and “Six of one, half dozen or the other.”

Jennifer Hickey (Friday 1-3)

Jennifer Hickey began working as a writing tutor during her undergraduate studies at the American University of Paris. She tutored students from all over the world on various topics from literature to international politics. Jennifer completed her MA degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at MIIS and worked at the Graduate Writing Center. Currently she is teaching in the Intensive English Program at MIIS.

 

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GWC Now Open!

It’s a new semester and a new series of writing assignments!

Make an appointment for the Graduate Writing Center using the online system at www.gwc.genbook.com

The Graduate Writing Center opened Monday, September 24th. You can find us on the west wing of the Simoneau house at 456 Van Buren Street:

HOURS:  Monday-Thursday 4pm-8pm and Friday 1-3.

We offer one-hour appointments (limited to one per student per week), but if there is an open slot that no one is using, you can just drop in—even if you have already had an appointment that week! The appointments last for 50 minutes.

More information: http://www.miis.edu/academics/resources/writingcenter

Prior to your session, be sure to send your paper to writingcenter@miis.edu and to your tutor directly.

You can make an appointment up to 14 days in advance at: www.gwc.genbook.com

Remember, appointments are limited to one per week.

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Cover Letter Workshop

Who: You

What: Cover Letter Workshop

Where: Second Floor of McCone in CACS

When: Friday, April 29 at 12pm

Bring: Your cover letter and job description

Come to the offices of CACS on the second floor of McCone for a hands-on cover letter workshop that will provide you with the tools to:

  • – Promote yourself appropriately without sounding arrogant
  • · – Use key words from job descriptions to maximize impact

Working with professional career advisors and writing tutors from the GWC, you will receive personalized feedback on your cover letter that will help attract potential employers.

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The Writing Process

Make an appointment online

Many of us share the unfortunate tendency of waiting until the last minute to write a paper. However, we should consider getting feedback on our documents from the beginning stages of writing until the finishing touches. The Graduate Writing Center is available to help–even at the brainstorming phase. Having trouble thinking of a counterargument for your point of view? Ask a tutor! Wondering how to organize your ideas? Visit the GWC.

We can help form the “idea blizzard,” arrange thoughts, and provide feedback on your drafts.

Come see us Monday-Thursday 4-8. We also offer a special  TESOL/TFL portfolio hour from 12-1 on Tuesday.

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Graduate Writing Center Open Feb 21st!

Make your appointment at the GWC today!

The Graduate Writing Center will open on February 21st. Our hours this semester are 4pm-8pm, Monday-Thursday. Everyone needs feedback on their writing! Come on by and we’ll be happy to see you.

You can make your appointment now at: http://www.gwc.genbook.com/bookings/slot/reservation/30106401?

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