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Patient and Motivating Language and Writing Expert - MAs, PhDs
Alani H.

5.0 (375 ratings)

1,132 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $125
Contact Alani
Alani H.'s Photo

Patient and Motivating Language and Writing Expert - MAs, PhDs
Patient and Motivating Language and Writing Expert - MAs, PhDs
Alani H.

5.0 (375 ratings)

1,132 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
5.0 (375 ratings)

1,132 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

About Alani

Bio

Hello!

I am an extremely motivated, compassionate, and very organized language instructor and tutor, with multiple specialized degrees, and a passion for languages, literature, and learning.

As an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr College, I triple majored in French, Spanish, and Italian. I received honors, and wrote honors theses in each major. I hold graduate degrees in all three languages as well--I have an MA in French, an MA in Italian, and an MA in Spanish.

I also hold a joint PhD from UC...

Hello!

I am an extremely motivated, compassionate, and very organized language instructor and tutor, with multiple specialized degrees, and a passion for languages, literature, and learning.

As an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr College, I triple majored in French, Spanish, and Italian. I received honors, and wrote honors theses in each major. I hold graduate degrees in all three languages as well--I have an MA in French, an MA in Italian, and an MA in Spanish.

I also hold a joint PhD from UC Berkeley in Romance Languages and Literature and Medieval Studies / History, and I have a second doctorate in Italian and Spanish from Middlebury college.

In addition to the extensive studies I have done in the US, and I have received merit scholarships for my research and academic awards to attend schools and universities in France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, which solidified my fluency in these languages years ago.

In addition, I have over fifteen years of experience teaching and tutoring: Foreign Languages, Literature, Writing and Composition, Editing, and English at the high school and college level, as well as a demonstrated history of successful teaching and instruction. I have received numerous teaching awards from Bryn Mawr College and the University of California, Berkeley and flawless student evaluations. At Bryn Mawr, while I was still an undergrad myself, I taught French and Spanish, and tutored Italian, English, History, Latin, and the sciences. At UC Berkeley, I have taught in the departments of : Italian Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, College Writing / English, and Gender & Women's Studies.

I frequently tutor GREs, SAT/ACT prep, as well as AP literature, AP English, and AP foreign languages, for I have a talent for rendering complex issues comprehensible to my students. I have also worked as a translator and editor for many years. I pride myself on being able to motivate others in an academic environment, garnering enthusiasm and interest.

I am reliable, meticulous, and patient, with the ability to bri

Read more

Education

Bryn Mawr College
Triple Major- French, Italian, Spanish
Bryn Mawr (MA French); Middlebury (MA Italian); Middlebury (MA Spanish)
Masters
University of California, Berkeley (PhD); Middlebury College (DML)
PhD

Policies

Schedule

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Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Approved Subjects

Art

Art History

Corporate Training

French,

French

I began tutoring French in high school and have continued to teach and study French at the college and graduate levels. I completed a BA in French (Language and Literature) from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot and received highest honors in the major. I also taught two years of Intensive Elementary French (levels I and II)at Bryn Mawr. As part of my MA in French, I studied at various universities in Paris, where I worked primarily in Philosophy and Gender and Women's studies. My Master's thesis discussed the metaphor of cannibalism and violence in Montaigne, Laclos, Duras, and Césaire. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and a chapter of my dissertation discusses Medieval and Early Modern French literature (primarily through medieval authors, and Rabelais, Montaigne, and Descartes).
Hebrew,

Hebrew

***YIDDISH*** I am qualified to tutor beginning and intermediate levels of Yiddish (not Hebrew). I have taken Yiddish university courses and am adept at reading and translating Yiddish texts. I have also continued to pursue Yiddish through self-study. I have completed Ariel Weinreich's College Yiddish program; Rebecca Margolis's Basic Yiddish; Sheva Zucker's course program (all levels); Assimil's French-Yiddish study course, and many others.
Italian,

Italian

I began tutoring Italian in college and I have continued to teach all levels of Italian. I have continued to study Italian at the graduate level as well. After completing a BA in Italian (Language and Literature) at Bryn Mawr College, where I wrote an honor's thesis on Dante and Medieval Religious and Political Thought, I went on to complete an MA in Italian at Middlebury College. I wrote an award-winning master's thesis on Medieval and Renaissance Italian and French poetry, an I began pursuing doctoral work on Italian theater. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and the Italian chapter of my dissertation discusses the famous epic poets Ariosto and Tasso, as well as three important figures in Italian political and humanistic inquiry: Petrarch, Dante, and Machiavelli.
Spanish,

Spanish

I began tutoring Spanish in college, and I have continued to tutor and teach Spanish at the doctoral level. I completed a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Golden Age theater, and received highest honors in the major. I also began teaching undergraduate Spanish classes during my time at Bryn Mawr. I recently received an MA in Spanish Literature from Middlebury College, where my concentration was on 19th and 20th century Latin American and Caribbean literature. I also hold a PhD in Romance Languages from UC Berkeley. The Spanish chapter of my dissertation deals with Cervantes' Don Quijote, as well as the seminal works of other Spanish Medieval and Renaissance authors. I am currently writing a manuscript on Cervantes and Pedro Calderon de la Barca, as well as literary translations from Spanish to English and other Romance languages.
ESL/ESOL, Grammar, Portuguese, Proofreading

Elementary Education

Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have a pedagogical concentration in study skills, ranging from acquiring vocabulary to outlining and structuring written work and improving organizational methods. I have lectured nationally and internationally on study skills and I also have 10+ years of experience teaching and private tutoring that have also been geared towards study skills and study habits.
Elementary Math, Elementary Science, Grammar, Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary

English

ACT English, ACT Reading, English, ESL/ESOL, Grammar, Literature, Proofreading, Reading, SAT Reading, SAT Writing, Spelling, TOEFL, Vocabulary, Writing

History

Classics,

Classics

With a college background in classics and liberal arts, I continue to incorporate the classics in my daily studies. Both my PhD coursework and my dissertation are centered around the classics. I have taught classical literature, history, and philosophy for many years at both the high school and college level. I am proficient in reading and writing classical and Medieval Latin, and I have a background in Ancient Greek. I believe that an appreciation for the classics is an absolutely integral part of a sound education!
Music History,

Music History

As a violinist, and violist for more than twenty years, I have extensive experience with Music and Music History. I have taken numerous courses in the subject, and am comfortable with all periods of Music History. In particular, in my research and coursework, I have focused on opera, from the earliest compositions to our day, with an emphasis on the Italian, French, German, English, American, and Spanish traditions.
Art History, European History, World History

Homeschool

French,

French

I began tutoring French in high school and have continued to teach and study French at the college and graduate levels. I completed a BA in French (Language and Literature) from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot and received highest honors in the major. I also taught two years of Intensive Elementary French (levels I and II)at Bryn Mawr. As part of my MA in French, I studied at various universities in Paris, where I worked primarily in Philosophy and Gender and Women's studies. My Master's thesis discussed the metaphor of cannibalism and violence in Montaigne, Laclos, Duras, and Césaire. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and a chapter of my dissertation discusses Medieval and Early Modern French literature (primarily through medieval authors, and Rabelais, Montaigne, and Descartes).
Spanish,

Spanish

I began tutoring Spanish in college, and I have continued to tutor and teach Spanish at the doctoral level. I completed a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Golden Age theater, and received highest honors in the major. I also began teaching undergraduate Spanish classes during my time at Bryn Mawr. I recently received an MA in Spanish Literature from Middlebury College, where my concentration was on 19th and 20th century Latin American and Caribbean literature. I also hold a PhD in Romance Languages from UC Berkeley. The Spanish chapter of my dissertation deals with Cervantes' Don Quijote, as well as the seminal works of other Spanish Medieval and Renaissance authors. I am currently writing a manuscript on Cervantes and Pedro Calderon de la Barca, as well as literary translations from Spanish to English and other Romance languages.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have a pedagogical concentration in study skills, ranging from acquiring vocabulary to outlining and structuring written work and improving organizational methods. I have lectured nationally and internationally on study skills and I also have 10+ years of experience teaching and private tutoring that have also been geared towards study skills and study habits.
English, ESL/ESOL, Reading, SAT Reading, Spelling, Writing

Language

French,

French

I began tutoring French in high school and have continued to teach and study French at the college and graduate levels. I completed a BA in French (Language and Literature) from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot and received highest honors in the major. I also taught two years of Intensive Elementary French (levels I and II)at Bryn Mawr. As part of my MA in French, I studied at various universities in Paris, where I worked primarily in Philosophy and Gender and Women's studies. My Master's thesis discussed the metaphor of cannibalism and violence in Montaigne, Laclos, Duras, and Césaire. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and a chapter of my dissertation discusses Medieval and Early Modern French literature (primarily through medieval authors, and Rabelais, Montaigne, and Descartes).
Hebrew,

Hebrew

***YIDDISH*** I am qualified to tutor beginning and intermediate levels of Yiddish (not Hebrew). I have taken Yiddish university courses and am adept at reading and translating Yiddish texts. I have also continued to pursue Yiddish through self-study. I have completed Ariel Weinreich's College Yiddish program; Rebecca Margolis's Basic Yiddish; Sheva Zucker's course program (all levels); Assimil's French-Yiddish study course, and many others.
Italian,

Italian

I began tutoring Italian in college and I have continued to teach all levels of Italian. I have continued to study Italian at the graduate level as well. After completing a BA in Italian (Language and Literature) at Bryn Mawr College, where I wrote an honor's thesis on Dante and Medieval Religious and Political Thought, I went on to complete an MA in Italian at Middlebury College. I wrote an award-winning master's thesis on Medieval and Renaissance Italian and French poetry, an I began pursuing doctoral work on Italian theater. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and the Italian chapter of my dissertation discusses the famous epic poets Ariosto and Tasso, as well as three important figures in Italian political and humanistic inquiry: Petrarch, Dante, and Machiavelli.
Spanish,

Spanish

I began tutoring Spanish in college, and I have continued to tutor and teach Spanish at the doctoral level. I completed a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Golden Age theater, and received highest honors in the major. I also began teaching undergraduate Spanish classes during my time at Bryn Mawr. I recently received an MA in Spanish Literature from Middlebury College, where my concentration was on 19th and 20th century Latin American and Caribbean literature. I also hold a PhD in Romance Languages from UC Berkeley. The Spanish chapter of my dissertation deals with Cervantes' Don Quijote, as well as the seminal works of other Spanish Medieval and Renaissance authors. I am currently writing a manuscript on Cervantes and Pedro Calderon de la Barca, as well as literary translations from Spanish to English and other Romance languages.
ESL/ESOL, Portuguese, TOEFL

Most Popular

French,

French

I began tutoring French in high school and have continued to teach and study French at the college and graduate levels. I completed a BA in French (Language and Literature) from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot and received highest honors in the major. I also taught two years of Intensive Elementary French (levels I and II)at Bryn Mawr. As part of my MA in French, I studied at various universities in Paris, where I worked primarily in Philosophy and Gender and Women's studies. My Master's thesis discussed the metaphor of cannibalism and violence in Montaigne, Laclos, Duras, and Césaire. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and a chapter of my dissertation discusses Medieval and Early Modern French literature (primarily through medieval authors, and Rabelais, Montaigne, and Descartes).
Spanish,

Spanish

I began tutoring Spanish in college, and I have continued to tutor and teach Spanish at the doctoral level. I completed a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Golden Age theater, and received highest honors in the major. I also began teaching undergraduate Spanish classes during my time at Bryn Mawr. I recently received an MA in Spanish Literature from Middlebury College, where my concentration was on 19th and 20th century Latin American and Caribbean literature. I also hold a PhD in Romance Languages from UC Berkeley. The Spanish chapter of my dissertation deals with Cervantes' Don Quijote, as well as the seminal works of other Spanish Medieval and Renaissance authors. I am currently writing a manuscript on Cervantes and Pedro Calderon de la Barca, as well as literary translations from Spanish to English and other Romance languages.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have a pedagogical concentration in study skills, ranging from acquiring vocabulary to outlining and structuring written work and improving organizational methods. I have lectured nationally and internationally on study skills and I also have 10+ years of experience teaching and private tutoring that have also been geared towards study skills and study habits.
English, ESL/ESOL, Reading, Writing

Music

Music History

Music History

As a violinist, and violist for more than twenty years, I have extensive experience with Music and Music History. I have taken numerous courses in the subject, and am comfortable with all periods of Music History. In particular, in my research and coursework, I have focused on opera, from the earliest compositions to our day, with an emphasis on the Italian, French, German, English, American, and Spanish traditions.

Other

College Counseling,

College Counseling

I have served as a volunteer college admissions representative for my alma mater for many years, and I have a clear idea of what colleges are looking for. I have also served on numerous boards geared towards facilitating students' academic achievement, and I have worked as a mentor for students applying for college and college students applying for graduate school for many years. I have assisted students with finding the college(s) that best suit(s) them; I have helped them apply to college; and I have worked with many students on their application essays and personal statements. All of the students with whom I have worked have had great success getting into the colleges of their choice.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have a pedagogical concentration in study skills, ranging from acquiring vocabulary to outlining and structuring written work and improving organizational methods. I have lectured nationally and internationally on study skills and I also have 10+ years of experience teaching and private tutoring that have also been geared towards study skills and study habits.
ESL/ESOL

Science

Psychology

Special Needs

Study Skills

Study Skills

I have a pedagogical concentration in study skills, ranging from acquiring vocabulary to outlining and structuring written work and improving organizational methods. I have lectured nationally and internationally on study skills and I also have 10+ years of experience teaching and private tutoring that have also been geared towards study skills and study habits.

Sports/Recreation

Volleyball

Volleyball

I played varsity volleyball in high school and in college, and coached students who were on a team composed of 7th-9th graders. I am experienced with indoor and beach volleyball.

Summer

French,

French

I began tutoring French in high school and have continued to teach and study French at the college and graduate levels. I completed a BA in French (Language and Literature) from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot and received highest honors in the major. I also taught two years of Intensive Elementary French (levels I and II)at Bryn Mawr. As part of my MA in French, I studied at various universities in Paris, where I worked primarily in Philosophy and Gender and Women's studies. My Master's thesis discussed the metaphor of cannibalism and violence in Montaigne, Laclos, Duras, and Césaire. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and a chapter of my dissertation discusses Medieval and Early Modern French literature (primarily through medieval authors, and Rabelais, Montaigne, and Descartes).
Italian,

Italian

I began tutoring Italian in college and I have continued to teach all levels of Italian. I have continued to study Italian at the graduate level as well. After completing a BA in Italian (Language and Literature) at Bryn Mawr College, where I wrote an honor's thesis on Dante and Medieval Religious and Political Thought, I went on to complete an MA in Italian at Middlebury College. I wrote an award-winning master's thesis on Medieval and Renaissance Italian and French poetry, an I began pursuing doctoral work on Italian theater. I recently completed a PhD in Romance Languages, and the Italian chapter of my dissertation discusses the famous epic poets Ariosto and Tasso, as well as three important figures in Italian political and humanistic inquiry: Petrarch, Dante, and Machiavelli.
Spanish,

Spanish

I began tutoring Spanish in college, and I have continued to tutor and teach Spanish at the doctoral level. I completed a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Bryn Mawr College. I wrote an honor's thesis on Golden Age theater, and received highest honors in the major. I also began teaching undergraduate Spanish classes during my time at Bryn Mawr. I recently received an MA in Spanish Literature from Middlebury College, where my concentration was on 19th and 20th century Latin American and Caribbean literature. I also hold a PhD in Romance Languages from UC Berkeley. The Spanish chapter of my dissertation deals with Cervantes' Don Quijote, as well as the seminal works of other Spanish Medieval and Renaissance authors. I am currently writing a manuscript on Cervantes and Pedro Calderon de la Barca, as well as literary translations from Spanish to English and other Romance languages.
Study Skills,

Study Skills

I have a pedagogical concentration in study skills, ranging from acquiring vocabulary to outlining and structuring written work and improving organizational methods. I have lectured nationally and internationally on study skills and I also have 10+ years of experience teaching and private tutoring that have also been geared towards study skills and study habits.
ESL/ESOL, Reading, Writing

Test Preparation

College Counseling,

College Counseling

I have served as a volunteer college admissions representative for my alma mater for many years, and I have a clear idea of what colleges are looking for. I have also served on numerous boards geared towards facilitating students' academic achievement, and I have worked as a mentor for students applying for college and college students applying for graduate school for many years. I have assisted students with finding the college(s) that best suit(s) them; I have helped them apply to college; and I have worked with many students on their application essays and personal statements. All of the students with whom I have worked have had great success getting into the colleges of their choice.
ACT English, ACT Reading, PSAT, SAT Reading, SAT Writing, SSAT, TOEFL

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (375 ratings)
5 star
(372)
4 star
(3)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Perfection

Alani is pure perfection when teaching/tutoring. In less than 10 minutes she had me understanding a concept I could not master. She is pleasant, knowledgeable, and has an exceptional way with languages and people. If you want the best she is the person to chose. I am ready for another session with her.

Juanita, 3 lessons with Alani

Fantastic

Alani has made such a difference. My son is taking AP Spanish 5 but has been so uncomfortable speaking conversationally and just 4 sessions with Alani has made a huge difference! We're so glad we found her and will definitely continue with the sessions. We expect that this will be a huge help going into AP exams in the spring.

Suzanne, 10 lessons with Alani

Kind wonderful motivating teacher

She is always so patient and helpful. Im so glad I decided to learn Spanish. It's always fun with Alani. Thank you!

Hashima, 44 lessons with Alani

Amazing Spanish tutor

She's the best! What more do you need to know? My daughter adores her. She conscientious and caring, thorough and intelligent.

AYELET, 43 lessons with Alani

Excellent Tutor!!

Alani tutored my 14 year old daughter throughout high school Spanish 3, and contributed significantly to her understanding of the material and successful completion of the course with an A and B+. Alani's combination of patience, kindness, knowledge, and tutoring style made her feel comfortable quickly. This was important because my daughter can be hard on herself, but she felt much more confident in this very difficult class with the support Alani gave her. I highly recommend Alani for Spanish tutoring, and tutoring in general, as she was so effective with our freshman daughter. Worth every minute.

Lori, 18 lessons with Alani

Best tutor you could get

Alina helped edit and proofread my high school daughter's English essay. She provided superb feedback in essay organization, development, word choice, audience awareness, and writing mechanics. She also wrote very detailed explanations which are super helpful for learning. She has a great sense of language and tone that greatly helped polish my daughter's essay. And at the end of her edit, Alani summarized her overall thoughts about my daughter's strengths and weaknesses, and wrote very encouraging notes to her. These notes were very motivating and provided much needed comfort to a stressed out high school student. I am very satisfied with Alani and will highly recommend her to everyone!

Yiwei, 3 lessons with Alani

Alani is a awesome tutor

Alani is the best writing tutor I ever have. She gave me a lot of helpful feedbacks on my essays. She is very patient and really nice. She helped me with my application for NYU and Purdue University.

Xinyi, 5 lessons with Alani

Thorough, knowledgeable, readily available

Alani assisted my son with comprehensive editing on his analytical British Literature essay. Her broad knowledge base of Medieval writing made her the perfect choice for a tutor. She incorporated positive comments on sections he had done well on with pointed questions requiring deeper thought on areas in which he was weak. Once his corrections were done, he commented on how helpful her guidance was during this daunting project. His finished paper was much stronger and more cohesive. We'll definitely utilize her in the future.

Cheryl, 3 lessons with Alani

Amazing Tutor!

Alani is the best tutor that my daughter has ever had. She has been awesome with regards to reviewing essays and providing suggestions for improvement (content, structure, grammar, punctuation, etc.) Not only does Alani provide very thorough and extremely helpful feedback, she responds very quickly to requests. She has also been great at providing very nice words of encouragement to my daughter. Alani is worth every dollar!

Tenley, 8 lessons with Alani

Good online lesson

I am working on last paper with her for my Spanish literature class. I have been learning Spanish for 1.5 years, and I have never taken any literature class before. I don't know how to construct a good professional literature analysis essay. Alani taught me a lot of useful techniques and gave me a lot of professional comments to better my essay. I am glad that she assisted me, and I am willing to work with her again. Highly recommended tutor!

Sam, 4 lessons with Alani
Hourly Rate: $125
Contact Alani