About
Hi, I´m Maria Cecilia Avila, most people call me Cecy. I live on a lovely piece of land in the heart of the wine country in central Chile. Stewarding the land, tending to my hens, and cuddling with my... two cats take up half my time, the other half is dedicated to working with folks who want to improve their English skills.
I use a student-centered, active learning approach to teaching. Your needs and language abilities influence the lesson and guide me to identify and achieve your linguistic potential.
Working with motivated, intelligent people inspires and motivates me too! I look forward to meeting and working with people from all walks of life, and helping you to reach your English language goals!read more
Experience
Freelance
Freelance
Mar 2006 - present
• Designed and taught (Science) Teacher Training Course for Consorcio Clavijero, in preparation for ... the Texas Educational Skills and Knowledge Standards, Xalapa, Veracruz, México 2009
• Online tutor, mostly with Korean students of all ages, 2007-2010read more
Assistant professor
Universidad Catholica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
Mar 2012 - Mar 2024
• Post-graduate Academic Writing for Research Purposes year-long course
• Undergraduate Academic Wri... ting at all levels
• Grammar (beginning and advanced)
• General English (pre-intermediate to advanced)
• Introduction to Linguistics
• Cambridge Prep classesread more
English Language Fellow Program
U.S. Department of State
Sep 2010 - Jan 2012
• Taught pre-service teachers Academic Writing and Reading
• Taught pre-service teachers Psycho-Soci... o Linguistics
• Facilitated workshops with in-service teachers to develop a first-level English textbook
• Conducted weekend writing workshops for pre-service teachers
• Motivated in-service teachers to present at VenTESOL National Conference
• Conducted preliminary interviews for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State -Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado
• Wrote and conducted workshops for in-service teachers in Strategies for Teaching Technical Reading to teachers of medical/engineering studentsread more