Certified teacher|Business English|IELTS Cambridge exam prep

Hi there, it's Dana! I live in a small, but charming Italian town called Lodi, though I am originally from the Philippines. I've been teaching ESL for 18 years now, specializing in Business English (presentations, meetings, job interviews, etc.) and school exam and language certification exam prep. I believe that we're all just one fun conversation away from learning a new language. I don't mean that you can master a language in one sitting/conversation; rather, having a good conversation may just spark your interest in passionately learning a new language. Safe space, fluency first, and global comprehensibility: I intentionally try to cultivate a learning environment where my students can feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment. I believe that when they feel at ease, they feel more empowered to speak their minds. Being able to speak up while practicing using the target language is my main priority in every session. Also, I give more importance to fluency and global comprehensibility. Nobody shouldn't be held back by their fear of making grammar mistakes. When I do give corrections, I elicit answers from my students. In my free time, I enjoy hiking in the mountains and treating myself to home-cooked meals in a mountain refuge. I love walking, cooking, and nature! I also like discovering new towns/cities, especially the quaint ones. I feel a sense of freedom, authenticity, and adventure whenever I explore unknown places.