English with Katherine K.

I am a native Russian speaker, first generation American, who learned English and Russian simultaneously growing up. I have been extremely interested in the English language ever since I first started speaking it, and knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was five years old. As a result, I graduated from SUNY Geneseo with my Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature, with a double minor in Philosophy and Linguistics. After this, I went straight to graduate school at UC Berkeley, graduating in May 2020 with a Master's degree in Secondary Education, with a concentration in English. I just started my first English teaching job in Denison, TX, teaching English II and AP Literature. Other than teaching, I also play four instruments! I have been playing piano all of my life, then I picked up the clarinet, saxophone, and ukulele and have been playing all four ever since. I have been a part of music for forever; I have played in eleven pit orchestras, with musicals ranging from Spamalot to Fiddler on the Roof, and have performed in numerous piano recitals. Along with music, I have been a competitive swimmer for 15 years; I began swimming at age five, and swam at varsity level since seventh grade. Although I stopped swimming my freshman year of college, I continue swimming recreationally. My other hobbies include: reading (I love mystery!), playing my instruments, cooking, and going on hikes. I love exploring new places!