Lesson Details
ESL
- Levels Taught:
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Wolfgang teaches
About
- Teaches students:
- Ages 9+ and special needs
- Teaching since:
- 1991
I spent two decades of my professional life teaching English in Germany, authoring and co-authoring textbooks for the English classroom.
During my stay in the US, I had the opportunity to develop curricula for teaching German in public schools as well as private schools and wrote articles in the field of German literature. Undoubtedly, my academic background (MA in German and English and a Ph.D. in the field of education) helps me to provide solid work for my students.
What is my approach? First of all, I listen carefully, very carefully. I believe it is important for an excellent job to know precisely what my client wants to accomplish. Understanding this is the prerequisite to give good advice, guidance and then, of course, a plan, a kind of strategy to follow in order to reach these goals.
There is no dogma; there is only one main criterion: success.
Experience
Instructor
Aug 2015 - PresentTeaching German I and German II to students
Instructor of English as a Second Language
Sep 1992 - Aug 2014Teaching courses of English as a Second Language at all levels
Teacher of German, English, and English as Second Language
Aug 1991 - Jun 2014Teaching 9th - 12th-grade high school students German 1 - 3, English all levels, ESL all levels.
English Language Arts Specialist at a college preparatory magnet high school
Mar 1975 - Jul 1991English Language Arts Specialist with following assignments:
Developing instructional material for the English classroom, grades 3 - 12 (BA level); research in the field of linguistics; authoring and co-authoring of textbooks of English for the public school system.
Education
Ph.D. in Education
Sep 1996 - Aug 1998MA German
Jul 1994 - Aug 1996MA English/ESL/EFL
Sep 1964 - Jun 1969Languages
English (MA)
French
German (native speaker; MA)
Russian
Spanish
Certifications
English as a Second Language (grades 6 - 12)
Jun 1996Lifelong validity to teach English as a Second Language
Secondary German (Grades 6 - 12)
Jul 1994Lifelong validity to teach German
English (grades 6 - 12)
Mar 1994Lifelong validity to teach English
Lehrbefähigung Klassen 3 - 13 (Teaching License for grades 3 - 13)
Jun 1991This is a Teacher Certification issued by the German government, represented by the Federal State of Berlin.
Awards
Oberstudienrat (Senior Study Counsel)
May 1989Studienrat (Study Counsel)
Jun 1986Affiliations
American Philosophical Association
Sep 1996The American Philosophical Association promotes the discipline and profession of philosophy, both within the academy and in the public arena. The APA supports the professional development of philosophers at all levels and works to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the value of philosophical inquiry.
+ Read MoreTESOL International Association
Sep 1993TESOL International Association’s mission is to advance professional expertise in English language teaching and learning for speakers of other languages worldwide.
Photos & Videos
14 Reviews
Write a ReviewWolfgang helped me believe in my confidence to reengage in learning German after 20 years wothout lessons or practice. He is thorough, patient and encouraging. I look forward to future lessons
Most highly recommended! I found Wolfgang to be an excellent German instructor for me. As a mature (50+) professional I was looking for a native German with perfect mastery of English and impeccable teaching credentials. Wolfgang fit that description perfectly. He tailored the lessons to my needs and made them fun. Along with the excellent language lessons, I really enjoyed his stories about life in Germany, and especially his hometown of Berlin. Thanks to Wolfgang I am much farther along my journey of learning to speak German.
+ Read MoreGreat first lesson. Wolfgang made me feel very comfortable and I am convinced will be able to take me to the next level in my journey to learn the German language.
Wolfgang was top notch. He understood and catered to both my learning needs and my chaotic schedule. His knowledge of the German language and its history only exists from a native speaker, and his skill with instruction only comes from decades of experience. Lessons were always informative and fun!
+ Read MoreMy 12 year old son really enjoys his lessons with Wolfgang and looks forward to them every week. He doesn't need reminding or encouraging to study because he's so excited about learning the language. Wolfgang makes it fun!
Wolfgang is an excellent instructor with an enthusiasm for teaching and the language. Highly recommend him as an instructor!
Wolfgang is extremely knowledgeable and intelligent. He has an effective teaching style and will happily clarify questions along the way. He has done a great job assessing my current ability and guiding me forward towards accurate application of the German language. He is reliable and offers praise and encouragement consistently. I have truly enjoyed my German lessons with Wolfgang and appreciate his warmth, patience and expertise!
+ Read MoreWolfgang did a great job assessing my prior knowledge of German and gave clear instruction on his objectives. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is patient and knowledgeable. So far so good!
We have been working with Wolfgang for about five weeks now. He is always very well-prepared for each lesson, with a clear goal in mind. He does a great job of adding humor to keep my nine year old son engaged in this new and not always easy language! I chose Wolfgang because German is his mother-tongue and he has extensive teaching experience with a range of ages. I have not been disappointed- he pays careful attention to cultivating accent, which is important and the best part of having a native speaker for a teacher.
+ Read MoreMr. Soldan is a fantastic teacher and tutor. He has helped so much and I would recommend him to anyone looking to learn German online.
Really good instructor.
In my opinion, Herr Professor Soldan is an outstanding teacher. Thank you.
If you are looking for a caring, friendly and very experienced learning facilitator in the German language and culture, then you need look no further than Wolfgang Soldan. Mr. Soldan was my instructor in a conversational German class at the former UTB Language Institute in Brownsville. I liked him as a teacher so much that I later sought him out for additional private lessons, which he provided to me in his home at a very reasonable price. I was very impressed with Mr. Soldan in both situations. Mr. Soldan was always extremely well prepared. He challenged me with a variety of interesting and fun learning activities. He tailored the lessons to my level of experience. He was even reasonably available for additional assistance outside of our arranged meetings. With a lifelong passion for teaching and the arts, Mr. Soldan has also accumulated a wealth of knowledge about additional learning resources to supplement your individual experience. Mr. Soldan built on my existing level of German and left me with a stronger foundation as well as desire to continue my studies. Mr. Soldan has my highest recommendation to provide you with a superior learning experience that will be well worth your time and money. You will be in good hands with Mr. Soldan. Contact him now!
+ Read MoreWolfgang is a wonderful, tutor, teacher and mentor. For quite awhile I have wanted to learn to speak German. Wolfgang has and continues to guide me toward my goal.
Wolfgang is very patient, flexible and understanding. He has adapted his lessons to best fit my way of learning. This is no simple task in itself. But Wolfgang has found a method of teaching that goes well beyond words and phrases. It strengthens my understanding of the culture. This is critical to successfully comprehending any language.
Wolfgang is a true Linguist. His expertise is far-reaching, not just in syntax or morphology, but in the history from which the language is born. This knowledge is indispensable and cannot be found elsewhere.