Hi. I’m Mike.
I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, near Seattle. I grew up in this area and have lived here most of my life, except for some time in Germany. I’m a husband, a dad to two great kids (who are currently learning Spanish), a software engineer, a dog lover, a piano player, a mediocre but enthusiastic cook, and not a bad ping-pong player. Some of these things will probably become evident as you read through my writings.
What am I doing here and why?
Ever since I was in the ninth grade I have had a passion for foreign languages. My interest started with German. It was the only foreign language offered at my junior high school, and it sounded fun. Little did I know it would soon become a passion, and would direct the course of my life and lead to many great friends, some very memorable travel experiences, and a lifelong hobby. Over the last few years I have been focusing on Spanish, but have spent some time with French and am picking up an interest in Italian. Though my focus has been European languages, I am fascinated by all foreign languages and the innate knowledge and ability to communicate that all of us learn at such a young age.
For most of my life I have been focused on acquiring other languages, but recently I have learned how fortunate I am to have English as a native language. Through some friendships, I have seen the importance of English in peoples’ lives, both professionally and personally. I realize I have something to share that can be of value to others.
Am I a teacher?
Well, not really. I am not a teacher in any official capacity. I tutored some German and French in college, but never pursued a career or certification in teaching. Yet I think all of us have the ability to teach. As a native speaker who has been through the journey of learning other languages and also helping others learn English, I have become familiar with the things that trip people up, and love to help explain these difficult areas and do my best to help others avoid potholes along their way toward English proficiency.
How can I help you?
My hope is that through my journaling, I can help you expand your vocabulary, improve your pronunciation, and give you some insights into daily, ordinary life and some exposure to interesting tidbits of culture in the United States. My writing style is relaxed and friendly, which I like to think also matches my personality. I do place value on proper writing, and so I will try to point out times when I am straying into slang or an overly informal style.
I would love to hear from you with any feedback you might have, or any suggestions for content, or specific questions. I would love for you to consider this site as a fun, informal resource you can use to help take you to the next level in your English.