CB

course descriptions
& advising options
COLLEGE
APPLICATION
ESSAYS

The college application essay is possibly the most important essay youll
write. For students who arent trained in the American style and who often
arent aware of what makes a good essay according to Western
standards, the writing process is even more daunting. Writing the personal
statement is not about highlighting achievements, explaining why you want
to major in ______, or trying to appear unique.
The personal statement is your one opportunity to tell the admissions
committee who you are, to let them into your mind, heart, and soul. It is a
place where honesty gets you much further than impressive credentials, a
place where expressing yourself (who you really are) and doing it truthfully is
the only assignment. This is no easy task, probably the reason why so many
students miss the opportunity to make an impact with their essay.
This class, styled after the writing workshop concept, is intended to help
students through this process. Students will be guided through selecting a
topic, outlining, writing, and editing for style and form. Regular feedback
from the instructor on all of these things will help students regardless of
writing skills develop a creative and thoughtful essay. The personal
statement will not turn a no student into a yes student, but it definitely
has the capability of turning a maybe student into a yes! Or a no.
In addition to the personal statement on the Common Application, this
class will also briefly address the supplemental essay, the short-answer essays
on many applications, and a common scholarship essay.
Course length: 24 hours, divided into classes of 1.5 hours each or 2 hours,
as arranged for individual cases.

SAT WRITING &
READING

The SAT is more than just a test of English, but also a test of logic and abilities
under pressure. It is these things that trip up many students, and it is because
of these that intensive practice brings about the best result. Test prep is
about two things: study methods, detailed feedback from a qualified and
experienced instructor, and section-specific training.
The Critical Reading section is often the most challenging for Vietnamese
students; it is lengthy in nature and involves complex vocabulary. With
enough preparation and test-taking strategies, however, this can be
overcome. The Writing multiple-choice questions are simpler for students with
advanced English, but practice will mean increased test-taking speeds
(without forfeiting accuracy), giving students more time to focus on any
difficult questions. There are specific question types that commonly cause
problems, and during this course students will learn to identify and handle
them. Lastly, the essay portion of the SAT: one of the major causes of
concern for non-native speakers of English. Writing a strong SAT essay
involves time management, critical thinking, strong writing skills, and
organization. Students must learn to minimize grammar errors, deftly use
complex vocabulary, and incorporate secondary resources as well as their
own experiences. Its a lot to manage, and practice brings expertise.
Course length: 15 - 20 hours, divided into classes of 1.5 hours or 2 hours
each, depending on entrance score and desired result.
TOEFL
SPEAKING &
WRITING

The TOEFL speaking and writing sections are often a challenge not because
of the level of English required for a successful score but because of the
integrated nature of the test and the time constraints. This short-course will
cover test taking strategies, computer-based practice simulating the actual
test environment, extensive speaking and writing practice, feedback in class
and in more detail via email, and formatting/organizing the speaking and
writing independent components.
Course length: 15 - 20 hours, divided into classes of 1.5 hours or 2 hours
each, depending on entrance score and desired result.
CREATIVE
WRITING

Regardless of the program or major, success in college and beyond requires
an ability to think creatively and critically. Success in your career, and in life
no matter where you live requires these things as well. Despite this, much of
what we learn in high school is information and skill based, with few high
schools prioritizing creativity, innovation, and critical thinking.
This course seeks to increase the student understanding of creativity, to
improve their creative problem-solving skills and to enhance their ability to
apply this creativity to other areas of their life. Students participate in
activities designed to help develop their own creativity, and discuss the
creative process from various theoretical perspectives. Short readings are on
relevant topics, such topics as creative individuals, will be assigned and
provided. Discussion with and about artists, scientists and others particularly
involved in the creative process will the many ways in which creativity can
be nurtured.
This course aims to foster creative and critical thought by focusing and
reflecting on the creative writing process. Throughout the course, students
will learn to build the various components of a creative piece: character,
plot, imagery, and narrative viewpoint.
Course length: 20 hours, divided into classes of 2 hours each.

COLLEGE
WRITING

There are many different kinds of essays that youll write in college, whether
youve chosen a major or not. This is especially true of students attending a
school with a liberal arts curriculum, where you take a number of classes
outside your interest area and comfort zone. This class is intended to help
students prep for a different academic culture and what is often a writing-
heavy undergraduate experience. I will introduce you to the practices and
conventions of college-level writing in the US, and the critical thinking that
should accompany it. Writing has many purposes, and writing in college is
much the same. We write to communicate with others, to convince them
that our position is a valid one, to draw connections between pieces of
data. But writing also helps us discover new things; the process of
researching, writing, and editing is a reflective process as well.
Learning to write well requires writing a lot. It is a craft, a skill, and developing
it takes time and lots of feedback. That means that this class is relatively
work-intensive for both of us. We will write response papers, critical analysis
essays, research papers, short stories, and several other forms commonly
assigned in college. Students will have practice citing, writing annotated
outlines, bibliographies and works cited, matching style guides. My goal for
the course is that students leave it more comfortable and effective writers
than they were at the start. With these tools, they will be able to focus on the
content of classes, rather than the how to requirements!
Course length: 20 hours, divided into classes of 2 hours each.

CV
RESUM
LETTERS OF REC
WORKSHOP

A well written and designed cv or rsum is crucial, as it is the first
impression in print form. In this workshop students will learn the fundamentals
of building a curriculum vitae (cv) or rsum, the rules and expectations of
these items with an American audience, and then turn their own
background and experiences into a polished and professional example.
Each student will create one that reflects their own interests and aesthetic;
dozens of samples from my personal files and the internet can serve as
inspiration.
The language of Letters of Recommendation is not an easy one to master,
and involves walking a line between confidence and bragging while writing
in the third person. College Admissions committees look for much more than
a list of the students admirable skills, and this workshop teaches students
how to achieve a LOR that is error free and more importantly
memorable.
Workshop length: 4 hours, divided into increments to suit the individual
needs of the student.

INTERVIEW
PREP
WORKSHOP

Whether applying for boarding school, high school, college, or graduate
school, a successful interview can make or break an application. This
workshop focuses on the specific types of questions typical for your
application, as they differ greatly between these. Students will have daily
mock interviews, with detailed feedback and coaching on everything from
body language, hand shakes, eye contact, setting up a digital (long
distance) interview, relevant courtesies, and the underlying meaning of
common questions. The purpose is to remove much of the anxiety and fear
that can cripple an interviewee, and to help the student know what to
highlight and how much to speak.
Workshop length: 6 hours, divided into increments to suit the individual
needs of the student.

ADVISING
(HOURLY)
For use in regards to college planning, school selection, essay brainstorming,
interview prep, Letters of Recommendation, CV/resum assistance.
Sometimes hour-by-hour is the easiest. These are scheduled at your
convenience, can usually be arranged last minute (less than 24 hour notice)
at a time and location that is most convenient for you.