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Category Archives: Video
Being a Community Tutor in English on iTalki
Update: Summer 2025
I’ll keep the 04/14/21 post below for historical purposes, but I do need to update the information since my situation has changed. If you’re interested in learning English through conversation, please contact me via iTalki or in the comment form below. Thank you.
Oh, one more thing! In the original post I made reference to being the “luckiest person on my cul-de-sac.” Well that changed too! We no longer live on a cul-de-sac.” We moved from Merced, a small city in California’s Central Valley to the countryside in Southeast Ohio, less than 10 miles from Athens, OH. So, let’s just say that nowadays I’m the luckiest guy in my neck of the woods!
Update: 07/28/25
Click on video to experience the digital transformation.
Since late February 2021 I’ve been a Community Teacher on an online platform called iTalki, a Chinese company headquartered in Shanghai. You can visit my profile page by clicking on the following link: [CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY iTALKI PROFILE PAGE]
To date (4/14/21) I’ve completed around 75 online lessons with approximately 35 students. It’s conversation-based learning, so I target students who can already speak English at intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency. Each “lesson” is about an hour. I currently charge $10 per lesson, although I may increase that once I reach 100 completed lessons. Some students purchase packages of 5 lessons at a slight discount.
The conversation topics are completely open ended. Occasionally, I pause the dialogue to provide feedback on pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and expressive, interactive style. So far I’ve had students from Russia, Estonia, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Peru, China, and the list is growing. It’s a remarkably eye-opening and rewarding experience.
If you know anyone who might benefit from such a learning experience, please help them book their first iTalki lesson with me or any number of other qualified teachers. Thank you.
By the way, did I mention that I’m often blown away by folks who use our conversations as an opportunity teach this old dog new tricks? Yes, it happens; and that makes me the luckiest person on my cul-de-sac!
Cowboy, Good Boy (2005 – 2021)
We said goodbye to one of the best on March 20, 2021.
Annyth called this the Spinómeter
One of our juiciest investments
Several days ago someone dropped off about a dozen freshly picked lemons. Today I made a batch of lemon sorbet using the 3 cups of juice they rendered and some zest. I used the juicer Annyth and I bought a couple of months after moving here to Merced in California’s Central Valley in 2014. I’ve used it to squeeze grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, and even pomegranates. Thank you for your service.
Done on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil using Sketch Club and then iColorama.
Juanjo Domínguez (1951-2019)
If you’re not familiar with Juanjo Domíguez, Argentine guitarist, then check him out. Below the digital painting I did of Maestro Juanjo on an iPad using Sketch Club, I’ve inserted a YouTube video of him accompanying Diego el Cigala and Andrés Calamaro performing Los Hermanos by Atahualpa Yupanqi. Enjoy!
I’m adding another YouTube link that perhaps better illustrates Maestro Juanjo’s playing (along side one of my favorite singers, Diego el Cigala): click here to watch Soledad.
Click on image to enlarge.
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Mom Heading to Isaly’s
Here’s my rendition of one of my favorite family photos. My dad took this extraordinary photo of my mom several months before they got married in 1943, probably just before he enlisted in the army. My mom worked at this Isaly’s in Canonsburg, PA at the time. There she is crossing Pike St. and walking over the trolly tracks on what looks like a sunny Sunday afternoon. One way or another, my dad probably ordered a White House ice cream cone, his favorite.
Full Moon, Halloween, Election, Time Change
4th Quarter, 2020
#wannagoforarideinthecar
Yes, of course, this tag exists!
Yes, of course, this tag exists.
The Star
Flamenco Guitar
I was listening to Antonio Muñoz Fernández before hitting the sack a few nights ago and thought I’d render right along on my iPad in Sketch Club with a tweak or two in iColorama.
Click on link below to take in a beautiful performance.
portfoliolongo 