Amelia Simkins
@amelia_teaches_english
148 Followers
Language Skills
- English (US): Native
- Persian: Elementary
- German: Elementary
- Spanish: Elementary
Interests
Price (25 min):
16.00 Coins Book Sessions
* This price is for free conversation lessons.
Rating & Experience:
Introduction:
Guiding Diligent Business Professionals Toward Impactful International Careers
Hi! I'm Amelia. For several years, it's been my mission to help Japanese & Korean professionals from various industries improve their English communication skills. English is the most widely used language in the world, and those who master it have major advantages.
If you sign up with me, I will do my best to help you gain these advantages. If you can't find a good time on my calendar, feel free to message me, so we can arrange something.
I collaborate best with students who are open to constructive feedback, view “mistakes” as valuable learning opportunities, and actively engage in the learning process. In my experience, language improvement thrives in an environment where students are receptive to real-time corrections/suggestions and participate actively, including keeping an eye on the chatbox for immediate feedback.
As both a language instructor and a language learner myself, I've found that setting aside one's ego is crucial for improvement. I encourage students to share insights and ask questions during our lessons, especially challenging ones I might not be able to answer!
I promise that when I don't have the answer to an English-language related question, I'll search for it till I find it, and when I do, that helps me become a better teacher. Like the Japanese, I value continuous improvement. I also value it when students point out my occasional typos in the chatbox. This demonstrates their attentiveness and reinforces our shared goal: achieving accurate English together.
I spent over a decade working for international corporations in various industries, such as automotive (Toyota), consumer goods (Weber grills), and food (Barilla pasta). As a packaging engineer, I communicated technical concepts to non-native English speakers and worked with global teams to launch hundreds of products.
In May 2018, I left my engineering career to focus on teaching and other goals. The video on my profile was recorded in 2016, before my first SkimaTalk lesson. To see more recent videos, please subscribe to my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/AmeliaTeachesEnglish
If you have a specific topic you'd like to study, let me know! I love custom-designing materials. Additionally, I invest in an online resource with well-organized worksheets, including articles, videos, vocabulary exercises, etc. These can help focus “Free Conversation” lessons on a specific topic or goal for students who are motivated. I will also enjoy hearing about your career and personal life updates.
I've taught thousands of sessions online, with SkimaTalk being my #1 platform. And now, I look forward to speaking with YOU!
Teaching Specialty:
All wonderful writers benefit from an excellent editor! I really enjoy correcting typos, spelling, and grammar, and I try to do so in a way that is not offensive to the author. I have been published in a trade magazine (Packaging World, March 2018) and on relevant industry-specific websites: https://www.packworld.com/home/blog/13374725/club-stores-claim-environmental-responsibility-while-shifting-burden, www.iopp.org, www.greenerpackage.com, International TEFL Academy: https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/blog/5-reasons-teaching-english-online-is-way-better-than-being-a-corporate-engineer GAFFL: https://gogaffl.com/blog_posts/Amelia-travel-story
As part of my TEFL certification class, I completed additional coursework on techniques for teaching business professionals. As an online ESL teacher, I’ve coached a myriad of business professionals including financial and real estate investors, bankers, engineers, salespeople, project managers, data analysts, and even doctors! Additionally, I have several years of practical experience as a business professional myself. In my last two corporate engineering positions, I collaborated with non-native English speakers (with varying levels of fluency) from Europe, Asia, and North America. Together we successfully brought hundreds of products to market.
I worked as a packaging engineer for renowned international companies. It was my job to develop packaging for a variety of products so they shipped safely to customers around the world. My duties included selecting appropriate materials, calculating freight costs, conducting testing, writing reports, analyzing data, creating & managing specifications, and much more. I am an expert in analytical thinking and would be happy to pass my knowledge on to you in this area.
I can help you expand your vocabulary both organically through conversational practice as well as through the use of worksheets, articles, slides, and other materials.
Proper pronunciation is often the key to being understood, so I emphasize its importance ad hoc throughout my lessons. Some students benefit from me breaking down a word into its syllables and/or discussing syllable stress, whereas others can achieve accurate pronunciation of specific words after they learn the mouth (tongue/lip/teeth) placements & movements.
My TEFL certification course prepared me well for teaching you how to improve both your productive (speaking and writing) language skills as well as your receptive (listening and reading) language skills. Since acquiring my certification, I've honed my teaching methods through years of experience.
Résumé:
Education:
Engineering › Packaging Science (Bachelor)
Work Experience:
Designer
Industrial Designer: January 2010 – January 2011 [Chicago, Illinois, USA] • Developed fabricated foam products based upon customer-supplied parameters • Worked closely with primarily Spanish-speaking production staff to create part-specific procedures for factory personnel • Supported the sales and other staff by creating drawings for costing and customer service purposes using AutoCAD and other design software
Engineer (Other)
Packaging Engineer: September 2011- February 2017 [Palatine, Illinois, USA] • Communicated on a technical level with non-native English speaking professionals from North America, Europe, and Asia • Worked with a global team of product managers, purchasing agents, R&D engineers, financial analysts and accountants, and others to ensure the successful launch of over 150 barbecue grill accessory SKUs • Collaborated with domestic vendors as well as overseas supply chain to develop packaging adequate for distribution • Participated in educational outreach activities, including volunteering with an all girls’ STEM summer camp and partnering with a class at my Alma mater
Other Professional
Packaging Lab Technician, Contracted by Aerotek: January 2011 – September 2011 [Melrose Park, Illinois, USA] • Coordinated and performed component testing of all new and proposed packaging following standardized test methodology • Compiled supporting documentation, results and recommendations in formal test report summaries
Teaching Professional
English Language Consultant: December 2016 - March 2021 •Conducted one-on-one 25 min sessions & 45 min sessions with up to 6 students (located in Asia) at a time •Assisted students ranging from beginner to advanced, both adults and children (junior sessions) •Provided student progress reports and corrections to lesson materials •Consistently maintained above a 9.7/10 star rating
Teaching Professional
ESL Tutor & Classroom Aide: July 2016- November 2016 [Morton College - Cicero, Illinois, USA] • Assisted an advanced level student from Czech Republic in the improvement of his English language skills • Helped student prepare for and pass the Language Arts, Writing GED examination • Taught English to adult Spanish-speaking students • Focused on the improvement of pronunciation and accent reduction • Facilitated vocabulary expansion through the use of textbook material as well as conversational practice • "Star Awards" recipient
Engineer (Other)
Packaging Engineer: February 2017-May 2018 [Northbrook, Illinois, USA] •Designed retail-ready packaging and POP displays •Collaborated with our headquarters in Parma, Italy on developing specifications for cartons, cases, and more •Utilized AutoCAD and TOPS software during design development process •Participated in cooking classes, "SMART working" and various business trips mostly to suppliers & trade shows
Teaching Professional
"I lived in a little village and I taught at the eerie neighborhood house." ~Teacher Amelia --- Actually, I lived in La Villita (Little Village), a vibrant Chicago neighborhood with a strong Mexican immigrant community. Four days a week, I taught English at The Erie Neighborhood House, a social services nonprofit originally named after its first location on Erie Street. Each group session typically had five to seven students, and our lessons extended beyond the classroom—we took field trips to museums and libraries, enriching our learning through real-world experiences. When Chicago’s winter temperatures were too harsh, we held virtual classes. I taught there from October 2023 to June 2024, and still return occasionally as a guest teacher. It’s always an honor to be welcomed back.
