FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I work with clients both in person and online, using Skype. My fee is typically $55/hr for in-person lessons at my location, $60 if I have to travel, and $55 online.. Some clients like to combine the two, especially for language classes, where we can do conversation online, and meet in person for reading and reviewing written materials. If a client sends me a document which requires my reading and review ahead of a meeting, I charge $40/hr for that review time. I am also open to discounts with bundling sessions. Ghostwriting fees depend entirely on the project.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
After a first session has been established, I like to assess for level, as well as get a feel for their needs. This is usually a fairly quick process, after which I explain how I will proceed. By the second session, I have a full itinerary and lesson plan prepared to share with the client. As for ghostwriting, I begin with a lengthy interview process to assess what a client already has in place, how much research is needed, to talk with them and feel out their story and tone. I am highly trained in interview methods, and combine this with writing to make the ideal ghostwriter.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA in Comparative Literature and Writing, a MA in Middle Eastern languages and cultures,and a PhD (Univ of Pennsylvania) in Anthropology. I taught French and Pashto at colleges and U of Penn for 10 years, and then branched out to work as a language analyst & translator. The Federal Government was my biggest client, and I managed to teach bias mitigation to young agents and linguists, review translations for court, and review cultural presentations for bias. I've written not only my own PhD dissertation, but 3 books, and numerous articles and papers for academic conferences. I've taught my own children to be bilingual with French and English. I have taught French to children in after school programs, and more recently high school and adult students. I love teaching and editing, perfecting a written product. I have a passion for oral history, and began ghostwriting for my local historical association, assembling the life stories of residents.