Baylor Grad/BA in Classics. If you’re learning Greek or Latin at mostly any level, I can help you through the grammar, vocabulary, and translations.

Find out more about Tyler

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  Like most kids, I loved Greek and Roman mythology and especially the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus books from Rick Riordan. That passion within me for these ancient cultures truly came to a peak in college. When I was a freshman in college I initially entered as an Anthropology major with an Archaeology concentration. I wanted to be like Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, or Nathan Drake. But I had to take a language and I figured I'd take Greek because I had already taken Latin in school before. What's the use of digging up stuff from an ancient civilization if you can't read the writing on it? After enjoying Greek classes so much, I switched my major to Classics. I got to learn more about Greek and Latin and about the people who spoke them.
  
  I graduated and commissioned into the Air Force, but I have lots of down time before entering active duty, and figured I'd share my passion and resources to help others understand these languages better. Baylor gives an amazing Classics education and I don't want it to go to waste!

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Most of my students are seeking assistance with their Latin. My stronger language is actually Greek but Latin is a very close second in terms of favoritism. These languages are very similar in structure. They both use case systems instead of word order. Recognition of stems and endings is your biggest quest as well as vocab retention and recognition. Translation is like a puzzle, a fun one when you possess the right tools. All my students are very hard workers, and I like to ask them what their favorite subjects and hobbies are. Their answers give me insight into their personalities, motivations, and how they best process their information and receive feedback.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  I had a Greek professor my fall semester freshman year who totally loved what he taught. His class is the one that made me switch my major from Anthro to Classics. Dr. Heckenlively is so knowledgeable on history and language, like a walking google. But he is still so humble about his talents.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Empathy and compassion. Being a good tutor is all about having the empathy to step into your students' shoes and remember what it was like to struggle with a concept or be a beginner at something. That way you can imagine the best way to present information in an understandable way. Tutors are usually people who have been blessed by their own great teachers to get them to where they are now in terms of skill. Education is all about humbly passing down the gift of knowledge and wisdom from those who came before you.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  Classics is a very rewarding field but only because it is a huge challenge to overcome. There were days during school that I had pages of translating to do and it was very difficult Greek or Latin to decipher. When you're stuck on a certain passage and stubbornly don't want to refer to a prewritten translation to help, it makes you want to pull your hair out. Thankfully all us Classics students were in the battle together. Our final exams could pull passages out any number of places, so we had to study everything we had read in Greek or Latin over the semester. We would meet before our finals and sight translate out loud together and help each other when someone was stuck or couldn't remember the grammar. Moral of story, you'll need help with any new language, ESPECIALLY CLASSICAL ONES. Don't be too prideful to ask for some. You will not be judged. Even us Classics tutors don't know everything. We are still students ourselves.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  I honestly faced a lot more challenges with Latin in college mainly due to vocab retention. I started koine Greek from the beginning of my time at Baylor. I tested into second semester Latin my freshman year since I took it in elementary school and junior high. By the time I transferred into Latin 1.5 at Baylor, I understood the grammar really well but didn't freshly know any of the vocabulary from the beginning of the textbook we were using, which made translation very slow and an absolute slog. Teaching Latin to students now actually helps a lot with keeping my vocab fresh.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  The ancient-ness of the languages is what I love. Understanding languages spoken by millions in our global history is truly a gift and like a cool superpower. To quote one of my favorite video game characters from Assassins' Creed: "Who are we to have been so blessed, to share our stories like this, to speak across centuries?" -Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering this interview questions :-P)?

  A combination of passion, intention, blessing, and knowledge makes me a Superprof.