About Me

I am a writer and a Contributing Editor for the Language Learning Channel at Bright Hub. I am also the Conservation Technician at Milner Library at Illinois State University. I have a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing. I have just finished my MS in library and information science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and am now taking courses in linguistics at Illinois State University in the pursuit of an MA in English studies with an emphasis in linguistics. My main language interests include the history and development of the English language as well as descriptive linguistics. I hope eventually to write and develop language arts curricula, specifically in the areas of reading skills, grammar, and ESL. I am mainly interested in the Germanic languages but enjoy learning about the phonology and grammar of all languages. My approach to learning and teaching grammar is the form-function method. My current favorite part of speech is prepositions. I also enjoy phrasal verbs.

My Awards & Certifications

Certifications

Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, student-at-large, English studies with a concentration in linguistics

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Master of Library and Information Science, 17 May 2009

Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, Bachelor of Arts, English major, writing minor, 12 May 2007, summa cum laude

Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Illinois, Associate of Arts and Science, general education, 16 December 2004

Awards and Honors

National Scholars Honor Society, 2007; National Dean’s List, 2006; Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, 2006; Golden Key International Honours Society, 2005; Illinois State University Dean’s List, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006; Illinois State University Honors Program; Illinois Central College Writing Contest, Second Place, “Mood Piece,” May 2004; Illinois Central College President’s List, Fall 2004; Illinois Central College Dean’s List, Fall 2003, Spring 2004; Illinois Central College Honors Program

My Experience

I have a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing. I am also taking additional English classes “for fun” in preparation of my pursuit of an MA in English studies with an emphassi in linguistics. I have experience in English, Spanish, and German. To see other examples of my work, please visit my personal website, Rock Pickle Publishing, especially my Essays webpage.

Language, Literature, and Composition Courses Completed

Studies in English Linguistics (Fall 2009), Sociolinguistics (Fall 2009), The Linguistic Structure of English for the TESOL Professional (Fall 2008), History of Children’s Literature (Fall 2007), History and Development of the English Language (Spring 2007), Rhetorical Theory and Applications (Fall 2006), Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics (Fall 2006), First-Year German Part I (Fall 2006), Contemporary British Literature (Spring 2006), Traditional and Non-Traditional Grammars (Spring 2006), Technical & Professional Writing I (Spring 2006), Drama (Spring 2006), Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry (Spring 2006), Literature for Pre-Adolescents (Fall 2005), Prose (Fall 2005), Playwriting (Fall 2005), The Writing Seminar (Fall 2005), Second-Year Spanish Part I (Fall 2005), Poetry (Summer 2005), Introduction to English Studies (Spring 2005), Growth and Structure of the English Language (Spring 2005), Advanced Exposition (Spring 2005), Creative Writing (Spring 2005), First-Year Spanish Part II (Spring 2005), Women’s Literature (Fall 2004), Contemporary Humanities (Fall 2004), Creative Writing: Poetry (Fall 2004), Composition II (Spring 2004), American Literature (Spring 2004), Composition I (Fall 2003)