Biography

Hello! My name is Jackson Levin, and I specialize in academic English instruction and test prep tutoring here at AJ Tutoring. My main goal as a tutor is to emphasize the integral – and often undervalued – role that written communication serves in both personal and professional life. I believe that our ability to use words to convey our thoughts, feelings, arguments, and discoveries in written form ensures our ability to deeply connect with present and future generations. I strive to integrate my passion for the English language in my pedagogy, employing gentle guidance and support to help students navigate difficult subtopics such as reading comprehension, literary analysis, and composition.

As a die-hard student of the humanities, I earned bachelor’s degrees in both English literature and music performance from UCLA. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to pursue these areas of study at the undergraduate level, which allowed me to hone my skills of communication in written, verbal, and musical form. In studying English, I sharpened my skills of literary and rhetorical analysis, close reading, and academic writing. In studying music – I specialize in both jazz and classical trumpet performance – I pursued my love of music as the pupil of Jens Lindemann, Thomas Hooten, and Jennifer Marotta, three trumpet players who played invaluable roles in shaping me as a well-rounded musician.

Additionally – and perhaps surprisingly – I spent four years of my postgraduate career as a paralegal in the field of immigration law. While working as a paralegal, I fulfilled the duties of both a case manager and a legal writer, prioritizing, organizing, managing, and supporting a large volume of clients. I also sharpened my professional writing skills by brainstorming, formulating, and drafting immigration petitions, letters, and documents in support of our clients seeking legal representation. My background in the field of immigration law has provided me with the confidence to demonstrate to my students the importance of shaping a persuasive piece of writing with purpose, clarity, pathos, and credibility.

I believe my eclectic areas of interest punctuate the enthusiasm I have for continuing my pursuit of a lifelong career in education. I am confident that my previous experiences at both the academic and professional level meld into a unique skillset that reliably allow me to convey to my students the importance of reading, writing, and the history of the English language.