Teaching
When I was in the twelfth grade, Mrs. Ake told me I’d make a good teacher someday. “Thanks, but no thanks,” I said — I had no such plans. She smiled and raised an eyebrow. She knew something I didn’t.
In university, I worked for a program called SALT, tutoring students with learning differences. It was then I fell in love with teaching — with the fulfillment that comes from witnessing a student’s eyes light up, seeing meaning attached to words. After university I took a job teaching English as a Second Language in Busan, South Korea, for one year. One year turned to six, and though I’ve long since returned to the States, I’ve never looked back.
I’m honored to be a member of the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto, where I’ve taught many workshops in person and online. I also love teaching corporate storytelling classes. I’ve served on faculty of the prestigious Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference for 9 years, and I’ve been a guest lecturer for classes through Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and UC Berkeley, among others. And most of all, I love leading the destination workshops that take my students and me around the world. I’ve taught all over — from California to Connecticut to Costa Rica, from Mexico to Morocco, Nepal to New Orleans, Peru, and Utah! Please check my schedule for upcoming workshops. I also enjoy working one-on-one with people, on story development, manuscript consultation, editing, and coaching. I’m committed to helping writers find their authentic story and accessing the tools, voice, and courage to put it on paper.
google+As a total newbie to writing, Lavinia's workshop class helped build my skills and confidence. Each week she taught and led us through great writing tips and techniques. Her workshopping process created a safe and supportive space for me to explore and expose my writing style and the story I wanted to share. I highly recommend this class for newbies and experienced students alike! "
Paige Mantel, former student (Writing & Publishing the Travel Essay)
I discovered Lavinia's travel essay workshop at the last minute and am so thankful I was able to join. She taught us about story structure and style and encouraged us to implement what we learned into our own travel essays. Terrific teacher and class - highly recommend!"
Jennifer Kelley, former student (Writing & Publishing the Travel Essay)