Hello my name is Ivana.
I am a recent Fall 23 graduate from Biola University and I majored in Liberal Studies - Multidisciplinary with the focus in Intercultural Studies. I also have a minor in Biblical & Theological Studies and a TESOL Certification. I want to use my education to support learners just like you and help them become better stewards of the Lord Jesus Christ! In addition, each semester I attended Biola, I received Summa Cum Laude and made the Dean's List!
I know what it is like to struggle in the classroom! As a tutor, I desire to help students be more confident and comfortable with their classes. I value preservation and strive for improvement rather than perfection, thus I am willing to grow with you! I have tutored friends and students in a variety of subjects, including science, math, English, and even violin playing!
I aspire to be a missionary teacher one day and to work with English learners. Understanding is a key motivator for me when working with English learners. I believe that everyone desires to understand and be understood, and English learners are no different. In 1 John 3:18, the Lord calls us to go beyond ourselves in showing love for one another by deeds and truth, not just words (New International Version). I desire to build meaningful relationships with English learners, despite the language barriers.
Although, my strength is in English, I am equipped to teach other subject areas. If not, I am willing to learn!
By teaching the truth and illuminating God’s character to His children, education ultimately serves to reveal His love for them. Regardless of their upbringing, students are image-bearers of God, and He created educators to recognize, protect, and love them, revealing the reality that there is a Father who would do the same for them. Just as the Father shows love for His people by giving them His Word, educators show love for their students by preparing them to be moral and literate citizens. Spears and Loomis (2009) explain that “education is the means where humans are trained to be able to properly evaluate diverse situations and act in such a way as to benefit themselves and their society” (p. 41-42). Thus, God utilizes education to shape His people and ultimately grow His kingdom.
The educational field serves as a space where teachers can teach the gospel truth to students who are unaware of the existence of a loving God. In an international setting where it is difficult, or even life threatening to teach the gospel, educators can still live out their career as believers by being involved in their students’ lives in the most loving way possible. During Jesus’ ministry on Earth, He prays to God, “Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, NIV). A part of the truth is that God loves His children and wants them to be set apart from the rest of the world. Hoekema (1986) asserts that the ultimate goal of our sanctification is to be a perfect image of God. Biblical teachings, although not taught explicitly, will encourage students to pursue and enjoy the lessons the teacher created for them while also improving their citizenship in the global community. It is my hope for students to be lovers and curious of the truth so that they may encourage others to do the same. Students will be taught “act upon the knowledge of what is good,” in order to develop their abilities to submit to their teachers, be good stewards to one another, and ultimately obey God (Spears & Loomis, p. 41).
