Bruce M   

★★★★★

TESOL Certified American Tutor with 8+ Years of Teaching Learners Worldwide in Business, Health, Academic, and Everyday Conversational English

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

My favorite word in English is ‘smile’ (noun and verb) because we all need to keep one in our pocket, pull it out, and put it on whenever there’s that rainy day.

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

I’ve got to admit that this might be a 3-way toss-up. Frankly, a great charbroiled hamburger with creamy coleslaw and real fries are hard to beat, but a slice of New York pizza comes close. However, I could very well choose boeuf bourguignon if it’s available—or even a nicely cooked brisket or beef stew—and it was recently on the menu at a restaurant called Bistrot Cinq in Antigua, Guatemala. For pizza, try Mario’s of Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. I’m still searching for that great burger.

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

I’ve taught English in Italy, Thailand, and Mexico. Not surprisingly, I’ve studied Italian, Thai, and Spanish and I’m still working on them. Like you, I’m a language learner and understand the challenges.

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

Cooking a great meal for family and friends, finding new music that I really like or an old tune that I haven’t heard in years, and watching film noir from the 1940s and 1950s. I’ve taken great pleasure in walking to the end of Santa Monica Pier on a mild and breezy weekday afternoon to contemplate the ocean and breathe the fresh sea air.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

The New York City and the Los Angeles I once knew have both changed so much. What I loved about NYC was that it was rooted in history while always making news—the HQ of the world—rough and tumble, but for me, home. LA then was the opposite. Well-trimmed lawns, sunny, hot, and smoggy days that gave way to light grey and starless nights. It was a patchwork of small towns fashioned together with freeways at 80 mph. Where else could a chance movie star sighting be so common? NYC was pessimistic, LA was optimistic. And now? Let’s keep watching the movie to find out.