Bella Swydan
I’m Bella, and I’m a freshman double-majoring in Econ and DWA with a minor in French. I’ve
been speaking Arabic, among other languages, my whole life, so I understand the frustration
that can come with learning another language with a new and different alphabet and rules. I’m
here and happy to help in any way possible: homework, grammar, writing, reading, or casual
conversation. Feel free to stop by, looking forward to meeting you!
Drop-in Hours:
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Monday, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Ruby Gower
你好! My name is Ruby Gower and I’m the peer tutor for Mandarin Chinese this spring! I am a senior from New York City, majoring in Chinese Studies and Diplomacy & World Affairs. I grew up mostly in China and Singapore and started learning Mandarin there. Learning the language helped me more deeply immerse into the places I lived and allowed me to make so many amazing friends. I am so excited to help you learn Mandarin and I hope you love it as much as I do!
Drop-in Hours:
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Rose LeGoff: Visiting Language Assistant
Bonjour ! I am Rose (she/her), the French Visiting Language Assistant for the 2025-2026 year. You may already know me as this is the second year I am holding this position at Oxy.
I am from Brittany, a coastal region in the northwest of France. I have a Bachelor in French Literature and a Bachelor in English studies. As much as I am passionate about sharing my own language and culture, I also love travelling and this will be my third year living in the US.
Like I did over the past year, I will be tutoring for the French department at Oxy, as well as leading conversation classes and the language tables. Whether you need help for an exam or just feel like chatting in French, please feel welcome to drop by during my tutoring hours !
I look forward to seeing you again, à bientôt !
Drop-in Hours:
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m; Monday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mikatrin Heynen
Hallo!! My name is Mikatrin Heynen and I am a sophomore Biology major from Cupertino, California. I grew up speaking German at home and attended a German school from preschool through second grade. At Oxy, I have reconnected to my German language skills after studying Spanish from elementary through high school. Last year, I hosted a biweekly German conversation group as well as the Wednesday language tables. I love to talk about anything related to German culture, food, traditions, and language, and I can't wait to help in any way I can.
Drop-in Hours:
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Ava Lalonde
Hello! I’m Ava, and I’m a senior CSLC major with an Ancient Greek emphasis and have minors in CTSJ and Spanish. I’ve been taking Ancient Greek since my first year and have experienced the highs and lows of learning the language. I’m here to help in any way I can along your Greek journey, so please stop by and we can work through translations, conjugations, vocabulary, and much more together! Learning Greek can be so rewarding and fun, and my goal is to help you enjoy it as much as possible :)
Drop-in Hours:
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Olivia Lampel
Hey! My name is Olivia Lampel, I’m an undeclared sophomore at Oxy but am hoping to major in Sociology and minor in Japanese studies. I’m half Japanese and spent the first several years of my life living in Japan. I grew up living in several different countries so I absolutely love learning and experiencing new cultures! I’ve studied Japanese throughout my schooling and also speak it consistently with family and friends. I’ve been able to learn more about the history of Japan and its culture through Oxy’s translation and comparative literature classes and I’m excited to share my knowledge with all of you! Don’t be afraid to drop by and say hi:)
Drop-in Hours
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday & Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Charlie Sears
Salvēte! I’m Charlie, a senior in the CSLC department studying English, French, and Latin. I have been a student of Latin for nearly 10 years. In Latin, I found a passion for language that has become the focus of my studies, as well as skills with grammar and vocabulary that have carried into other languages, including English. I believe that the skills required to learn Latin are incredibly beneficial for all kinds of language learning, and that its completely different structure lends itself to a unique beauty and experience in language. Stop by if you’re looking for help with Latin’s difficult memorization process, for study tips or just to talk about language!
Drop-in Hours
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.; Tuesday 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.; & Thursday, 4:45- 5:45 p.m.
Calla Brown
Всем привет! I’m Calla and I will be your peer tutor for Russian! I am a Junior double major in DWA and CSLC from Connecticut, and I’ve been studying Russian since my freshman year. In the summer of 2024, I did an 8-week language immersion program at Middlebury College! Before Russian, I studied Spanish for 10 years at school, and I’ve been tutoring for about 5 years. Learning a new language can be very daunting, and I’m here to help you with anything, from homework to study strategies to pronunciation to just general questions about language study. Looking forward to meeting you!
Drop-in Hours
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Martina Policicchio: Visiting Language Assistant
¡Hola! My name is Martina and I am from Badajoz, a not so well-known Spanish city next to the border with Portugal. I hold a degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies, and I have just finished my master’s in Legal translation. I have studied at the University of Granada, in Spain, and at the University of Bologna, in Italy.
My true passion lies in teaching languages, so I will be delighted to help you get even more fluent in Spanish through fun activities and interesting conversations. I also love everything that has to do with theater and cinema, so if you are into the scenic arts you already know who you can turn to! I am looking forward to meeting you all and creating a unique and successful path towards your goals regarding the Spanish language.
I am sure we will enjoy our time together. Can’t wait!
Drop-in Hours
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m; Monday 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Spanish
Mercedes Garcia: Visiting Language Assistant
¡Hola!My name is Mercedes García, and I’m from Huelva, a beautiful city on the southwest coast of Spain. I have a degree in Hispanic Philology and two Master’s degrees — one in Education and another in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language.
I’ve lived in different cities across Spain, like Seville and Granada, and I’ve always been fascinated by the mix of cultures and the chance to meet people from different backgrounds. I also love art and sports, as I believe both are great ways to express ourselves and connect with others.
I’m really excited to meet you, learn about your culture and share with you the richness and diversity of the Spanish language. It will be a pleasure to support you in your learning journey, whether that’s in tutoring sessions, conversation classes, or just around campus.
¡Nos vemos muy pronto!
Drop-in Hours
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson Hall Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 4:00 to 5:00p.m.; Thursday, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Questions about the program? Email Luz Forero at lforero@oxy.edu.