Hello! I'm Arlen, a corporate finance professional with significant 1-on-1 experience coaching international graduate students in the United States. I specialize in English speaking practice for the IELTS Speaking Module. I have regular availability for virtual practice sessions, and depending on location, I can also do face-to-face speaking practice in public settings that simulate the in-person testing environment. I'm your best option for serious IELTS speaking practice because: - I'm a native English speaker. - I'm a high B1 (CEFR) Mandarin speaker, which means I am also a serious student of a second language. - I'm a first-generation American — I have grown up around various accents all my life. I can understand many accents and suggest modifications for speech clarity. - I have spent signficant time abroad both as a graduate student and a corporate finance professional. Given my background, I am very familiar with the IELTS Exam and its structure, as well as with typical IELTS test taker profiles. - I am a semi-professional nonfiction business and current affairs writer and I regularly engage in professional / public speaking both for large and small audiences as well as in 1-on-1 settings. - I have high Verbal scores on both the SAT (730 / 99th Percentile) & GRE (164 / 94th Percentile). - I am a great listener — I listen actively and with effort. Speaking can be one of the most difficult parts of a new language to approach, but with the right help and a solid, actionable plan, you can achieve your desired IELTS speaking score!