About

To improve our skills in another language:

time.

use your time effectively.

a desire
or need.

think about your reasons 
and set specific goals.

strategies and 
processes.

create a plan with 
steps you can follow.

exposure to 
the language.

find and learn from real, 
relevant English input.

focused 
attention.

see and understand 
how English works.

opportunities to 
use the language.

get more interaction and 
experience with English.

support and 
encouragement.

get clear explanations, 
feedback, and guidance.

tools and 
materials.

find these and use 
them effectively.

patience.

play the long game.

persistence.

keep moving forward.

consistency.

hold yourself accountable.

My coaching and support philosophy is based on principle. I believe in helping my clients develop their language skills in ways that are...

Process-oriented.

Language learning is a long-term, non-linear process that requires patience and persistence. Gains can be followed by long plateaus or losses. There are no magical solutions. It’s a long-term commitment that requires time.

Goal-driven.

Language learning has no natural end. Selecting specific, achievable, and relevant goals helps you focus your efforts. Checking in to see if progress is being made keeps you motivated.

Strategy-centered.

I help you design a plan of action that you can adjust in real time to the demands of your real life. A strategic, flexible approach helps you use opportunities, interests, and challenges as they arise in your life.

Balanced.

Command over and fluency in an additional language require knowledge and skill. Shifting back and forth between knowledge development and skill-building reinforces both sides of the equation.

Collaborative.

My role is to support your learning process. I work in partnership with you to help you define problems, set goals, and identify strategies, tools, and materials that make sense for you. Communication and negotiation are key.

Informative.

You’re the expert on your life, priorities, experiences, goals, needs, and ways of learning. My role is to share my expertise with you. With good information, you can focus your efforts and make better choices about what strategies, tools, and materials to use.

Flexible.

My menu of standard services lets you mix and match solutions in ways that work for you. You can create a set program of support or use my services on an as-needed basis. Session length, location, and mode are also flexible.

Responsive.

I listen to your feedback and, whenever possible, refine existing services or develop new services that better meet your needs. My goal is to provide services that work for my clients’ lives and are grounded in best practices for adult learning and language development.

Measurable.

Regular feedback and self-assessment help you keep track of your progress and make adjustments as necessary. Once achieved, milestones and goals serve as opportunities to decide whether to persist, change direction, or take a break.

I'm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I primarily serve clients who live and/or work in Ann Arbor and the immediately surrounding areas.

If you live elsewhere or simply prefer the convenience of meeting online, interactive coaching sessions are available via video chat. Learning support, editing, and language consultation services are not restricted by location.

Please keep in mind that Ann Arbor is in the Eastern Time Zone and is subject to Daylight Savings Time between mid-March and early November.

My email address is grace@gracepang.com, and my telephone number is 734-531-9392 (voice or text).

If you have questions about my services, please contact me. (Note: I do not work on Sundays and Mondays.)

I look forward to hearing from you!

Coaching services are generally available from Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm (Eastern).

If you are already a client and need to reschedule a session, please send me your request by text or email or just talk to me at our next session. I'll do my best to accommodate you.

My goal is to provide high-quality services, so my hours are limited. As business evolves, my schedule may change, but I will always let you know if it does.

The choice is yours and depends on your needs. We can meet for in-person sessions at a variety of locations in or near Ann Arbor, such as a library, private residence, office, or any business open to the public. (Clients are invoiced for any parking fees paid.)

If you prefer to meet online, coaching sessions are also available via Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet.

Note that regularly scheduled clients who take sessions online or at my home are eligible for a discounted rate.

Life happens. I understand.

If you need to cancel a coaching session, please let me know by 9 p.m. on the day before your session. How? Just text, e-mail, or call me.

There is no charge for timely cancellations, but sessions canceled after 9 p.m. the previous day are added to your monthly invoice at your regular hourly rate. The missed session can be rescheduled.

Finally, if you receive a discount as a regularly scheduled client, please note that cancellations may affect your hourly rate. Clients must use at least 4 sessions per month for discounted coaching sessions and learning support services.

I appreciate your understanding and cooperation!

(My full policy document is available to clients on request.)

Yes, I give discounts to clients who keep a regular schedule of coaching sessions with me.

Clients who use at least 4 sessions per month receive a per-hour discount for each session used as well as for any learning support services purchased in the same month. (See my fee schedule for details.)

Why? Regular coaching helps you maintain motivation and progress, and it also helps me maintain a predictable schedule.

(My full policy document is available to clients on request.)

I will send you a PayPal invoice via email. When you receive it, you'll be able to pay me online.

Many digital wallet services — such as Chase Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and Bank of America Digital Wallet — work well with PayPal. If you have questions, please contact your financial service or institution.

Regular clients receive a monthly invoice. A la carte clients receive invoices once a month, or when our work together is complete.

(My full policy document is available to clients on request.)

On July 1, 2024, due to inflation, my hourly rate for coaching sessions and learning support services will increase to $27.50 per hour for regularly scheduled clients ($33 per hour for a la carte services).

On January 1, 2025, this rate will increase to $30 per hour for regularly scheduled clients ($36 per hour for a la carte services).

I review my pricing and discount policies once a year, usually in December or January. Prices, discounts, and all other policies are therefore subject to change on an annual basis. Existing clients receive notice of expected pricing changes, if any, by the end of the first quarter (January - March).

(My full policy document is available to clients on request.)

Yes, I consider English to be my native language. I was born, raised, and entirely educated in the U.S. Very early in life, I was bilingual in English and Korean. However, by the time I was 4 years old, my family was speaking English almost exclusively at home.

I speak a mix of Chicagoese and Michiganese. (No, these are not real words.) The technical name for this regional dialect is Inland Northern American English.

I have an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Eastern Michigan University (2017).

I also hold an M.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan (1992), where my studies and teaching focused on American literature and culture.

My undergraduate degree is from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At Illinois, my majors were English and rhetoric, and my minor was history.

My ability to use and help others use English has been the foundation of my whole career.

As a graduate student at the University of Michigan in the 1990s, I taught writing, literature, and women’s studies, coordinated support programs for undergraduate and graduate students, and led workshops for teaching assistants.

From the late 1990s through 2015, I worked in the non-profit sector — mostly in higher education, but also in community-based social services: program management, communications and marketing, and community development. My work taught me how to collaborate well with others, plan strategically, and use technology effectively.

In 2014, I started tutoring adult learners of English as a volunteer (Washtenaw Literacy). I worked with learners at all levels and from many language backgrounds. From 2015 to 2017, I also tutored undergraduate and graduate students at Eastern Michigan University's International Student Resource Center.

I have worked with clients as an independent coach since 2018.

If you want more detailed information about my professional history, please visit my LinkedIn profile.

Lots of people in the Ann Arbor area want professional help with their English. I started this business because I want to provide a better, more convenient way to get that help. To me, that means giving people more options and more control. It means offering flexible services that fit people's real lives and providing support that addresses their real, specific needs.

Like you, I am improving my skills in another language (Korean). I started when I was 44 years old! I believe — in fact, I know — that progress and increased confidence are possible with the right support, and I want to be there for you when you need that support.

Finally, I started this business because I like having meaningful interactions with interesting people. I like meeting, working with, and getting to know people from different backgrounds. I like providing services that are useful to people. I like helping people learn, and I like learning with them.