GUEST AUTHOR SERVICES

James Penha is a successful guest speaker, workshop leader, and consultant because he approaches the tasks NOT as a professional consultant with pre-packaged presentations, but as a working teacher and writer at home for four decades in high schools and universities in the United States and Asia.  Tell him the kinds of services you require, the topics and foci you need, and he will design a program for you, your students, your faculty, and/or your school.

 

Specialties:

• Creative Writing (Poetry and Fiction):

• How Literature Works: Fundamental Theories of Literature.

• How a Reader Knows S/he's "Right" About a Work of Literature.

• How to Climb Inside a Poem.

• Failsafe Methods for Writing Literary Essays (with special emphases on AP and IB examinations).

James Penha is a New Yorker based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Contact him by clicking on the "Email" button on the lower left sidebar.

Unsolicited comments from his former students follow:

I have never met a teacher so respected among students and faculty as you are. And after only the first few weeks of your teaching I knew why. . . . A reason that seems to stand out is your ability to treat everyone equally, and not single out certain individuals or play favorites in the classroom. JIS is going to lose more than they know when you leave; however it is not the school I feel sorry for, but rather the students. I will never forget my senior year of English and how I learned about myself and life in just one year.—Lindsay (Grade 12)

I didn't realize how much I'd really learned from you till I saw my score of a 4 on the AP Eng. Lit. & Comp. Exam, a test which I thought I'd flunked for sure because I only answered half of the MC questions. And now that I'm in college at Lewis & Clark College in Portland I'm finding it surprisingly easy to write vast quantities of essays for my classes. I'd have to say that your AP Lit. & Comp. II class is much more challenging than almost any freshman English course here. I find that I'm now naturally using the building blocks method of writing for the base of my essays, and then elaborating on them from there. --Scot (Grade 12)

Very few people you meet in life have a lasting impression on you. You are one of those few. Thank you for building my confidence and training me so well in a subject that would have otherwise been a struggle.—Manoj (Grade 10)

I will always remember the speech you gave at the NHS induction, truly the most inspirational moment of that special night. The only reason why I work 10 hours for a 30-minute assignment is that teachers like you give me the incentive to do so.—Pat (Grade 12)

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” You have allowed me to expand mine, to see things that weren’t there to be seen, to look into a world of infinite possibilities, to seize the day. You’ve been my Mr. Keating, my inspiration—not only in your amazing teaching skills but in your ability to see the light in other people, to give with all your heart.—Ankona (Grade 12)

Thank you for having faith in me when I started out a bit slow in junior year. You are one of the most amazing English teachers I have had, with your passion and honest love for the written word.—Janet (Grade 12)

Thank you for making English class so exciting and for helping to unlock the mysteries of Homer to Joyce.—Jill (Grade 12)

Thank you for everything! All your fool-proof commentary and essay techniques, as well as your endless copies of the method writing list!—Bianca (Grade 12)

“If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.” You showed me how that beauty is expressed through writing.—Myra (Grade 12)

You have rekindled my enthusiasm in English. You have helped me make the transition from freshman fool to a “wise fool.” You have sparked my imagination and creativity, as well as developing a stronger appreciation for literature.—Steven (Grade 10)

Thank you for making me work, and thank you for forcing me to think.—Kabita (Grade 10)

Thank you for all of the priceless skills you have taught me. A senior from last year told me that “Dr. Penha will teach you English, and he’ll kick your ass doing it.” I don’t know about the kicking my ass part, but I do know about teaching me English. Thank you for loving what you do enough to make me love it too.—Jo (Grade 12)

You have helped me become more confident in my abilities in all aspects of life, not just in English, and your class is something I am truly going to miss.—Ellen (Grade 12)

I don’t think you realized it, but English was always one of my weakest subjects until this year. I guess it never clicked for me, until I got into your class . . . it was a lot of work, as English always is, but I don’t think I noticed it much this year because I actually enjoyed it. So thank you for being a fun, charismatic, and sincere English teacher, and most of all for bringing out my appreciation of literature.—Danielle (Grade 12)

You’re one of the greatest and most inspirational teachers I’ve ever had, and I’ve learned so much in English this year.—Evelyn (Grade 10)

Before this year, English was never really a favorite of mine. I never quite got it and, to be honest, didn’t find it very interesting. But after having you teach me this year, you really opened my eyes so much.—Shannon (Grade 12)

You have taught me not only English, but a love and fairness, care, and responsibility.—Loretta (Grade 10)

It was such a blessing to have a teacher like you, whose lecture becomes drama, who can turn the class into the auditorium of live performance. And with this active teaching you inspire and enlighten the students.—Chang Hwa (Grade 12)

You should know that I have never felt so prepared to take an exam as I was yesterday [for the AP Lit exam]. That says a lot about your teaching.—Lindsay (Grade 12)

I’ve never had a teacher who has related so well to both the study material and students. Through your class I grasped the intricacies of language while I learnt to appreciate literature (perhaps “life” would be more appropriate) from an artistic point of view, not as an exact science.—Sonu (Grade 12)

You are the most passionate and inspiring English teacher I have ever had.—Pothik (Grade 12)

Literature breathes life, and so does your class. Words really can create beauty, as you showed us. Thank you for showing me the art in language . . . –Sonya (Grade 12)