Kelly was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland.  At an early age he discovered his passion for language and writing and would later go on to study both Spanish language and Linguistics at the undergraduate level.  It was here that he first began tutoring language and assisting with ongoing research into second language acquisition as well as language documentation at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.  During this time, he also worked closely with the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland as a volunteer interpreter.  Ultimately, these experiences would lead him to pursue further graduate study, focusing on the social aspects of language change and development.

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Inspired by the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Southwest, Kelly moved to Albuquerque in 2018, where he completed his Master’s Degree in Linguistics at the University of New Mexico.  While in the program, he had the opportunity to work as an instructor, teaching both beginning and advanced language levels in the department of Spanish and Portuguese.  Looking to develop further as an educator, he also took on additional work as both a writing and language tutor and online learning assistant at the Center for Academic Program Support, receiving his tutor certification from the College Reading and Learning Association.

 

Having occupied a variety of roles within education, Kelly takes a holistic approach to language learning, placing equal emphasis on developing listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.  He recognizes the difficulties and challenges that learners face when exposed to a foreign language for the first time and believes that a structured approach guided by compassion and flexibility is key to success.  In many ways, he views tutoring as an ideal opportunity to meet learners at their level and help them to both develop and apply their skills beyond the instructional setting.

 

In his spare time, Kelly enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, and caring for the fish he and his partner keep together.