How are you different from other tutors?

Unlike other tutors who just focus on the technical aspects of a discipline, I teach beyond the textbook. Learning should not be memorizing some boring mechanics from a textbook. The ideas should come alive. As such, I guide students to connect the various pieces of knowledge within an area discipline and between disciplines. One way I do this is to bring my pupils on field trips.  

A core part of my teaching philosophy is to cultivate the values of my students and assist them in codifying their own behavioral heuristics. I believe a student cannot achieve his or her potential on just knowledge alone; the whole person needs to be developed. So, I complement my tutoring program with mentoring: I pair my younger students with my older or former students, and they serve as big brothers or sisters to them.

It seems that you teach a wide range of subjects. Is that a disadvantage? Why not specialize in only one area?

Perceiving reality through one narrow lens limits progress. I learned this fact in my own professional and personal development. When I was at school, concepts congealed more readily if I was able to find connections to that very same topic from my other classes and interests. Such a linkage produced a mini- “Eureka” moment. In my growth as a tutor, I realized that I needed to have some grounding in other topics if I was to fully communicate ideas. For example, I needed to refine my understanding of the various scientific subfields to better guide students in ACT and SAT readings that discuss such topics like astrophysics and hydrology. 

Even more importantly, having diverse interests induces lateral thinking. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, lateral thinking is “a way of solving a problem by thinking about in a different and original way and not using traditional or expected methods.” Experiencing a stream of dissimilar inputs forces a person to constantly question and analyze his or her own thinking— metacognition.

What age groups do you tutor?

I tutor students from middle school and post-undergraduate (working professionals and those who are continuing their education for purposes such as passing credentials including the RICA and CSET).

Why do you teach students of varying age groups?

Teaching students of various ages keeps me grounded. The experiences of edifying pupils of different ages and backgrounds allows me to grow as an instructor. On another front, age does not correlate with skill. No matter the age, I firmly believe anyone can change and improve. Hence, I want to help clients no matter the age.

Where do you meet students?

I meet students at his/her home, at cafes, at libraries, or at my home office.

Do you do online tutoring?

Yes. I regularly teach clients in other states and other countries such as New York and China respectively.