Brian
Certified Tutor
My interest in tutoring stems from my love of learning and passion in sharing the learning process with others. I have roughly two years of experience tutoring one-on-one and at learning centers in both high school and college. My hobbies and interested include Jogging, hiking, yoga, reading, language learning, traveling, video gaming and comic books.
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Undergraduate Degree: Rutgers Business School - Bachelors, Accounting
- SAT Math: 730
Jogging, hiking, yoga, reading, language learning, traveling, video gaming, comic books
- Accounting
- Algebra
- Basic Computer Literacy
- Business
- Business Writing
- College Accounting
- College Business
- College English
- Conversational Mandarin
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- Financial Accounting
- GED Prep
- GED Math
- Geometry
- High School Accounting
- High School Business
- High School English
- Homework Support
- HSPT Prep
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Upper Level
- Japanese
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese
- Mandarin Chinese 1
- Mandarin Chinese 2
- Mandarin Chinese 4
- Math
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Other
- PC Basic Computer Skills
- Personal Finance
- Pre-Algebra
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Chinese with Listening
- SAT Subject Test in Japanese with Listening
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- SAT Writing and Language
- Social Networking
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Upper Level
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Technology and Coding
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
Besides imparting knowledge, one of the most important lessons a teacher can teach a student is "how to learn" and continue learning for the rest of his or her life.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Self-introductions, a short preliminary quiz, and subject-related games to gauge the student's personality, subject-matter knowledge, and learning style.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By encouraging him or her to read, study, and explore outside of what is taught in the classroom, which fosters the student's ownership of his or her learning and a curiosity for the unknown.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Constant encouragement and realistic feedback.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Not everyone likes their potatoes mashed; some people prefer French fries or potato gratin. In other words, there's usually more than one way to skin a cat.
Explaining the concept or demonstrating the skill in a way that is different than how it was taught in the classroom or from the textbook helps to clarify and reinforce many concepts, and not just difficult ones.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
My approach would first require pinpointing the cause of the struggle, but generally building vocabulary and reading/writing profusely outside of schoolwork help tremendously.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
For very young children, the sticker or point system--which can be traded in for small prizes.
For older students, engage on a personal level and get to know them. Not all students are willing to open up to someone they don't know or trust.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Relate the subject to something that does excite him/her.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Pop quizzes and games.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Practice, practice, practice.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By asking them (or their parents) and looking at their homework and test scores.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Evaluate the student's needs first, then assess the student's responses to different tutoring approaches.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Handouts, PowerPoint slides, quizzes, puzzles or games (for younger students), and excerpts from textbooks used by other schools.