Patrick
Certified Tutor
I graduated from Gordon College in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. I focused on political relations in Europe and Latin America. After graduating, I received my Master's in International Relations, where I specialized in Spain-US relations. I have worked or interned for the Department of State, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and two members of the United States Congress. I also had the opportunity to study at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, investigating international financial systems during the 2007-08 Financial Crisis. I had my first taste of teaching as an ESL volunteer as an undergraduate. I knew I had a passion for instructing; so while a student, I worked as a Teaching Assistant and later a Graduate Assistant for undergraduate courses. Don't let my Irish-American name fool you, I have worked in Spanish, French, and Catalan at the professional level. I plan to pursue a law degree in the near future. I bring eight years of research and writing and teaching in the US, Spain, Canada, and Chile, and I'm excited to bring my diverse background to the table in order to help you reach your educational goals.
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Undergraduate Degree: Gordon College - Bachelors, International Relations
Graduate Degree: Boston University - Masters, International Relations
- LSAT: 161
Travel, philology, skiing, writing, and trying new foods.
- 10th Grade
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade
- 7th Grade
- 8th Grade
- 9th Grade
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- Adult Literacy
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP United States History
- AP US History
- College Economics
- College English
- College Essays
- College Level American History
- College World History
- Comparative Literature
- Conversational Spanish
- Economics
- Elementary School
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- Ethics
- European History
- High School
- High School Economics
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- High School World History
- High School Writing
- History
- IB History
- IB History SL
- IB World Religions
- IB World Religions SL
- Languages
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Macroeconomics
- Middle School
- Other
- Political Science
- Reading
- Social Studies
- Spanish
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 3
- Summer
- US History
- World Civilization
- World History
- World Literature
- World Religions
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe motivation is contagious - when someone sees that you're excited to learn, they get excited too. I've been a successful didact in history, politics, and language because I learned how to make learning feel natural. Every lesson is like riding a bike: the learning is not necessarily easy, but once learned it becomes an important, usable skill you'll never forget.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Gauging the ability of student is essential. We will run through essential material so I can understand how you best learn. For example, I learned that I had language skills when I discovered that I learn by writing - not necessarily by typical classroom instruction. Every student will bring their own learning style, and my first lesson will simultaneously instruct you and measure your own native comprehension abilities.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
You wouldn't be here if you weren't ready to learn, so I believe your motivation is already there. If you have the desire to learn, I can set you on a course of discovery. I will direct your motivation to work hard, and to navigate you to greater skills and higher test scores.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
We both know that learning and skill sharpening takes hard work. There's no way around that fact. In my teaching experience, I saw other classrooms go from excited to blasé after a few weeks. What kept my student going strong? Spirits stay high when students see the progress they make and realize that hard work is rewarded by becoming more talented and skillful.