Alfonso
Certified Tutor
I was born in San Diego, CA . Currently pursuing a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Business minor at Rice University.
I have two younger siblings I have always helped with homework and other school related projects. I have also tutored students from elementary school to high school aged students.
I am best at STEM subjects and standardized test prep. However, Spanish is also a strong subject for me since I grew up speaking it. I don't only speak it, but also have a solid background in writing and reading since I was schooled in Mexico for many years.
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Undergraduate Degree: Rice University - Current Undergrad, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- ACT Composite: 32
- ACT English: 31
- ACT Math: 35
- ACT Science: 32
- ACT Math
- ACT Science
- Advanced Placement Prep
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- AP Economics
- AP Physics 2
- AP Spanish Literature and Culture
- Arithmetic
- Economics
- Languages
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Python
- SAT Subject Test in Physics
- SAT Subject Test in Spanish
- SAT Subject Test in Spanish with Listening
- Spanish
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 3
- Spanish 4
- Test Prep
- TOEFL Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
Adapting to each student's individual learning style is the key to successful tutoring.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I like to give students a diagnostic exam during the first session.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Providing a student with the proper material and guidance is the best way to help them self study.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Long sessions can become tedious, so to keep a student motivated I like to create little competitions.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I'd change the explanation method. Try to explain things in a different way, like with an analogy.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
An effective way to improve reading comprehension is practicing a few skills to simplify the text such as identifying key words in a sentence or paragraph.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Setting goals from the beginning has shown to be successful because it helps the student stay motivated.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
A final test with all ranges of difficulty on a specific topic.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
A combination of words of encouragement and a couple of not so difficult questions to motivate and boost confidence.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I usually give students a diagnostic test and ask them any other questions they may have or areas where they may feel they need improvement.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By trying different types of exercises and types of teaching (i.e. lecture-based vs practice-based.)
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I usually use books or my computer to present material for the student, and have them take notes during the session so they have something to review afterwards.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I usually try to use examples about things they may like. For instance, I could use a sports example or a video game to illustrate a point.