I am a PhD candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology at Columbia University. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from McGill University with a double major in Sociology and World Religions, which I followed with an MA in Religious Studies. I then moved to Columbia where I completed another MA and an MPhil both in Anthropology. I have done extensive ethnographic and archival research in India with support from the Fulbright Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Throughout my graduate level education I have worked as a Teaching Assistant, lecturing, grading, and designing curriculum for university level students. As a teaching assistant, I have also tutored countless university students, assisting them in developing their skills as readers, writers, and critical thinkers. Beyond the university, I have tutored young children, ages 7-14, in English through an NGO in India, as well as adults in New York in the Tamil language. I can expertly tutor a broad range of subjects including but not limited to History, English Writing and Literature, and the Social Sciences. I successfully completed AP American History, AP European History, AP Biology, and AP English Literature, and am certain that I can offer students insight and study skills in each subject. I am a very experienced academic writer and can assist in the development of grammar, mechanics, and powerfully communicative writing. Having succeeded in applying to top schools myself, I can also help students reach for entrance into the very best educational institutions.

The issues I find it inaccurate to label them problems that students face in their own individual writing and learning processes vary. Due to the variety of issues that students face, I have found it necessary to form a strong foundation for my approach to instruction; but, I have also learned that this foundation needs to leave room for change. I learned early in my career that a teaching philosophy set as doctrine could serve as a hindrance to my ability to engage students, and it could serve as a hindrance to a student's ability to learn. The latter prompted me to see that teaching is circumstantial; i.e., we can each have our individual way of approaching a text or an assignment, but in the end, we must have an ability to change with differing circumstances, including student abilities and course subjects.I feel that teaching goes beyond imparting to students the knowledge solely within the parameters of a particular subject. It is extremely important to note that the umbrella of English as a discipline can cover other academic areas, such as sociology, cultural studies, and communications studies. This will not only help the student's writing, but it will also give them skills they can use in other areas of their lives, both academic and personal.

Hi! I am a certified English teacher and Principal in the State of Missouri. I believe that students are under more pressure than ever to succeed in school. However, due to the ever increasing class sizes that some of the best schools are experiencing students are not able to receive the personal attention that some of them need to be at their best. That is why tutoring can be so valuable. I am able to work one on one with a student which allows me to devote all my time to helping them with their particular problems. I am able to help students understand what it is they are being asked to do, assist them in accomplishing it and finally, provide them the ability to recall the information for future use.I look forward to helping you be the best student you can be!

I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago, majoring in international studies and minoring in Chinese and English. I will be graduating this spring and plan to return to China next fall, where I recently spent a semester abroad studying Mandarin intensively. I have a passion for learning languages, and have also studied Spanish and German for several years. In the past I have tutored Chinese students looking to improve their conversational English skills as well as American elementary school students in basic reading and reading comprehension skills. My favorite subject to tutor is reading and writing because I am passionate about sharing the rich heritage and nuances of my native tongue with others. Outside of languages, I enjoy traveling, reading, swimming, dancing and attending plays or concerts. I believe that the key driver of academic success is genuine interest in the subject. As a tutor, my foremost aim is to find new and creative ways to provoke curiosity and excitement in the student, because after all, learning must first and foremost be fun!!

When I came to the United States from Japan at five years old, I could not speak a word of English. My first day of school, my father had made me three cards with hand drawn pictures: one that said “I feel sick”, one that said “Where is the bathroom?” and one that said “I want to go home”. At the time, those cards were my only mode of communication. From there, I very quickly learned English, going from reading the “red books” (the easiest level books in Kindergarten) to reading the “purple books” (the most difficult) within the first several months. However, this would never have been possible without the amazing teachers and parents who spent hours with me going over flashcards, working on phonics lessons, and reading with me. To this day, my role models as a teacher are the individuals who gave me the help, support, and resources necessary for me to succeed when I really needed it.I believe it is largely because of this experience in my early childhood that I have always enjoyed teaching. Teaching is a way for me to give back to the community and to make a difference. I know how much of a difference it makes to meet even one great teacher, even more so to meet a community of ambitious teachers and students willing to work together to reach their goals. This is why, as early as elementary school, I have always been involved with teaching. It started with helping my friends with difficult math problems when they stuck or tutoring my little brother. As I got older, my teaching experiences got more official, and during college, I had the opportunity to teach ELL/ESL to refugees in my community as well as being a teaching assistant for a biology lab course; both have been life-changing experiences.Now, I speak fluent and accent-less English and Japanese. I recently graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a major in genetics, cell biology and development. I currently work in a research lab doing innovative research to try to find cures and treatments for muscular dystrophy, and I plan on attending medical school so that I can save and touch people’s lives. I have clearly come very far since the first day of school in America. However, I have never forgotten where I started; nor have I forgotten the fact that I would not be where I am right now if not for the patient, determined, and creative teachers I had who not only helped me academically but also made me feel safe and connected. This is the kind of teacher I want to be, and I hope that I can make the kind of difference in my students’ lives that my teachers have made for me.

Graduate MBA student based in Kansas City, MO looking to help motivate other students to grow and succeed. I believe that knowledge is power, and learning to overcome obstacles is one of the most valuable skills in life. Learning and knowledge go far beyond the classroom, and I believe that good collaboration, communication, and application are key to making students feel excited to learn.

I am a recent graduate of Duke University, with a Master of Science degree in Global Health. I spent the six previous years working for Novartis as a Head of Communications in the Vaccines and Diagnostics division. I joined Novartis after completing my undergraduate degree with honors in English language and literature from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.I can help both students and professionals with all ranges of English writing and reading skills, including grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension and retention, English as a second language, essay writing and editing, higher level literature analysis, thesis writing and editing, business writing, and presentation and public speaking skills.I have taught and tutored students from elementary school through the graduate and professional levels. I have served as a professor's assistant in British Literature and Dramatic Arts classes, and have conducted caregiver classes on the Picture-Exchange Communication System for children with speech disorders.I have also tutored on the tools needed to becoming an exceptional student, including organizational skills, memorization and mnemonic devices, study-to-the-test techniques, responsible speed reading, and time management.My philosophy toward tutoring hinges on two primary goals: 1) to tutor in a way that not only meets the student's academic goals in the near-term, but also imparts a methodology that will carry the student toward future and continued success, and 2) to foster self-motivation in a student by making English fun!I love sharing my passion for language and literature with others, especially in helping overcome the "fear of the blank page" and other anxieties. Its never too late to learn to write well, to enjoy reading, or to apply these important skills to achieve your academic and professional goals.Personally, I love the time to enjoy a good book, but I also love traveling, attempting challenging recipes, kayaking, hiking, and taking my dog Cali to the beach.

As a NYS resident for over 20+ years, I've raised two kids in our school system, taught college level courses, tutored, coached and counseled adults and youth, spoken at events as a motivational speaker, and participated in volunteer and charitable events around the state. Education is a lifelong passion because I know that a solid education is a powerful gift that can change lives and help people achieve their dreams.From a young age, I was an avid reader who loved the world of books. From the comfort of my home, I could travel across worlds and visit the towns and streets inhabited by characters in the books I read. That love of reading led me to tutor/teach kids and adults to read and write and learn new ways of seeing the world. It was the same love of learning that led me to graduate school in education.I've tutored little kids and lectured in adult classrooms with over 100 students and what brings me back to the field, again and again, is my love for helping others find their footing in a subject and in the classroom. When a student learns a new word, writes a correct sentence or reads a paragraph that seemed impossible before, I know that I'm contributing to their dream of academic success. That is my inspiration.My interests in learning and teaching can also be attributed to the fact that I grew up on three continents and view myself as an internationalist. I've been exposed to people and places that remain culturally rich and varied, and I love connecting with people from other parts of the globe. Travel and participating in cultural exchanges have played an equally important part in shaping my learning experiences.As a training specialist, I love exchanging ideas and hearing fresh perspectives on myriad topics that influence our lives. I believe that learning takes place everywhere, and we can use the vast resources that daily life offers as a teaching/learning tool. I believe that learning is an exchange of ideas and knowledge, and that both teacher and student must be fully engaged in the process for it to be effective. An effective educator listens and learns with the student, and encourages dialogue and inquiry. I love to give positive reinforcement and receive feedback, and every student who crosses my path knows that my goal is to support their learning efforts and to help them succeed.

Unwilling to pick between the humanities and the sciences, I studied both Anthropology and Sustainable Development at Columbia University. I have experience tutoring most subjects, but my strengths are test prep, studying and time management skills, and reading, writing, and critical thinking skills at any level. I love helping students find the way that works best for them to approach problem solving and learning. I am very interested in education and have experience working with both children and young adults in New York public schools as well as outdoor summer schools. I speak both French and Arabic and am learning Spanish, and in my free time I love to cook, read, and travel!

I became a part of Varsity Tutors because I have been tutoring regularly for the past 4 years and coming from Boston, I wanted to continue the work I was doing. I love teaching students of all levels, and I am excited to work with a broad range of students through Varsity Tutors.I want to become a high school teacher, but tutoring is something that is so unique in that you get to work with one student and learn their every strength and weakness.I look forward to working with any student who needs my help, and helping them to grow to be the student they want to be!

I am a PhD candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology at Columbia University. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from McGill University with a double major in Sociology and World Religions, which I followed with an MA in Religious Studies. I then moved to Columbia where I completed another MA and an MPhil both in Anthropology. I have done extensive ethnographic and archival research in India with support from the Fulbright Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Throughout my graduate level education I have worked as a Teaching Assistant, lecturing, grading, and designing curriculum for university level students. As a teaching assistant, I have also tutored countless university students, assisting them in developing their skills as readers, writers, and critical thinkers. Beyond the university, I have tutored young children, ages 7-14, in English through an NGO in India, as well as adults in New York in the Tamil language. I can expertly tutor a broad range of subjects including but not limited to History, English Writing and Literature, and the Social Sciences. I successfully completed AP American History, AP European History, AP Biology, and AP English Literature, and am certain that I can offer students insight and study skills in each subject. I am a very experienced academic writer and can assist in the development of grammar, mechanics, and powerfully communicative writing. Having succeeded in applying to top schools myself, I can also help students reach for entrance into the very best educational institutions.

The issues I find it inaccurate to label them problems that students face in their own individual writing and learning processes vary. Due to the variety of issues that students face, I have found it necessary to form a strong foundation for my approach to instruction; but, I have also learned that this foundation needs to leave room for change. I learned early in my career that a teaching philosophy set as doctrine could serve as a hindrance to my ability to engage students, and it could serve as a hindrance to a student's ability to learn. The latter prompted me to see that teaching is circumstantial; i.e., we can each have our individual way of approaching a text or an assignment, but in the end, we must have an ability to change with differing circumstances, including student abilities and course subjects.I feel that teaching goes beyond imparting to students the knowledge solely within the parameters of a particular subject. It is extremely important to note that the umbrella of English as a discipline can cover other academic areas, such as sociology, cultural studies, and communications studies. This will not only help the student's writing, but it will also give them skills they can use in other areas of their lives, both academic and personal.

Hi! I am a certified English teacher and Principal in the State of Missouri. I believe that students are under more pressure than ever to succeed in school. However, due to the ever increasing class sizes that some of the best schools are experiencing students are not able to receive the personal attention that some of them need to be at their best. That is why tutoring can be so valuable. I am able to work one on one with a student which allows me to devote all my time to helping them with their particular problems. I am able to help students understand what it is they are being asked to do, assist them in accomplishing it and finally, provide them the ability to recall the information for future use.I look forward to helping you be the best student you can be!

I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago, majoring in international studies and minoring in Chinese and English. I will be graduating this spring and plan to return to China next fall, where I recently spent a semester abroad studying Mandarin intensively. I have a passion for learning languages, and have also studied Spanish and German for several years. In the past I have tutored Chinese students looking to improve their conversational English skills as well as American elementary school students in basic reading and reading comprehension skills. My favorite subject to tutor is reading and writing because I am passionate about sharing the rich heritage and nuances of my native tongue with others. Outside of languages, I enjoy traveling, reading, swimming, dancing and attending plays or concerts. I believe that the key driver of academic success is genuine interest in the subject. As a tutor, my foremost aim is to find new and creative ways to provoke curiosity and excitement in the student, because after all, learning must first and foremost be fun!!

When I came to the United States from Japan at five years old, I could not speak a word of English. My first day of school, my father had made me three cards with hand drawn pictures: one that said “I feel sick”, one that said “Where is the bathroom?” and one that said “I want to go home”. At the time, those cards were my only mode of communication. From there, I very quickly learned English, going from reading the “red books” (the easiest level books in Kindergarten) to reading the “purple books” (the most difficult) within the first several months. However, this would never have been possible without the amazing teachers and parents who spent hours with me going over flashcards, working on phonics lessons, and reading with me. To this day, my role models as a teacher are the individuals who gave me the help, support, and resources necessary for me to succeed when I really needed it.I believe it is largely because of this experience in my early childhood that I have always enjoyed teaching. Teaching is a way for me to give back to the community and to make a difference. I know how much of a difference it makes to meet even one great teacher, even more so to meet a community of ambitious teachers and students willing to work together to reach their goals. This is why, as early as elementary school, I have always been involved with teaching. It started with helping my friends with difficult math problems when they stuck or tutoring my little brother. As I got older, my teaching experiences got more official, and during college, I had the opportunity to teach ELL/ESL to refugees in my community as well as being a teaching assistant for a biology lab course; both have been life-changing experiences.Now, I speak fluent and accent-less English and Japanese. I recently graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a major in genetics, cell biology and development. I currently work in a research lab doing innovative research to try to find cures and treatments for muscular dystrophy, and I plan on attending medical school so that I can save and touch people’s lives. I have clearly come very far since the first day of school in America. However, I have never forgotten where I started; nor have I forgotten the fact that I would not be where I am right now if not for the patient, determined, and creative teachers I had who not only helped me academically but also made me feel safe and connected. This is the kind of teacher I want to be, and I hope that I can make the kind of difference in my students’ lives that my teachers have made for me.

Graduate MBA student based in Kansas City, MO looking to help motivate other students to grow and succeed. I believe that knowledge is power, and learning to overcome obstacles is one of the most valuable skills in life. Learning and knowledge go far beyond the classroom, and I believe that good collaboration, communication, and application are key to making students feel excited to learn.

I am a recent graduate of Duke University, with a Master of Science degree in Global Health. I spent the six previous years working for Novartis as a Head of Communications in the Vaccines and Diagnostics division. I joined Novartis after completing my undergraduate degree with honors in English language and literature from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.I can help both students and professionals with all ranges of English writing and reading skills, including grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension and retention, English as a second language, essay writing and editing, higher level literature analysis, thesis writing and editing, business writing, and presentation and public speaking skills.I have taught and tutored students from elementary school through the graduate and professional levels. I have served as a professor's assistant in British Literature and Dramatic Arts classes, and have conducted caregiver classes on the Picture-Exchange Communication System for children with speech disorders.I have also tutored on the tools needed to becoming an exceptional student, including organizational skills, memorization and mnemonic devices, study-to-the-test techniques, responsible speed reading, and time management.My philosophy toward tutoring hinges on two primary goals: 1) to tutor in a way that not only meets the student's academic goals in the near-term, but also imparts a methodology that will carry the student toward future and continued success, and 2) to foster self-motivation in a student by making English fun!I love sharing my passion for language and literature with others, especially in helping overcome the "fear of the blank page" and other anxieties. Its never too late to learn to write well, to enjoy reading, or to apply these important skills to achieve your academic and professional goals.Personally, I love the time to enjoy a good book, but I also love traveling, attempting challenging recipes, kayaking, hiking, and taking my dog Cali to the beach.

As a NYS resident for over 20+ years, I've raised two kids in our school system, taught college level courses, tutored, coached and counseled adults and youth, spoken at events as a motivational speaker, and participated in volunteer and charitable events around the state. Education is a lifelong passion because I know that a solid education is a powerful gift that can change lives and help people achieve their dreams.From a young age, I was an avid reader who loved the world of books. From the comfort of my home, I could travel across worlds and visit the towns and streets inhabited by characters in the books I read. That love of reading led me to tutor/teach kids and adults to read and write and learn new ways of seeing the world. It was the same love of learning that led me to graduate school in education.I've tutored little kids and lectured in adult classrooms with over 100 students and what brings me back to the field, again and again, is my love for helping others find their footing in a subject and in the classroom. When a student learns a new word, writes a correct sentence or reads a paragraph that seemed impossible before, I know that I'm contributing to their dream of academic success. That is my inspiration.My interests in learning and teaching can also be attributed to the fact that I grew up on three continents and view myself as an internationalist. I've been exposed to people and places that remain culturally rich and varied, and I love connecting with people from other parts of the globe. Travel and participating in cultural exchanges have played an equally important part in shaping my learning experiences.As a training specialist, I love exchanging ideas and hearing fresh perspectives on myriad topics that influence our lives. I believe that learning takes place everywhere, and we can use the vast resources that daily life offers as a teaching/learning tool. I believe that learning is an exchange of ideas and knowledge, and that both teacher and student must be fully engaged in the process for it to be effective. An effective educator listens and learns with the student, and encourages dialogue and inquiry. I love to give positive reinforcement and receive feedback, and every student who crosses my path knows that my goal is to support their learning efforts and to help them succeed.

Unwilling to pick between the humanities and the sciences, I studied both Anthropology and Sustainable Development at Columbia University. I have experience tutoring most subjects, but my strengths are test prep, studying and time management skills, and reading, writing, and critical thinking skills at any level. I love helping students find the way that works best for them to approach problem solving and learning. I am very interested in education and have experience working with both children and young adults in New York public schools as well as outdoor summer schools. I speak both French and Arabic and am learning Spanish, and in my free time I love to cook, read, and travel!

I became a part of Varsity Tutors because I have been tutoring regularly for the past 4 years and coming from Boston, I wanted to continue the work I was doing. I love teaching students of all levels, and I am excited to work with a broad range of students through Varsity Tutors.I want to become a high school teacher, but tutoring is something that is so unique in that you get to work with one student and learn their every strength and weakness.I look forward to working with any student who needs my help, and helping them to grow to be the student they want to be!