Shae: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...Community College, high school poets at the Nova Project, and diverse adult writers at Bent Writing Institute. I tutor in the areas of College Essays, Essay Editing, Grammar and Mechanics, Literature, Public Speaking, Reading, Writing, Gifted, Study Skills and Organization. I love working with students on their writing, from the building blocks to the gloss, and I especially relish opportunities to help students see the creativity (and FUN!) involved in the seemingly dry world of...
Education & Certification
The Evergreen State College - Bachelor in Arts, Creative Writing and Education for Social Justice
Goddard College - Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
Jeana: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...test-taking strategies that build self-esteem and improve performance. I began tutoring for a private company while I was a student at Columbia University in New York. While there, I had the opportunity to teach students of all backgrounds and levels of ability. My unique approach to SAT and ACT test-prep focuses just as much on "learning the test" as it does learning the material, which gives students a sense of confidence and courage on test...
Education & Certification
Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelors, Visual Arts
Josh: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...am an avid home cook and runner. I also love crossword puzzles and spicy food. I feel that the most valuable aspect of education is learning how to think in different ways and approach problems from various perspectives. Even if a few years from now, you cannot quite remember how to graph an equation, at one point you thought through how to present information in a form that is easier to visually interpret. The exact...
Education & Certification
Stanford University - Bachelor in Arts, Music, Concentration in Composition
University of Washington-Seattle Campus - Masters, Music Composition
Ema: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...have five years of experience as a math tutor, during which time I helped students ages 3-17 with math ranging from basic arithmetic to pre-calculus. My favorite math topic is algebra, particularly because of its usefulness in solving real-world word problems. In addition to mathematics, I find joy in teaching/elucidating Shakespeare to high-school students. As a classically trained actor, I find it fun to tackle Shakespeare’s dense texts from a performance and character-driven perspective. In...
Education & Certification
Harvard University - Bachelors, English
Chloe: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...academic success is not a solo one, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share what I know in a way that inspires and educates students. My passion for education stems from a desire to become more aware of the world around me and to help others do the same, whether in the form of writing a paper, passing a test or understanding new concepts. My favorite subjects to tutor are biology or writing....
Education & Certification
Univeristy of Montana - Bachelors, Ecology and Organismal Biology
Diptesh: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...6-12 and college in a variety of subjects since! I specialize in mathematics and science tutoring as well as standardized exam preparation. In the past, I have helped students achieve significant improvements and success on the SAT, SHSAT, Regents and other exams! I truly believe education is a mutual learning and teaching opportunity and enjoy helping my students achieve a thorough understanding (those "Aha!" moments) and appreciation of whatever they choose to study! In the...
Education & Certification
New York University - Bachelor of Science, Global Public Health & Chemistry
Ruth: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...different kinds of diversity in our world. A graduate of Smith College, Ruth has worked as a teacher in a variety of community-based settings. She spent one year as a Fulbright teacher at Northern (Arctic) Federal University in Arkhangelsk, Russia, teaching English and growing international friendships. Since returning to Pittsburgh in 2012, she has taught and mentored at-risk kids and youth at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, and Best of the Batch...
Education & Certification
Smith College - Bachelors, Comparative Literature / Russian Civilization
Colton: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...philosophy and cognitive neuroscience. In my free time, I enjoy listening to and performing music, reading, soccer, surfing the web, and traveling. In terms of experience, I've worked publicly at my high-school for an after-school program, tutoring subjects from Spanish literature and English grammar to organic chemistry and calculus. Similarly, I've worked as a private tutor in SAT prep, AP test prep, and French, as the latter is my native language. For that reason, I...
Education & Certification
Brown University - Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
Rebecca: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...Comparative Literature, emphasizing critical theory. My tutoring spans a diverse range of experiences: I tutored math at an inner-city school in Los Angeles, English to students in Hyderabad, India, and reading to rehabilitated refugee children in Arizona. After graduating, I instructed reading programs for the Institute of Reading Development, where I saw that, as my students' reading skills improved, their overall confidence skyrocketed. They became better students because they stopped feeling incapable and inept. This...
Education & Certification
Occidental College - Bachelor in Arts, English
Kaley: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...I have experience both as a classroom teacher and a tutor and in these roles I look for ways to make learning fun and rewarding. I especially love teaching reading and writing and I have taught or tutored these subjects to students ranging from kindergarten through adults. I also have experience tutoring test prep subjects and focus both on the content material and test taking skills. My passion is psychology and I have been able...
Education & Certification
Brown University - Bachelors, Education and Public Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education - Masters, Human Development and Psychology
Jennifer: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
I am committed to providing my students with the best learning experience achievable. I strive to cater to their needs and challenge them to achieve their academic goals. ... I believe that every student can reach their personal potential. In order to do so, both student and educator must communicate with each other to use the student's strengths to overcome any challenges the student may face.... I always like to learn about the student's goals, interests,...
Education & Certification
University of Chicago - Bachelors, Public Policy
University of Southern California - Masters, Teaching
Molly: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...Review and reteach material from her school that has proven difficult. 2. Diagnostically assess for instructional gaps and then fill in gaps to bolster a strong subject area foundation. 3. Impart test-taking skills and strategies necessary for school success. I teach with the tenets of the Common Core State Standards in mind. As such, I do not aim to teach "tricks" for getting the right answer. Rather, I aim to wholly ingrain the skills, strategies,...
Education & Certification
Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, History
Northwestern University - Masters, Elementary Education
Haley: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...many chemical concepts taught in class settings and has given me a deep appreciation of and excitement for the sciences. Through tutoring, I hope to share these insights and excitement for the subject while deepening conceptual understandings. The greatest metric of success in a tutoring session is being told that I was able to break down explanations from the student's class and reformulate them into a version that is compatible with their way of thinking....
Education & Certification
University of Arizona - Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Trevor: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...Using the knowledge I have gained and will gain at Mines, I want to become involved in the forefront of renewable energy technologies. I have been putting my goals into action the last two years by interning at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory doing research in photovoltaic reliability. In high school and college, I have gained experience mentoring peers and helping them not only succeed, but enjoy their school work. I believe that for a...
Education & Certification
Colorado School of Mines - Current Undergrad, Mechanical Engineering
Marvin: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...is in Economics from the University of Chicago, and I did a lot of statistics, too! I like having kids how to read, write, and do math. Because I loved doing those in school, and I'll be teaching that this up coming school year. To have a struggling reader all of a sudden love reading and attack hard words never before tried is the best feeling in the world. I believe education should be fun,...
Education & Certification
The University of Chicago - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Courtney: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...variety of strategies to adapt to different learners needs and learning styles. I tutor a wide range of subjects, such as ACT prep, math, writing, Spanish, and Latin. Whether the math section of the ACT is making you nervous or you need some extra help keeping up in Spanish, I am confident that together, well figure out how to meet your current academic goals and develop the skills you need to face future challenges. Outside...
Education & Certification
Augsburg College - Bachelors, Sociology w/minor in Spanish
Christopher: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...the bulk of my work, including my senior honors thesis, concerned the adverse of effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing hippocampal region of the brain. After graduating, I served a year, full time, as an Americorps member with City Year, tutoring and mentoring 7th and 8th grade students in the Englewood Community of Chicago in 1-on-1 and small group settings. I am currently working toward a TEFL certification that would allow me to...
Education & Certification
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Bachelors, Psychology
Erica: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...in English and Ancient Latin Language and Literature. I am a licensed teacher with a diversity of experience working with young people. For the past 10 years, I have tutored students of all ages and in a variety of subjects, with a strong focus on K-12 mathematics. I am pursuing a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. I am extremely passionate about teaching and work daily...
Education & Certification
Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, English; Latin Language and Literature
Sarah: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...and writing courses. Additionally, I took many AP classes throughout high school which enabled me to enter college with over 30 credits already completed. I have spent two years tutoring in the past and have gained experience learning how to work best with struggling students. I enjoy teaching and helping others learn, be it for a specific subject, test preparation (ACT, SAT or AP), or writing skills. I am an organized, responsible, and flexible when...
Education & Certification
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Current Undergrad, Undecided
Ariela: English tutor
Certified English Tutor
...at test taking, is my ability to organize information. It's a skill I use both in my academic life, as well as professionally; as a stage manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it to someone else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts...
Education & Certification
University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Private English Tutoring
Receive personally tailored English lessons from exceptional tutors in a one-on-one setting. We help you connect with the best tutor for your particular needs while offering flexible scheduling to fit your busy life.
Varsity Tutors can help you connect with a highly qualified English tutor to help your child get more out of their daily lessons or to assist with test preparation. English tutors provide a unique academic advantage for your child in their English studies because of the individual attention and one-to-one learning environment. If you've tried finding "English tutors near me" without much success you already know how difficult it can be to find high-quality "English tutoring near me." However, by working with an English tutor online your child gains the same benefits of local English tutoring while greatly expanding your English tutoring options. To get connected with an English tutor quickly you can contact us today. Continue reading for more information on how English tutoring can help develop your child's skills in English.
One of the most common exams given to high school students is the ACT. It measures a student's mastery in English, Math, Reading, and Science, and has the option of also evaluating Writing. As one of the most respected methods of evaluation in the nation, it is considered a good benchmark for subject area mastery in the testing population. One of the disturbing trends made evident by looking at past scores is that less than 70 percent of students meet the standard expectations for college readiness on the English Section. For the exact percentage of past years, please see the table below.
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If your search for English tutors is underway, Varsity Tutors is the only resource you need to find a qualified instructor. English classes teach fundamental skills that students need not only at all grade levels, but also in other courses. You cannot answer a word problem if you lack the reading comprehension skills to understand it, nor can you compose an effective essay in history without an extensive knowledge of English language mechanics. As such, investing in an English tutor is like investing in a private instructor for aspects of every major subject at once.
What topics can English tutors help me or my student review?
Most English classes cover the following content areas: reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, writing, and critical thinking. Reading comprehension is a broad topic in its own right, ranging from learning how to read in elementary school to analyzing literary plots and evaluating arguments at the high school level and beyond. Reading begins by learning which sounds letters can make, so your student's instructor may review the fundamentals of phonics with them to get started.
Older students may focus on active reading techniques to help them remember more of what they read. For example, taking notes as you go along forces your brain to actively engage with the material, making it easier to remember details later on. You can also jot down anything that doesn't make sense to you so that you remember to ask about it later. If your student isn't already in the habit of doing these things, their instructor can encourage them to start doing so.
Active reading may allow your student to better understand literature as well. For instance, a student who doesn't understand a novel's basic plot is unlikely to get much out of reading it. As you advance, you can start trying to put yourself in a character's shoes to better understand their motivations. Why do Romeo and Juliet take the actions they do at the conclusion of Shakespeare's famous play? What are the implications of having a first-person narrator who doubles as a character?
The basics of English grammar may seem easy enough to adults, but irregular verb conjugations, tense differences, and even distinguishing between the subject and the predicate of a sentence can seem overwhelming to a young student. There are also a lot of grammar rules that even adults don't know, such as there vs. they're vs. their and when to use "it's" vs. "its." Your student might work with flashcards to help them remember all of the rules. A professional English tutor might also stress incorrect words and phrases out loud to help them stand out in a student's mind.
While there are general spelling rules (such as "i before e except after c"), the sheer number of silent letters and unconventional words in the English language make this an area requiring rote memorization. Flashcards can again prove beneficial, and your student's instructor can also teach them mnemonic devices to remember some of the tougher words.
Nobody knows every word in the English language, making vocabulary a topic at all levels of English instruction. If you or your student are having a hard time learning how to use new words, you might consider studying common word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to give you insight into what a word means. For example, "phobia" means a fear of something. "Arachnid" means spider, so "arachnophobia" means fear of spiders. If your student is too young to start working with word roots just yet, flashcards are once again a useful tool to help them master the words on their vocab list.
Writing is among the most important skills that a student will ever learn. It's important for self-expression, creativity, effective workplace communication, and test essays in virtually every common academic subject. If you or your student feel overwhelmed by writing assignments, your English tutor might show you how to outline your work beforehand to make them seem more approachable. Your instructor can also act as an editor for your piece, giving it a close before you submit it to help eliminate any mistakes. They can also provide constructive criticism as necessary to help you improve moving forward.
Writing also serves as a comprehensive test of sorts for a variety of other English skills. For example, consistent grammar mistakes will hurt your clarity of expression, making it more difficult for readers to follow what you're trying to say. Similarly, a limited vocabulary can produce a repetitive piece that readers lose interest in. Therefore, your writing may reveal topics and concepts that you or your student are yet to fully master.
Critical thinking deals with what you can do with the information presented to you. If you encounter an unfamiliar word in a reading passage, the general tone of the passage may help you deduce what it means. Similarly, many English tests ask students to draw inferences based on what they've read, gleaning more information than is directly stated. Both of these topics are a little bit more abstract than memorizing grammar rules, and practice is often the best way to get the hang of it. If you or your student are behind your peers in this area, you might answer practice questions during your English tutoring sessions until you feel more comfortable.
Older students are also asked to critique arguments, detailing how an author uses vocabulary, style, and evidence in order to make their point. They're also expected to incorporate these techniques into their own writing to make their point stand out. For example, alliteration (or repeating the same sound in consecutive words) tends to draw attention to that portion of a piece, so writers should try to use it to highlight key points. Similarly, poignant satire can help your piece garner interest. For instance, Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal sought to call out wealth inequality in England by suggesting (in jest) that nobles pay peasants for the privilege of eating their babies. The work is among the most famous pieces of satire of all time because of how well Swift accomplished what he set out to do.
Can English tutors help me or my student prepare for a standardized exam?
Federal Common Core standards mandate that all public school students in the United States take an English test each year from grades 3-8 to measure whether they are reading at a grade-appropriate level. Students are also assessed in Writing in grades 4 and 7, and most states require English standardized tests during a student's high school years as well. National tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT also have sections concentrating on English skills. If your student is studying for any of these exams, you might consider taking a practice test during your English tutoring sessions to develop a familiarity with the specific exam you're preparing for.
If you or your student deals with test anxiety, understanding the exam's formatting can make it easier to settle your nerves. If you're still feeling apprehensive, your instructor can demonstrate mental relaxation techniques to help you concentrate on test day.
Your practice test can also reveal your academic strengths and any areas of opportunity for improvement, helping your instructor figure out exactly what you need help with. Unlike a traditional classroom setting, English tutoring sessions can be designed with your needs in mind. You can study a topic until you are ready to move on, without regard for some pre-set curriculum. If you're starting to get bored, your instructor can also introduce more advanced material to keep you engaged in the learning process.
Similarly, an English tutor can design sessions around your preferred learning style to enhance your study efficiency. For example, a kinesthetic learner might play a hands-on game to help them understand grammar rules, while an auditory learner would get more out of a lecture-based format.
Your study sessions also take place in a one-on-one learning environment, ensuring that any questions you have can be answered in a timely manner. Likewise, all of your completed work can be returned to you promptly, allowing you to correct any mistakes while the material remains fresh in your mind.
Why is Varsity Tutors the right choice for me?
Trying to find your own instructor is a hassle, as you need to independently verify a candidate's credentials, make sure they know how to share information with students, and ensure that your schedules match up. At Varsity Tutors, we take all of the hassle out of the equation. We'll refer you to a qualified instructor who meets your specifications within 24 hours, allowing you to spend your time actually studying instead of preparing to do so.
We also offer an exclusive Live Learning Platform that facilitates digital study sessions, giving you or your student the benefits of face-to-face instruction without the logistical headache of a commute. Powerful features such as a virtual whiteboard and video chat functionality ensure a top quality study experience, so what are you waiting for? Contact Varsity Tutors today for more information on how we can connect you with knowledgeable English tutors!