Andre: Bloomington tutor

Certified Tutor

I hold a BA in both English and Philosophy from Columbia University. While in college, I began tutoring SAT prep and essay writing throughout NYC and Westchester as a freelance instructor. I also taught online ESL courses as part of a human rights organization based in India. I wanted to do something a little different after graduation, so I signed a contract to teach English at a private school in Seoul, South Korea for a year. It was different (to say the least!) to be in front of an entire classroom, and the experience made clear to me the benefits of a one-on-one teaching environment. Since my return from the East, I found myself briefly back in the classroom as an ESL instructor for the New York YMCA camp's summer retreat program. Lately my focus has been on test prep, writing, study skills/organization, ESL, and music.

Over the years I've taught students of all ages, from Kindergarten to adult learners, while constantly experimenting with different methods and teaching styles. What separates me from other tutors is the personalization of my approach and lesson plans, which draw from a large variety of sources and cater to each student's unique strengths, weaknesses, and goals. I truly love communicating the things I've learned in fun and unconventional ways, appreciating fully how students will respond to and retain a concept if it is tinged with humor and positive energy. Especially when it comes to subjects like standardized test prep, which can be tedious and bland, an enjoyable learning environment reduces the anxiety that contributes to low scores and lack of test day confidence.

Outside of teaching, I'm passionate about the guitar and the role of music in our lives. I've been playing, teaching, and studying the instrument for many years and can think of no better way to end a day than with a jam session or a show. We use the verb "play" when speaking of making music, but I've learned through the years just how much work it is to continually advance and express new ideas musically!