Richard: Pittsburg tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of San Diego State University although I also studied in Mexico, Spain and France. I received my Bachelor of Arts in French with a focus on Spanish. I have traveled extensively and lived in Mexico for ten years and several years in Europe. I was a Professor of Advanced English at the state university UABC in Mexico and did translation work for the United Nations. I am an international speaker and have given presentations at associations and universities in the U.S. (University of Houston, National University) and Mexico (Universidad Univers) and corporations such as Plantronics. I have worked with the "No Child Left Behind" program where I had many opportunities to help struggling students with their Math and English. I also teach Spanish and French because I lived and studied in Mexico and France. I love languages and also excelled at Math. One of the keys to great teaching is being able to get a student to communicate. I think students respond to my style of teaching because I listen. Having a parent or student thank me for my work makes my day, but having a student do better on their next test makes my month. When I'm not teaching, I do research to find the relatives of children in foster care so these kids can have a permanent home with loving family members. In my spare time, I enjoy reading mystery, suspense and science fiction along with many business books. I love Dr. Pepper and pizza. I write articles about ways to help foster children and love hiking, kayaking, yoga and movies.
Connect with a tutor like Richard
Undergraduate Degree: SDSU - Bachelor in Arts, French
Hiking, kayaking, camping, public speaking, reading, foreign travel, and international research.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I work with the students rather than just talking at them. Students know where they need help, so we work on those areas. I also check in with my students to see if we're making progress or if we need to keep working on an area. I also communicate with the parents so they know what is happening and can help motivate the students. One of my students who had a D average received a 100 on his oral exam in Spanish 2. If the students want to do better in their classes, I will work with them, build up their confidence, and help them make higher grades.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
During a first session, I work with the students to see where they are and what they feel is holding them back. Students are smart, so they know where they need help. You have to know where the student is in their work and understanding before you start working with them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
There's more than one way to get an idea across. With one student, I had him touch objects and describe them in Spanish. For other students, they can write everything very well, but maybe they're struggling to speak. We'll do a variety of activities, and I'll give them things to do when they are at home. This worked very well for one student. He got a 100 on his oral exam, and this was his weaker area.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
A large part of getting a student engaged is giving them hope and having them achieve small successes. This can come from getting a high grade on a homework assignment or understanding a concept. The biggest challenge for students is having that sense of defeat, and I help them know that they can bounce back and do well. Success leads to excitement.