Brian
Certified Tutor
Welcome! I am currently a junior at the University of Washington studying bioengineering and mechanical engineering. My desire to study bioengineering stems from my love and appreciation for human life. Life is truly fragile, and can be deprived in an instant or over a despairing process. Over time, I have discovered my duty to protect life through personal experiences, medical center volunteer work, and physician shadowing at Swedish Medical Group. There are still many medical problems in this world that have either too costly treatments, no treatment at all, or are entirely unknown to doctors. My current goal is to aid biomedical researchers in their devising of novel medical technology in the area of stem cell and tissue regeneration. My future goal is to either pursue a Master's Degree and Ph.D in bioengineering, or to pursue medical school. Outside of school, I enjoy volunteering in medical outreach events, partaking in biomedical research, and tutoring students to help them succeed!
My passion for tutoring and teaching began back in elementary school. As a kid, I excelled in mathematics and often found myself helping other students understand the material. Students from a young age would describe how my teaching methodology made "so much more sense" than the way their actual teacher described. As I tutored fellow classmates, I discovered that I had a knack for not just teaching, but warming up to and befriending students. I did not think of tutoring as a relationship between student and tutor, but as a friendship where both the student and I can grow as individuals. I also realized that I experienced genuine satisfaction in tutoring students and watching them succeed, knowing that I played a role in their achievements. I continued to host these study sessions outside of school from back in elementary school all the way into present day college.
As I entered high school, I began working part-time at a local Kumon Math and Reading Center, and also was an academic coach (teaching assistant) for an Algebra 2 class under the discretion of a teacher from MIT. At Kumon Math and Reading Center, I was quickly given the responsibilities of an assistant instructor, as my boss acknowledged my ability to teach, guide, prepare work packages, and grade work. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, as I felt a great pride and happiness in seeing each student improve. My boss would designate the most difficult students to me, whether in academic difficulty or in attitude, and I learned many ways to help bolster a healthy learning environment for all kinds of audiences. I hope to apply my experiences from serving as a teaching assistant, instructing at Kumon, and hosting study sessions outside of school to Varsity Tutors, where I will set forth all of my knowledge and experience to help your student reach and exceed his or her academic goals while having fun all the way!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Washington - Current Undergrad, Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering
- ACT Composite: 33
- ACT English: 34
- ACT Math: 35
- ACT Science: 34
Tennis, badminton, ping pong, basketball, football, running, hiking, fine art (sketching and painting), violin, piano, classical music, video games (League of Legends, StarCraft, Counter-Strike), spending time with friends, camping, living life!
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Advanced Placement Prep
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- AP Biology
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Computer Science
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Physics 2
- Arithmetic
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Calculus
- College Algebra
- College Biology
- College Computer Science
- College English
- Computer Science
- English
- Geometry
- High School Biology
- High School Computer Science
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- Public Speaking
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Subject Test in Physics
- SAT Writing and Language
- Science
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Technology and Coding
- Test Prep
- Trigonometry
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is to teach in both orthodox and unorthodox ways. The best tutor and teacher is able to cater to the needs of many different students: I strive to have multiple solid ways of approaching each type of problem to find which best suits each student.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can best help a student become an independent learner by showing the student how FUN independent learning can be!
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I will help a student stay motivated by relentlessly encouraging the student to reach new heights! I won't let the student grow complacent or satisfied, or else the student will lose the desire to keep growing.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
In the event that a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I have a plethora of resources to introduce to the student for self study, as well as a number of ways to approach each problem! I am capable of thinking of many examples and alternate, fun, and unorthodox ways of solving problems that appeal to a wide range of students.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I am especially equipped with helping students get excited in a subject by understanding how cool and intricate each subject is! Whether it is math, physics, chemistry, english, writing, grammar, or reading, each subject teaches very intriguing skills and applicable knowledge to the student.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
To ensure that a student understands the material, I will provide sample questions, problem sets, and periodic assessments, as well as a scoring database to monitor progress. Consistent high scores indicate good progress. Lower scores may indicate weaker areas of learning that require a stronger foundation.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Building confidence in a subject is all about practice and trust in oneself. The worst case scenario is studying a lot for an exam and blanking out on a problem because one stops trusting his or her ability to solve problems. To culture this trust, we will engage many different types of problems, exposing the students to all kinds of scenarios.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs based on communication and observation. I value a strong tutor-student bond to facilitate good communication without shyness or anxiety. I want to build an environment such that any student can come to me for help without hesitation!
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt my tutoring to the student's needs by understanding the student's mindset and weaknesses. Some students are visual learners, who learn better based off of graphical aid and videos, whereas other students are better readers who can intake information by studying the book. I will carefully observe the student and adapt my tutoring accordingly to cater to his or her difficulties, providing alternate resources or methods of problem solving as needed.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Reading comprehension is a very difficult skill to develop. The only way to really improve reading comprehension is to read more, and practice "good reading". Good reading consists of practicing good reading techniques, such as reflecting on each paragraph or passage he/she has just read. Paraphrasing and underlining are fantastic ways to obtain the main ideas of each paragraph. Reading comprehension skills come with practice, focus, and diligence.