Verified Tutor

Paul

Bachelors, History, Philosophy, English Literature

10+ years of tutoring

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

I recently moved to NYC from Pittsburgh, PA, where I have lived my whole life up to this point. I went through grade school, high school, and college all within one mile of each other (all on the same street). Currently, I spend most of my time wandering around the city, learning its ins and outs, as well as reading any book I can carry around town. Working with Varsity Tutors, I hope that I can help students to teach themselves and to find out what fascinates them most. Sometimes the ideas that interest a student most aren't taught in a classroom. In school, often I'd prefer to teach myself to play the guitar rather than listen to a lecture on the crusades, or read Othello cover to cover rather than a dry, context-less except in a textbook. What's important is to find the intersection where your interests and your academic obligations meet. When you can think about classroom material in terms of activities you'd pursue whether or not it appears on the syllabus, understanding emerges. I would like to help you find a different, individuated approach to learning.

Q&A with Paul

I teach others to teach themselves. Education is a lifelong pursuit, and it doesn't end with graduation. I want to give my students the tools to continue their education for the rest of their lives. How can you help a student become an independent learner? The student must have a desire to learn a particular subject. This desire cannot be "because I have to" or "because I don't want to fail a test," but a genuine interest in the subject. With this established, I would aid the student in discovering reading material as well as developing a method for sifting through the material. With all the pieces in place, it is up to them to engage with the learning process. How would you help a student stay motivated?