Award-Winning Tutors from Northern Illinois University
Tutors from
Northern Illinois University
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I am a certified teacher with a master's degree in Education which I received from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. My specialization is in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), but I also teach elementary school subjects. I studied Elementary Education and Anthropology in my undergraduate studies. Since I have a love for travel and learning about other cultures, I have lived and worked in three foreign countries; I taught English to university students in Kyrgyzstan through the United States Peace Corps and high school students in Guadalajara, Mexico and studied German while working as an au pair in Germany. While working on my master's degree, I taught adult immigrants in Flushing, Queens who wanted to improve their English. After graduating with my master's degree, I taught academic ESOL, essay writing, and adult continuing education at a city college in Queens, NY. Following that, I taught ESL to predominantly Egyptian, Arabic speaking, students at a high school and elementary school in New Jersey. I enjoy working with students of all ages. Working one one one with students is especially rewarding. Throughout my teaching career, I have provided private lessons to students in standardized tests, reading, writing, study skills and math. I believe in student-centered, hands-on learning. I help all of my students with study skills and overcoming barriers to study such as vocabulary and skipped gradients. I have traveled throughout Europe and love to learn about other cultures and lands. I also enjoy interior design, cooking and traveling. I am happy to be a part of Varsity Tutors and I look forward to meeting new students!

Caring Bilingual (English/Spanish) Elementary School Teacher offering 21 years of experience teaching all subjects to English Language Learners. Passionate about meeting all students' learning needs through various types of teaching. Great strengths in Dual Language instruction and Mathematics.
I have had the pleasure of being an Early Childhood Special Education teacher, with a background in Speech and language pathology for the past ten years. I am an enthusiastic, versatile, and compassionate educator, and advocate for my students. I strive to promote the development of all learning styles, by meeting students where they are, and providing them with developmentally appropriate, engaging, and hands-on activities. I believe in helping students become confident in who they are, so that they can achieve the growth in their area(s) of need. My objective is to provide my students with a safe, secure, and nurturing learning environment, so that they can develop a love for learning and acquire the skills to become lifelong learners.
I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a focus on applied probability and statistics. After earning my undergraduate degree, I went on to receive a Master of Science in Statistics. I focus on tutoring statistical topics, such as AP Statistics or college statistics. While working as a teacher's assistant, I gained experience tutoring struggling students who need some extra help. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dogs, reading, and playing frisbee golf.
I have always been a huge fan of helping others and computer science, so I thought that I might as well combine the two! I have always been looking for opportunities to help others around me, including tutoring and volunteer activities. This has been a part of me for as long as I can remember, and I have been tutoring students that surround me since before High School.I'm currently is college as a freshman, going towards a major in computer science, software development, and a minor in sociology. I love the wide range of uses that computer science can be implemented into, and I absolutely enjoy learning how others see problems before them and how they proceed in getting through that problem.With all of that being said, I will be tutoring a variety of computer science languages and subjects, such as Java, C++, and Ap computer science classes.I tend to take the first quarter of the very first tutor session to get to know who I will be tutoring in order to gear lessons towards something they can easily digest. I like to include activities or subjects that they may enjoy into lessons in order for the students to more accurately, and actively, learn their lesson. This also helps keep the student focused on their subject and even make the tutoring session enjoyable!
I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus in Special Education. I am licensed to teach 1-6 in all subject areas. I am currently a tutor at Huntington Learning Center and a First Grade Teacher at Welch Elementary school in Naperville. I am passionate about making learning fun and applying what is taught to real life situations. It amazes me the different ways students learn and I encourage them to be themselves. There is power in struggle, it can help shape growth mindsets and that is when light bulb moments happen. I make sure my students feel both seen and heard. They will not only gain knowledge on academic subject areas but also their self esteem will elevate.
I have undergraduate degree in Economics and a law degree I have tutored over 400 students in the last 10 years in all subjects including ACT, Geometry, Algebra, Pre-Algebra and Trigonometry. I have taught all these students one on one and have learned how to identify each student's special way of learning and adjust the content and the teaching style to match their way of learning. Every students learns differently and the highest rate of success comes when you match the teaching with their learning style. I love teaching students and it something that stumbled upon accidentally just my helping my neighbor's son. Now teaching is the thing I most passionate about as a profession. And I feel blessed that over 10 years ago my neighbor asked for a little help or I would have never found out how much I love teaching.
I appreciate my students and want them to succeed. I have many years of experience assisting students of all ages. I received my PhD in English at Northern Illinois University and currently work as a professor at an Atlanta university. I have taught middle school, high school, and college English. I have expertise in all language arts areas and test prep, such as the SAT, ACT, and GRE tests. I also have experience helping students prepare for the SSAT and ISEE exams. I think an added benefit is that I get along well with students of all kinds. My goal is to assist all students with their test objectives so they can achieve academic success now and in the future.
I attended Northern Illinois University. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 2004, where I graduated on the Dean's List. While attending college, I worked at the child care center on campus.Since I was a young child, I knew that I wanted to work with children. I have taught preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade in various schools. One fun fact about me is that for my first teaching job, I taught in the same school that I attended as a child. It was strange teaching with some of my former teachers at first but then I was able to learn so much from them.I have 20 years of education experience. I have tutored students from age 4 to 40 in reading, phonics, writing, math, study skills, homework support, and ACT and SAT prep. My favorite subject to tutor would be language arts. I love working with students on reading, writing, phonics, spelling, etc.
I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University. I received my Bachelors of Art in Sociology. After I graduated I decided to work full time as a manager in Retail Store but with that I have started to tutor my cousins. I am dedicated to helping students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of their subjects. My sociology studies have equipped me with insights into human behavior, social structures, and learning dynamics, allowing me to tailor my teaching methods to each student's unique needs.
TEACHER ADVISOR -- CONSULTANT (1970s to present) in learning categories including English, creative writing, proofreading/editing, document clarification, statutory interpretation, computer/internet skills, voice-over work, martial arts, accent/dialect development & reduction, personal training, singing, wellness/longevity strategies, balance & fall prevention. Company name: Symmetry Tutorials and Life Enrichment Services in West Rogers Park. I've taught thousands of students across several subject categories, and look forward to both your acquaintance and working with you.
Hello,My name is Attorney Chris Slaughter, I have represented clients in the practice of law since 1998. I have practiced in several different disciplines including but not limited to criminal defense law and real estate transactions. I am an entrepreneur having started and run different business, I have taught on the college level and published an award winning book. I have rehabbed houses, sold real estate and insurance. I am a people person who likes to talk, teach and learn.Motto: "Find a way or Make a way!"
Whether teaching a lower-level or upper-level Spanish course, my approach to teaching Spanish has three main foci: engagement, relevance, and culture. In order for students to learn, they need to be engaged with the materials. I employ a multitude of materials that students can use to enhance their learning that goes beyond only reading from a textbook. By using videos, audio, and short stories to learn from, students are able to see the language used in a variety of contexts which keeps them interested in learning. While providing students with additional materials, I also make sure to learn about their interests so that I can teach them "me-specific" vocabulary. It is important that students not only have knowledge of common vocabulary but also vocabulary that they are likely to use when engaging with Spanish speakers. I believe that including vocabulary that is relevant to the students further increases their engagement and in turn their proficiency in the language. Finally, culture is a huge component of any language and I believe it should be seamlessly included alongside grammar instruction. By including culture into language instruction, students gain insight into idiomatic expressions, customs, and other culture-specific topics that will enrich their language learning experience.Whether in the classroom or online, I believe technology plays a vital role in improving teaching and learning. For additional practice outside of the classroom, I enjoy using web-based applications that allow students to interact with one another via video or voice-chats. This allows students to continue practicing what they have learned and to receive feedback. By constantly participating in communicative activities, students will be able to use their language skills in real-world situations and become proficient Spanish speakers.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics. I have endorsements to teach up to 9th grade in English, Social Studies, and Science. I hold a Master's degree in Early Childhood Administration. I have been a child care provider for the past 8 years and have taught children from ages 6 weeks to 10 years old in physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development.
I have over thirty years of corporate financial experience at various levels and across several industries. I started in traditional financial analyst/staff accountant roles and progressed through the ranks to positions of international controller and chief financial officer. I held these titles with two different companies, one publicly-traded, so I have had experience in working with a wide variety of professionals in different environments around the world. In more recent years, I have worked as an independent consultant specializing in areas of financial reporting, internal control, and interim managerial staff-augmentation roles. I began teaching finance and management courses online in the Fall of 2012 and have been doing so ever since.I particularly enjoy tutoring because I am able to help so many students become familiar with concepts that are so very important in today's world! By sharing my background and experience, I look forward to helping students learn and master financial, management and business skills they will be able to apply throughout their personal and professional lives.
I have a natural ability to connect with and educate people of all ages, which I have been doing for more than 16 years. My personal foundation is my enthusiasm for helping others. My mother taught early childhood development, and I just inherited her love of pouring into little people. Since my college days, when students still carried books, I've had experience working with students. I would assist my classmates while they worked on their class presentations, and it was simple for me to see how the content should be arranged. As soon as I learned something, I would impart it to someone else. Then people started coming to me for advice, so I decided to make it my career in 2006 and started teaching postsecondary nutrition science courses. I rapidly rose to the position of top professor at the school, and there was always a waiting list for my classes. My education began long before I entered a traditional school because my mother worked in early childhood development, but I formally began in an elementary magnet school, continued on to Morgan Park High School, then graduated and attended Northern Illinois University and completed my degree in four years. I went on to earn my master's degree in public health and finished my dietetic coursework to become a Registered dietitian. At Northcentral University, I'm finishing up a doctoral degree with a focus on executive function development, persistence, early college transition, and social capital principles. I can tutor in the areas of nutrition science, food service math, executive functioning development, and dietetic exam preparation, public speaking, writing; but I am most passionate about executive functioning development (time management, organization, attention, and self-control) because there are so many resources, tools, and strategies that can be shared with everyone. My approach to teaching is to make the classroom a welcoming and comfortable place where students may explore their interests and learn more about their interests while turning those interests into information that will help them in their chosen goals. I firmly believe in providing pupils with structure and standards so they can develop with support and interdependence. I provide useful information and technologies that extend learning outside of the classroom. Students need to feel confident that what they are trying to learn is doable and attainable; this is why my tutoring approach is friendly and accountability focused.
I am recent graduate of Northern Illinois University's Philosophy Masters Program where I received a master's degree in Philosophy I also received a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia in Philosophy and Sociology. At NIU, I was employed as a Teacher's Assistant and now I currently work at the Huntington Learning Center in Geneva (Illinois) as an SAT/ACT Reading/Writing Section tutor. The main subjects I tutor are philosophy and writing. My lifelong passion is philosophy, and so I hope to eventually acquire a PhD and become a philosophy professor. At NIU, I received world-class training in analytic philosophy. My areas of expertise in philosophy are philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and metaphysics. However, I am able to tutor any core subject in analytic philosophy (e.g. ethics, epistemology, history of philosophy, etc.). I believe that one of the most important skills for any student to hone is their writing ability. A large part of my philosophical training was learning how to write complex and technical arguments clearly. As a TA, I worked one-on-one with many students helping each improve their essay assignments and their writing skills in general. With my training, I can help make your writing clear, persuasive, and yet still interesting to read. Though I can help improve any form of writing, argumentative/thesis style essays are my specialty. My focus when working with students on writing is not just on improving specific assignments. Instead, my tutoring strategy focuses on improving a students writing abilities in general, with the hope that students leave the secessions as better writers and better thinkers. Please contact me to see if I'd be a good fit for you!
I have been an English teacher for 25 years. I have also co-taught in social studies and science classrooms. I have a Master's in Education & Curriculum, a Master's in Educational Leadership, and a Master's in Literacy Education. I have worked as an Illinois state-certified high school reading specialist for the past several years. My daily classes involve working with struggling readers as well as preparing students for the reading portion of the PSAT/SAT/ACT tests. I also have extensive experience teaching students how to read text for information (non-fiction) and take effective notes on material.
I enjoy meeting new people and enjoy what they have to say, i have always loved math and sciences; I know!! I am a nerd but people says i don't look like one. I enjoy video games, sports (I play soccer three time a week) good food and social hours.
As a dedicated mechanical engineer with a PhD from Virginia Tech, I have over two years of experience in teaching and tutoring, specializing in AP Physics, Calculus, Linear Algebra, and various mechanical engineering courses. My teaching philosophy is grounded in the Socratic method, fostering a dialogue that encourages students to explore concepts independently rather than relying solely on memorization. I find that grasping fundamental principles, such as vectors in statics or tensors in material behavior, is crucial for students to apply their knowledge in diverse contexts. My extensive industry experience, ranging from automotive to medical imaging, allows me to bridge theoretical concepts with real-world applications, enhancing my students' learning experience. I am passionate about creating a supportive environment where students can cultivate a genuine interest in engineering and mathematics. Outside of tutoring, I enjoy exploring technological advancements and engaging in hands-on projects that deepen my understanding of mechanical design.
I'm Karen Lopez, an educator with a heart for empowering every student. My career in math education is driven by a simple yet profound belief: everyone can and should have access to quality math education. This belief fuels my passion for making STEM subjects approachable and engaging, especially for students in marginalized communities. Teaching, for me, is not just a profession; it's a mission to unlock every student's potential.
I have been tutoring since the year 1991 when I began to take on students in all fields. I help people learn how to learn effectively. My classes are personal and I am dedicated to helping you reach your goals.
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Middle School Math and Science Learning. I've been teaching for the past three years and am passionate about helping students grow and succeed. I'm knowledgeable in math from the elementary level through college algebra and can help you overcome any challenges you're facing. I'm a friendly, patient educator who loves working with kids and strives to make learning math a positive and empowering experience!
I studied Operations Management for four years at Northern Illinois University to earn my bachelor's degree. After working as a supervisor for almost two years, I have realized my passion lies in teaching. My favorite subject has always been math, and I really love to help people grasp the various concepts and feel a sense of accomplishment. I enjoy tutoring algebra, pre-algebra, geometry, and ACT or SAT prep for the math portion.I absolutely love music. I listen to music all the time, I go to concerts as much as possible, and I even create music with other talented musicians. I play the drums and I practice every day to keep improving.
Hi! I'm a biomedical engineering graduate who loves helping others make sense of math and science. I want students to be able to understand complex concepts and not jsut memorizing them.
I have graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in French literature, a minor in Spanish, and a certification in secondary education. I am a hardworking and highly organized person who is able to work independently and efficiently. In addition, my experience with working with people of different backgrounds and cultures as well as traveling has enabled me to gain very strong communication skills and an open mind.I am a native speaker of French and I have experience teaching French 1-4 to high school students. I have also worked as a primary language tutor in an elementary school and a private french tutor, as well as a french teacher in an elementary school. I am currently teaching French at the middle school level.
For most of my life, I've been split between the Arts and the Sciences. I recently graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelors in Music, and although I now sing and play flute around the Chicagoland area, I simply couldn't resist also enrolling at Columbia College Chicago to pursue studies in Acoustics. At Northern, I tutored various subjects for two years and grew to love the act of teaching and sharing knowledge. I especially enjoy working on test prep, mathematics and writing as these are, from my point of view, the essential skills towards navigating today's world. I also have extensive background in the higher levels of music theory, which I'm always happy to share. In tutoring, I am very insistent on simplifying and strategizing. There are only so many ways of approaching any given problem - together, we'll work to find the best one.
My tutoring philosophy is rooted in the belief that students flourish when they are invited into a community of inquiry one that challenges them, supports them, and encourages them to see politics not only as an academic discipline but as a lived experience. I often think of teaching as cultivating a diverse garden: each student arrives with unique strengths, needs, and perspectives, and my role is to create the conditions in which all of them can grow. I aim to guide students with openness, curiosity, and a commitment to helping them develop as thinkers, citizens, and members of an intellectual community. Additionally, I love political science so much that my B.A., M.A., and PhD are all from this field. Comparative Politics, International Relations, and American Politics are my greatest strengths.
A motivated individual with diverse background, achieving bachelor degrees in Economics & Business Administration. Seeking an opportunity to assist others on their academic career as well as enriching my own experience. Eventual academic goal is to gain CPA credential.
With over 10 years’ experience as an educator I have worked with a diversity of audiences focusing on high school and college students. While working on my undergraduate degree in Biology at Northern Illinois University I started tutoring chemistry, biology, and math. This tutoring experience sparked my passion for teaching. After graduating I started working toward a Master of Science in Teaching at Portland State University. While in graduate school I tutored math and chemistry and was a teaching assistant for undergraduate science courses. Soon after graduating I started working at a local private college teaching math, environmental science, and ecology. Now over 6 years later I still love teaching student’s math and science. My favorite subject to tutor is math because students often struggle with this subject. It is very rewarding to help students overcome their math struggles and succeed in math. My tutoring style includes the following three components, 1) break up the material into small digestible pieces, 2) explain difficult concepts clearly and enthusiastically, and 3) work together as a team to make a plan to succeed. In my free time I spend exploring the woods hiking and canoeing our waterways. I love learning about animals and actually worked at a zoo working with monkeys and elephants.
I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on Special Education. I spent 34 years teaching high school special education and tutoring math and retired 5 years ago. Since my retirement, I have gone back to sub at the school I last taught at and also do some private tutoring. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about Math. In my experience helping struggling students, I have been able to find alternative ways to present the material so it can be easily understood.
Part-time professor of German and Polish, researcher, published author with a PhD in Educational Psychology and MA in Germanic Studies and Second Language Acquisition. I have 20+ years of teaching and course design experience, building tailored courses for individual needs, and creating learning and teaching materials. I am also a teacher and student mentor and coach.
Since I was a little girl, history has been in my blood, although being a historian was never my plan (I wanted to be an actress). Growing up I was fascinated with Abraham Lincoln and the untimely passing of such a prominent public figure. I loved every trip to the Chicago Historical Society (known today as the Chicago History Museum) as a child. I enjoyed reading about the Puritans and the Native American culture.At this point I'm comfortable classifying myself as a historian although it took me awhile to get to this point in my life. In 1999, I received my B.A. in History from Loyola University Chicago and in 2002, I received my M.A. in Public History from the same school. I then went on to earn my Ph.D. in American History from Northern Illinois University in 2011.I teach college history online full time and I have taught numerous survey and upper-division American history classes at local "traditional" colleges and universities. When I teach, I don't necessarily focus on the facts of history, but on the larger transitions. I want students to understand how history has changed over time. I also try to convey to students that history can be fun to learn.In my personal life, I am the mother of two small children and I have been married for fifteen years. I workout regularly, but I also enjoy being a couch potato. I love being with my kids and husband. Oh and I love Doctor Who! I also enjoy spending time with my friends, debating current issues, history, and historiography.
I am in my 6th year of professional, full-time teaching and have a passion for helping others academically! Education is a major key to success so that students may critically think, problem solve, and learn how to be independent learners. I make it my goal to show students just how what they're learning does relate to real life, by pulling on what they already know, and building on top of that.I have an undergraduate degree in French language from Northern Illinois University, and a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second or Other Language and Applied Linguistics from Southern Illinois University, with a GPA of 4.0. Aside from French, I also speak basic, conversational Spanish, due to self-taught lessons and extensive travels to Spain. I have worked at schools including Columbia University, Fairfield University, Southern Illinois University, and the language learning company ELS.In my past five years of teaching, I have taught students from kindergarten to university level. My most recent experiences the past couple of years has been teaching adults and young adults academic English; this includes reading skills, writing skills, organization, vocabulary enhancement, speaking fluency, grammar, technology, and research skills. I also have taught academic English writing skills at universities, which benefits my students as they have a teacher who has a strong understanding of the expectations of university-level work!I have always had an open mind towards diversity and value different perspectives, personalities, and cultures. Teaching ESL has taught me that every person is a different learner, and it is important to stay flexible and open, in order to attune my teaching methods according to what each student needs. I have also had the mind-opening experiences of teaching and living in France for two years and have traveled to 13 countries thus far! Traveling always teaches me more about the world and the people in it, and gives me heightened perspectives on how and why different people think.I am an easy-going person, who not only enjoys teaching but also learning from my students! I am highly organized and prepared, but remain flexible in teaching when needed. Aside from teaching, I also enjoy yoga, reading non-fiction, traveling, jogging, bike riding, painting, tasting new foods, and meeting new people. I look forward to tutoring and getting to know you!
As an Orton Gillingham reading teacher, I am passionate about helping students who struggle with reading and writing. I believe that every child has the potential to learn and succeed, regardless of their challenges. My goal as a teacher is to unlock that potential and help my students become confident and independent readers and writers.My approach is grounded in the Orton Gillingham method, which is a structured, multisensory, and sequential approach to teaching reading and writing. I believe that this approach is highly effective because it is tailored to the individual needs of each student. I take the time to assess each student's strengths and challenges, and then create a personalized learning plan that is tailored to the unique needs of the student.
As an PhD student in a biomedical sciences program, I am deeply passionate about biology and chemistry, supported by my Master's degree in Biotechnology and Bachelor's degree in Biology. With over a year of experience as a substitute teacher across K-12, I have developed a tailored teaching approach that accommodates diverse learning styles, particularly for middle school students. I thrive in creating interactive and engaging lessons, drawing on my background in STEM education, which includes teaching coding and environmental science. My goal is to foster a supportive learning environment where students can connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications, such as understanding the vital roles of proteins in biological processes. I believe that with patience and clarity, every student can achieve academic success, and I look forward to inspiring the next generation of scientists.
I hold a Master's and a Bachelor's in Vocal Performance, and have had training in conducting as well. My passions include mathematics and the physical sciences, and I have had education in these topics as a part of my early undergraduate education. I hope to create an environment where a student is able to ask questions and get alternate explanations until they are confident in the subject material. I have been a leader for the City of Eugene Dept. of Recreation in both their BEST after school program, providing enrichment and engagement for students gr. 2-5, as well as for their Fun-For-All summer program which provided activities and creative opportunities for participants under 18 years of age.
I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Economics/Business. I also earned my Masters & Doctorate degree in Biblical Studies, Midwest Bible College, Milwaukee. I'm author of 3 books dealing with leadership & Biblical faith principles. I am a former scholar MVP athlete and 4 year starting college quarterback and team captain. Since graduation, I have traveled the extensively, tutoring & teaching children and adults in subjects from writing, English, religion, and business courses. I am a motivator and encourager and enjoy working with anyone no matter the age. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English, Literature, and Religion. In my experience helping struggling students prepare for Standardized Tests, we always seem to have the most fun (with remarkable advancements) prepping for the Critical Reading and Writing portions of the exams. I am a firm proponent of education, believing it to be absolutely necessary for an improved quality of life, and I try to impart these principles to all of my students to prepare them to be successful in their lives. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, exercising at the health club, which enriches my life, basketball, running, and regularly attending church services.
My 30+ years of teaching secondary mathematics has taught me each student is an individual who has unique issues with learning math. I firmly believe that if I listen well, I can find out what issues have to be addressed to help each student learn math well. The goals of each student is also unique and I will do everything to help each student reach their goals and not try to have every student learn the same way.
I spend entirely too much time working on computer related projects and could use an intervention, possibly involving a lobotomy. I suspect I am ADD patient zero. Asimov's Robot stories led me to a life-long interest and PhD in artificial intelligence from Northwestern University.I have worked for Lucent Technologies, Microsoft, Citrix Labs, and Ernst & Young in numerous areas: telecommunications, distributed processing, databases, data science and machine learning to name a few.I am an expert in C, C++, C#, and Java coding. I am proficient in Python, SQL, and a number of other languages.I taught upperclass and graduate computer science topics at Illinois State University for six years, including operating systems, distributed processing, graphics, and gaming. I also taught at DigiPen Technical Institute for a year, topics including software engineering and artificial intelligence.I also do android apps for games and open science projects.I have collaborated on a robot of a wormlike creature that is on display currently at Ars Electronica in Linz Austria.See https://github.com/portegys and tom.portegys.com/programs.html for code projects.See tom.portegys.com/research.html for a list of my publications in AI and other fields. My most recent project is an AI simulation of honey bee nectar gathering, which includes a fascinating dance they do to tell other bees where the nectar is outside the hive.I enjoy the teaching part of tutoring quite a bit. Grading homework not so much! Last summer my granddaughter and I built a horse racing game with Godot, for example. My approach is to build things as the best way to learn. Computers give you that opportunity!
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Tutors who attended Northern Illinois University bring insider knowledge of the university's academic expectations, course structures, and teaching styles. They understand the rigor of NIU coursework and can help students navigate specific challenges they may encounter in their major. Beyond academics, these tutors can also share firsthand insights about campus life, study strategies that worked for them, and how to balance coursework with other commitments.
Tutors who graduated from NIU have completed rigorous coursework in their subject areas and bring real-world experience from their time at the university. Many have advanced degrees or specialized expertise in their fields. All tutors are screened and vetted by Varsity Tutors to ensure they meet our high standards for knowledge, teaching ability, and professionalism.
NIU alumni tutors span a wide range of subjects including engineering, business, education, sciences, mathematics, and humanities. Because many have completed NIU's diverse degree programs, they can provide expert support across various disciplines. Whether you're looking for help with core classes or major-specific coursework, connecting with an alumni tutor means learning from someone who has successfully navigated similar material.
Alumni tutors have lived the NIU student experience—they know the professors' expectations, the difficulty curve of major courses, and the specific challenges students encounter. This shared background creates a unique advantage: they can anticipate problem areas, explain concepts the way NIU instructors teach them, and offer strategies that worked for students in similar situations. They're not just teaching the material; they're drawing from their own journey through NIU.
Varsity Tutors makes it easy to get matched with tutors who attended NIU. When you reach out, let us know you're interested in connecting with an alumni tutor, and we'll match you with someone whose background and expertise fit your needs. The personalized matching process ensures you work with a tutor who understands both your subject and your university's academic environment.
Yes—alumni tutors are particularly valuable for course-specific preparation. Because they've taken the same or similar classes at NIU, they understand exactly what instructors expect and what topics are likely to be emphasized. Whether you're preparing for an upcoming exam, working through challenging assignments, or trying to strengthen your foundation before a major course, an NIU graduate tutor can provide targeted support based on their direct experience.
Learning from an NIU alumnus means getting guidance from someone who has successfully completed the same degree path you're on. They understand your university's culture, teaching philosophy, and academic standards in a way that outside tutors simply cannot. Beyond academic support, they can serve as mentors who have navigated the same challenges and can offer perspective on long-term success—both in your major and beyond.
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