Brian
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of California-Irvine - Bachelors, Biological Science
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1430
SAT Math: 800
Science and Technology, Healthcare, Travel, Movie, Music, History, Basketball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Snow Boarding, Sailing
Biology
College Biology
College Chemistry
High School Biology
High School Chemistry
SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
SAT Subject Tests Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
I never believe any concepts are too difficult to learn, but only the means with which the information has been taught. There are no hills too steep to climb, but only steps that are too tall to make.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I like to get to know my students first and minimize the gap between the tutor and the student. Building a good rapport with the student helps them communicate more effectively and helps the tutor understand their needs better.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I encourage students to think on a problem without help first. I also tailor and organize homework problems that increase in difficulty by the appropriate level, which helps students independently pick up small but fundamental concepts a step at a time.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
The best way to be motivated is to gain interest in the subject, and the way to gain interest is to make that subject relatable to the person. I like to transform abstract, intangible concepts into examples or anecdotes that are visual and relatable to our day-to-day experience. We tend to be impressed by information that is immediately related to us.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would allow the students to express their thoughts first and assess which teaching approach may not be fitting for them. Having narrowed down the problem, I would repeat the teaching using alternative approaches until the students improve. Many times, cutting down the pace and the size of information being taught also helps.