Easy English With Mr SJ
About
I am a professional educator with a lifetime of experience. I’ve worked as a teacher, coach, trainer, counselor, mentor, advisor, and creative assistant. I’ve taught elementary and high school students as well as young adults and business professionals.
Always positive, supportive, and engaging. I am a skilled listener who works to understand each student’s needs, concerns, and frustrations. I know that learning is hard and growing up is difficult. My goal is to make it fun and easy.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, for us to get to know each other and see if it is a good student/teacher relationship. There must be respect and interent on both sides.
My teaching and coaching style is to clearly identify the student’s goal, and then create the steps needed to get there. If a single step is too difficult, we just break it down into smaller steps, and even crawl if we have to…. Small accomplishments turn into big results.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
California Teaching Credential in English and Art
California Community College Credential in Media Communications
Certificate in English Language Teaching, Bridge Mills Language Centre, Ireland
Teaching English as a Foreign Language, University of Toronto, Canada
Bachelor of Arts, Communications, San Diego State University
Well educated in Child Development and Human Psychology.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My pricing is flexible, but I need to make about $25 a hour to pay my bills. I will do an introductory lesson for $10. I'm naturally interest in higher paying assignments.
How did you get started teaching?
I have been a teacher all my life — it's my natural state of being. I am curious about everything and can't help but want to share my new knowledge with others. Education is fun for me and I enjoy the challenge of making it fun for others.
What types of students have you worked with?
I’ve taught all ages: elementary and high school students, young adults, and business professionals. I've lived in Tokyo, France, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic, and taught English as a Foreign Language to students from around the world.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
The parent told me, "My 12-year old boy isn't interest in anything but baseball. Help!"
So I had a catch with her son and asked him what his batting average was. He didn't know. I told him the batting averages of a couple his favorite players. "Are you better than them?" He didn't know. "Would you like to know your batting average?" Yes, sure he said. so I taught him yet never mentioned the word 'math'.
The student's passion for baseball opens up many learning opportunities:
Math: batting average, strategies, player statistics
Physics: throwing, hitting, and catching the ball
Biology: strengthening the body, exercise, eating
English: understanding the rules
Social Studies: Why the game is so enjoyable to play and watch
History: The meaning/soul/art of the game, traditions
What is a baseball glove made of?
Why are cleats on baseball shoes?
Why does the bat make a clear popping sound when the batter hits a homerun?
How does ‘team play’ help to win a game?
How does a pitched baseball curve through the air?
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Who are your favorite teachers? Find a tutor most similar them. Find someone you can trust and respect, someone who understands your view of the world, someone who is enthusiast to help you.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What is the problem, what do I need?
Am I lacking in knowlegde or in motivation?
What is my best outcome? What is my goal?