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Tommy L.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
During our first session, I will meet with the student in order to gauge what his/her needs are and help them understand the subject they are struggling with. Afterwards, I'll try to test them right before the end of our session to see if they truly comprehend what we went over. If we don't have enough time to go over everything, the student is free to contact me via email with further questions on their assignments.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I took advanced placement English language and composition and advanced placement English language and literature in high school, hence, I have an in-depth knowledge of rhetorical devices and college-level syntax (gerund phrases, infinitive phrases, participles, etc.)
I also have two TEFL certificates; one for teaching English to Chinese learners and the other for for teaching English to preschool and elementary school-level children.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I generally charge $45 per hour for grades K-12 and ESL students and $50 per hour for undergraduate students.
How did you get started teaching?
I've always loved interacting with children and helping others out (it's just an inherent part of my personality). However, it wasn't until I got to high school and became a regular after school tutor for ESL students that I truly realized I had a passion for teaching. Ever since then, I made it a side job of mine to help students with their written and oral English.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with elementary school students, middleschoolers, highschoolers, and undergraduate students. I've also had 1.5 years of ESL teaching experience in China, both with elementary school students and adults.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
While I was teaching abroad in China, one of my adult learners had a particular problem with differentiating the nasal consonant "n" and the alveolar "l" due to the fact that the dialect she spoke in her hometown didn't differentiate between the two noises. So when she said words such as "nose" or "kneck," it would sound like "lose" or "leck."
I had her put her finger on the ridge of her nose and feel the vibration made when producing "n." Afterwards, I told her to bit the tip of her tongue and keep her finger on her nose. She then realized that there was no nasal vibration when producing the "l" sound, and she was so elated to finally comprehend the difference. I think that was one of my proudest moments as an ESL teacher.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Living in the DC metropolitan area, there will be a plethora of tutors for you to select from. However, there are only a select few that are truly qualified to tutor those subjects. You can check to see if they've been highly recommended or rated by formaer students, and you can ask them questions about the area you're having trouble in to see if they can help.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
- Is meeting with this tutor convenient for both of you? Make sure to take a look at the tutor's schedule and compare it to yours.
- What exactly do you need help with?