Mr. Johns English Tutoring
About
Zen and the Art of English Tutoring:
I have obtained a master's degree in English teaching. I have student taught at Hampton high school and Chartiers Valley high school, where I was noted by my colleagues for my creative flair in the lessons I design, my personal dedication to reaching my students, and my professional work ethic.
I also happen to teach the martial and philosophical art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan (in which I am a nationally ranked competitor), and it is this that sparked my passion for tutoring; I deeply value the chance to apply the principles of productivity, patience, and receptive interaction that I have learned through the art, all of which are ideal for the opportunity to work personally with small groups of students or with one at a time. I found, while obtaining my degree, that said prinicples lent themselves very well to student progress, and I credit them for much of my success as a teacher. I have been able to reach and prompt good work from students, shy and obstinate alike, and each one left me very proud of them.
As a tutor, I will take the time to discuss and discern each students' understanding of the material. I will carefully examine the assignments and feedback given by their teacher (as much as can be provided), to keep the terms and I use consistent with the teacher's personal choices for conveying the material. I will also tailor each lesson and activity I give to be as memorable and readily accesible to each student as possible.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, I give the student (and their parents, if able and willing) a chance to describe their understanding of the material and what, if anything in particular, they feel they are struggling with. I also, if possible, examine assignments they have completed for or been assigned by their teacher, to discern how my lessons can best complement their classroom teaching.
If my services are desired for preparation of standardized testing, I will come with practice assignments for such and decide which topics to focus on most, based on the student's performance.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a master's degree in English teaching from Slippery Rock University, as well as a bachelor's degree in English writing from The University of Pittsburgh. As mentioned above, I also draw from the principles I have learned as a professional instructor of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, certified by The Way of Chi LLC, to enhance my pedagogy.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My standard price is $40 per hour.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with an ethnically and socially broad range of students, inlcuding in the New Castle, Hampton, Chartiers Valley, Bethel Park, and Mt. Lebanon school districts.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure that you, personally, can connect with their explanations. All of the material - every story, every grammatical rule, and all other requirements that will be asked of you in this subject - have a context in which you can understand and work towards mastering them. It is just a matter of finding yours.