BA, MA, 30 Years Experience, Trained D.C. Diplomats

This is the method I've been using on Wyzant since 2010:

Once the student has found my profile and contacted me or he/she responds to my email message via the system), we schedule a meeting or phone conference to discuss lesson details; afterwards, we meet, I deliver the lesson, and the student is charged via the agency system. Most of the time, we work based on a personalized curriculum I design for each student. Students who find my through my own advertizing or various referrals must usually pay me in advance for 8 hours. Most of my lessons last 2 hours to ensure strong results from the start. I adjust my style to fit each student's goals and study pace.

My main certifications and tutoring experience are in:

English, French, Italian (languages and cultures)

SAT/ACT, TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS, LSAT

ESL/ESOL, STAAR, PSAT, AP, ISEE, OLSAT

Human Geography, European History, World History

Art (theory and practice)

International Business

My college and post-graduate qualifications are these:

B.A. in English (UK and US)

M.A. in International Studies & Business

Certified in 40 English-based subjects via Wyzant Tutors, Global LT (teaching) and Certified Language Interpreters (science interpretation). 

French and Italian studies (MA degree; prior to college, I was raised with 3 languages: French, Italian, English and studied/lived in France and Italy) 

30 years of working as a teacher and language expert at university and research center levels; I also provided certified simultaneous interpreting for business, legal, and medical fields. 

20+ years of business-ownership experience (EU and USA)

My fees are between $45/hour (basic tutoring) to $120/hour (LSAT test prep); most of my lessons are priced at $50/hour for intensive instruction or $55/hour for subject immersion courses in subjects like English Grammar, SAT, French, Italian, AP European History, etc.

Depending on individual contract terms (distance or traffic to the area, weekends) I may add a $5/trip commute fee.

I was raised with 3 foreign languages (French, Italian, English) in S. Romania before moving with my family to Naples, Italy; as such, I started giving lessons to children when I was still in high school. During my college years and afterwards, I continued perfecting the private tutoring methods I had acquired and I diversified my skills to help growing numbers of students.

Through agencies and my private firm, I have provided lessons to students of all ages: the youngest was 2 years old, the oldest was 74. Most of my students have been elementary school and high school students; and I have often provided corporate language training at large firms in the EU and the United States. In recent years, I have trained entire families via Global LT, a relocation agency.

Once a year, I offer a European Foods Event to my most recent students of French, Italian, and ESL in my private Grapevine office. I offer them home-baked foods that I prepare the night before or while the students are present; and together we share impressions of our travels. This event is very enjoyable and has always helped me build a strong referral base for my service (which, in turn, has benefitted agencies I'm affiliated with: whenever my students sought subjects I don't teach e.g. Math, Science, I've referred them to the agencies I know).

Choose someone highly experienced and ultra-effective (like myself). A good teacher-student fit is very important for a student to maximize the results of his/her investment; unlike many tutors, I do have significant experience in customizing my curriculum or lesson to fit a student's pace, personality, and goals.

Tutoring is costly and I have frequently spoken with students who felt they wasted time & funds for years with inadequate training before starting a course with me that actually helped them reach their goals within months....

I will provide two examples of useful pondering:

Q1: What nationality should my French (Italian, English, etc) teacher have so that I can be ensure I get the best lessons?

A1: Hiring the best tutor should be a judicious individual process; it should never be based on stereotypical ideas such as "To learn French I must hire a native French person with a BA/PhD degree in French". The person who can help you the most is one who knows the target-language AND your language very well (e.g. grew up speaking French and English in the family+schools, even if not always located in France and the UK/USA); this way you can receive thorough comparative explanations and tips to help you memorize the words. A teacher's personality is also a key to successful courses; a teacher's cultural passion, sensitivity, patience, and insightfulness can help a student progress easily. Moreover, language studies in the EU often employ a philological method that helps students memorize new words much faster, so learning from a properly-qualified veteran European teacher familiar with European philology and linguistics can be a big plus when you have questions and want more helpful answers than "because that's how it is."

Q2: How soon will I see results in my target-language (e.g. French)?

A2: Look for above-average methods (how long will it take the teacher to get you to UNDERSTAND & speak French? -- don't ask only "When will I speak...? because it is easier to make yourself understood by the French than to understand them correctly...). I've heard people say "I understand some French" -- but if you understand a few words, yet you miss the correct meaning of the sentence ... it's not OK:). Too may courses focus on "speaking" but don't train students enough for listening comprehension. A good course should have substance, dedication (is your teacher going to help you with many sources outside your session, including French movies, songs, culture, books, etc?), and it should also be customized to cover your speaking and understanding needs.