About
My name is Allen Tsao, and I am an online tutor for Calculus, Physics, and Electrical Engineering.
Math is a skill and like any skill, it takes practice to get better at it. I believe everyone can learn to do well in math, but for some people, it just takes more practice.
A tutor or coach like me can help you with the best ways to practice. Like a sports coach, I can show you the right way to solve problems and how to practice well.
I've been tutoring professionally since 2017, but I've been a volunteer tutor since my days studying electrical engineering at University of California Berkeley and Stanford University.
I relate best to students who are used to doing well in school, but they've started to struggle, and they're not sure how to improve. For me, I hit an obstacle in college where it was the first time I had to really learn how to study and practice to understanding something. Everyone hits an obstacle at some point, and I focus my tutoring on these skills:
Practice Problem Solving. The only way to get better at any skill is be constantly practicing.
Understand the "why". There are math rules that many students simply memorize. I focus on understanding why those rules are there. If you understand the reason behind the mathematical rule, you will remember the rule for much longer than simply trying to memorize it.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I am a full-time online tutor, and all of my students have loved the online tutoring. Our sessions are done through a shared whiteboard called Bitpaper (bitpaper.io) or Zoom. It allows for video chat as well as the ability to see everything I write down.
See https://www.bothellstemcoach.com for more information.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I specialize in advanced math and physics. I studied at UC Berkeley and Stanford University in Electrical Engineering, but I have always been a tutor since my undergraduate days.
I've helped over 200 students and tutored over 2000 hours. All of my AP students have passed their exams, and many got 4 and 5s in AP Physics 1, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics.
My students all have higher confidence in their classes, as well as increased test scores and grades.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I have various program options depending on the budget. They can range from $199 for the entire year to $1900 per semester depending on the level of support they need
Many parents who hire me are very happy with how efficiently we use our time. In one instance, a parent complained that their previous tutor spent over 3 hours struggling to cover one problem. Rest assured that would never happen with me. Most of my students need only 1 hour of tutoring per week to succeed and understand the new material.
How did you get started teaching?
I've always loved tutoring and helping people understand difficult concepts. I used to tutor other electrical engineering students as a volunteer, and continued to volunteer tutor for various organizations while I worked full-time.
What types of students have you worked with?
High school, college students as well as adults returning to college.
Most of my students are taking advanced classes (AP or college level) and are usually "A" students, but they just started to struggle. They may understand their teacher, but then they confront a problem and they don't know what to do. I help make those connections and give a process on how to approach problems.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I had a student who after a lot of preparation scored an 80% on a test, and was very distraught by it. We talked over what went wrong and it helped rebuild her confidence to where she has an A in the class again.
I had another student who had been scoring C's and low B's on her tests. After 1 session with me to prepare for the next test, she scored an 87 (her highest test score at the time), and she and the mother were thrilled.
I love seeing my students gain confidence and succeed.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find someone who will help you understand the material rather than just help you finish your homework or even study for an exam. Most subjects in math and physics build on top of each other. You will be surprised how many of my Calculus students struggle because they have forgotten geometry or algebra concetps.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Really think about what part of the process in problem solving you don't understand. It's easy to understand someone walking through a problem, but ask yourself if you understand why this step was taken versus another, and if you could repeat the process on a similar problem.