Vivek
Certified Tutor
I am a current sophomore at Austin College. I am a biology major and neuroscience minor. Science has been my passion from a young age. I like tutoring because I sincerely enjoy helping others and being able to impart my knowledge and experience. Along with being strong in my curricular classes, I have experience helping and tutoring younger students in various subjects and test prep. As a patient and encouraging teacher, I am adept at helping others reach their educational goals.
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Undergraduate Degree: Austin College - Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
tennis, violin, reading, writing, volunteering
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Advanced Placement Prep
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Algebra 3/4
- Arithmetic
- Biology
- College Algebra
- College Biology
- College English
- Comparative Literature
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- English
- Essay Editing
- Geometry
- High School Biology
- High School English
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- ISEE- Upper Level
- Literature
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- PSAT Critical Reading
- PSAT Writing Skills
- Reading
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Literature
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- SAT Writing and Language
- Science
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- SSAT- Middle Level
- SSAT- Upper Level
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is "work hard, play hard." It may sound childish, but I believe the brain requires balance in everything, including activities. With a strong work ethic, along with support and freedom, the tutor and student will go far.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I take ten minutes to get to know the student personally and attain a broad picture of their academic abilities. By doing so, I can plan our approach to improving their skills in whatever subject we focus on. Afterwards, we would figure out the student's best learning method so that we can work together as efficiently as possible.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By identifying the best study methods for the student, we can work to boost their self confidence and give them the skills necessary to study and learn. Tutoring sessions are useful in laying the groundwork for the student to then go home and progress off that foundation.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Tutoring requires a system of rewards for progress, such as regular encouragement and breaks in between for recuperation from studying. By fostering this attitude, I can help the student see studying as a productive and enjoyable activity more than as just another chore.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Instead of trying to drill the concept into the student's brain repeatedly, I would return to the basics and ensure that the student's foundation is concrete. Afterwards, through repetition, I would walk the student through the concept again, until they are able to comprehend it themselves.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Students struggling with reading comprehension are often daunted by the immensity of the material and the complexity of questions. To break down this fear, I would simplify the reading into sections, reading through it with the student and encouraging the student to interpret the reading in their own way, before helping by showing the student alternative points of view.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I believe that the most important strategy is to foster a belief of competency and yearning to learn in a student, by encouraging rather than belittling as well as by guiding the student down the best paths. This includes showing patience when confronting difficult concepts and encouraging students who comprehend a concept very well.