Peter R.

Peter's Bio & Tutoring Experience

My first experience tutoring began in the summer of 2012 when I taught a summer school course for high school freshman who were struggling to pass first-year English. We read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein together and analyzed the book, after which the students wrote creative responses to the content.

It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had.

The following school year, I had the opportunity to teach a series of grammar and composition workshops for Colorado Mountain College, as well as a three-week course on Old English texts in translation (think Beowulf).

More recently, I finished a teaching certification to teach English as a second language, where I taught groups of adults in New York for my teaching practice. However, throughout this process, I have realized that what I love most is tutoring students one-on-one. The most satisfying thing for me is when a student discovers something of great value to them in the material that then transforms their perspective on the subject.

I usually begin the tutoring relationship by evaluating the student's proficiencies in the subject matter through oral, written, or quiz/problem-based exercises, which allows me to gain an understanding for how best to proceed in developing a student's well-roundedness in the subject. After the first few lessons, I am able to determine the student's learning style and preferences for areas of the subject matter and types of materials/presentations of the material. I focus on student-centered teaching by constantly adapting the material to fit the student's personality, aims, and learning style.

As much as I enjoy tutoring, I consider myself successful when the student has demonstrated their capability as a learner that is self-sufficient, where they have learned how to learn the subject matter and become independent as a result. There are tutors that foster dependence upon themselves and independence of themselves in the student, and I am proud to count myself among the latter. My services are only rendered with the view to develop the student's faculties towards facilitating their own achievement.

Peter's Expertise

Peter's Education & Certifications

CELTA (TOEFL/TESOL) Teaching Certification, Teaching House New York, 2016.

PGCE Viking and Anglo-Saxon Studies, University of Nottingham, UK, 2015. 2:1 honors.

Internship: Secret Diary Project (editing historical diaries), Seattle, WA 2013.

B.A. Religious Studies, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, 2011. 3.69 overall, 3.85 in major.

Internship: Uffizi Mission Project (homeless outreach) Santa Barbara, CA, 2011.

Peter's References