ACT Writing and ACT Reading tutor

About Richard

Hi prospective students, my name is Ricky, and I have over ten years of professional experience as a private tutor. I am passionate about tutoring because it helped me achieve academic success in my own life. I struggled with certain subjects when I was a child, but ended up being valedictorian when I graduated from Woodside High School in the Class of 2005, received top scores (5) on my AP exams, and was admitted to 10 universities across the country.

I pride myself on my easygoing and effective tutoring style: being patient, encouraging, and empowering. I work with students to internalize concepts, not just memorize them. When a student begins to cognitively understand something for herself/himself, real learning happens. I am committed to this form of student-centered, top-notch tutoring that gets the best results over time. If the student/parent prefers, I am also happy being more didactic and instructive in my style. Oftentimes, it is a balance that works (with a focus on empowerment and student-centered learning). Finally, I tailor my approach to the student's own learning style, which is critical for academic success. Whether auditory, visual, or kinesthetic, each student learns differently.

In terms of my own academic path, I was honored to receive the Harvard Book Award and to attend Stanford University's Institute on Journalism. I later graduated from Santa Clara University with academic honors and two degrees. Academics are very important to me; my passion for teaching comes from my passion for learning. I love to see the "lightbulb" go off in a student's head as she/he reaches a epiphany. I deeply enjoy helping my students develop by means of a well-rounded education.

My tutoring expertise includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English (ESL or advanced English) and Spanish. I am fully bilingual and fluent in Spanish and have traveled widely in Latin American so I am an academic and cultural expert in terms of tutoring Spanish. Oftentimes, it is the cultural aspects of the language that really pique a student's passion to learn Spanish a second language.

I also specialize in literature, social studies, speech and debate, elementary and middle school mathematics, humanities, political science, pre-law, psychology, environmental science, and a variety of other college-level courses.

College admissions and advising is a key aspect of my tutoring portfolio as well. It has been a privilege to help many students gain admission to their top choices for the next step in their educational journey -- albeit a private high school, an undergraduate college, or a Master's or Doctoral (PhD) program. My students have been admitted to Ivy League schools, top-tier universities in the UC system (including Berkeley, Davis, and San Diego), and the top schools nationwide for their respective Master's or Doctoral programs.

Another specialization of mine is test preparation. I tutor students to perform their best and achieve top scores on the SAT, ACT, ISEE, HSPT, CSET, and a variety of other admissions and career-focused exams. I work with my students to boost their confidence, by mastering the content and skills required by the exam and by internalizing the test-taking strategies that are critical for success. Together, we “outsmart” the test by applying the relevant strategies and knowledge. I provide supplemental materials as needed and track my students’ progress (raw scores on practice tests, etc.) from one lesson to the next.

I have tutored students of all ages, from preschoolers to elementary school students, all the way through PhD programs and older adult learners. As an academic tutor in a local after-school program (Newton Center, Inc.), I worked with 4th and 5th graders at Baywood Elementary, a local school close to the border of San Mateo and Hillsborough. Previously, I was employed as a professional tutor by the Drahmann Learning Resources Center while I attended Santa Clara University, often tutoring students older than myself. I tutored students in a variety of subjects, including English, Spanish, writing, reading comprehension, political science, environmental studies, sociology and more. In addition, I have also tutored many adults (ESL, Spanish, and other subjects). I have recently tutored students (children and adults) from a variety of countries around the world, including Korea, France, China, Japan, Russia, Mexico, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, and more. It is a pleasure to work with students from such diverse backgrounds.

Please contact me with tutoring opportunities or with questions. I am very accessible and look forward to working with you or your child to achieve academic success.