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Mark Brailey

U.S. History and European History tutor

location Northbrook, IL
education University of Phoenix

About Mark

I have been teaching Asian students for the past 22 years, initially in Taiwan (ESL/1997-98), then in Washington State (TESOL/1999-2002), and finally, in the San Francisco Bay Area’s “Silicon Valley” (Writing, SAT I/ACT, AP & SAT II, and editing the “College Essay”/2003-19). Prior to that, I successfully worked with International Students from 30 different countries at Roosevelt University (Chicago) as Internship Coordinator, where I earned a BA & MA in History, both with high honors (3.92/4.0 & 4.0/4.0, respectively), with a minor in English. Finally, I am TESOL Certified, and credentialed in CA & AZ for Secondary Education (my 2nd Masters).

I limit what subjects I teach, and, therefore, I am proficient in all. They are as follows: General Writing, College Personal Statement, SAT Reading & Writing, ACT English/Reading/Writing, Secondary/Post-Secondary English (Regular/Honors/AP), and History—US, European, and World. Finally, I have mastered student preparation for the AP Exam and SAT II Subject Tests tied to the latter three fields.
A lifelong love, and strong command, of the English language reflect my ability to teach Writing. As my academic references will attest, I have worked “diligently” to master effective written communication that succeeds because it is clear, direct, and content-based. Further, I have been teaching the new, analytical-based SAT Essay since its inception. I know it well. Finally, my command of Reading (class, SAT, and ACT-based) translates into a keen understanding of all its aspects. I am not only familiar with analysis, symbolism, inference, figurative language, etc., but—equally important—I have learned to teach such concepts “in a way [students] can easily understand,” to quote a former History student, who was admitted to Princeton, Harvard, and MIT.

I breathe History—seriously! Sniff, sniff… For the past 16 years, I was considered one of the best AP & SAT II US History (including their less prevalent European & World counterparts) instructors by the Asian community in the thriving and competitive San Francisco Bay Area. Many references garnered over the years will corroborate that. Importantly, I can teach, equally well, the AP US History Exam—with its dreaded DBQ/FRE essays, which many teachers tend to avoid—AND the more important SAT II US History Subject Test.

I have already mentioned my ability to teach effectively—something even Mr. Erudite College Professor sometimes cannot. Knowing and knowing how to teach are, in fact, two discrete skills, which may surprise those who mistakenly believe that a 1600-SAT/36-ACT tutor is necessarily the best. Not so! However, I eventually came to realize that what also distinguishes me as an outstanding instructor—apart from the two above-mentioned skills—is genuine honesty, friendliness, caring (more about students, than for money), and a passion for what I teach. Such a combination is rare.

Education

Roosevelt University

Bachelors

History

1989

Roosevelt University

Masters

History

1996

Western Washington University

Masters

TESOL

2002

University of Phoenix

Masters

Secondary Education

2007

Subjects

Social Studies

U.S. History
European History
World History

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