"Hi prospective students, my name is Ricky, and I have over ten years of experience as a professional 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 re" less...