FAQ
Will you read the books my student is reading in class?
I have already read most of the books that Hong Kong international schools use for IB/AP. Please check my goodreads profile to see a fairly comprehensive list of books I've read. If the book you're looking for isn't there, I am certainly willing to read it in my own time, but I will generally need at least a month's notice for this (or longer if the book is not readily available in HK).
Are you away at all in the coming months?
In 2019, I will be away March 1-6 in Thailand, April 22-27 in Israel, and May 22-June 6 in Europe. However, when I am out of town, I am usually available for Skype lessons, so please contact me to organize a time.
Do you teach any courses for test prep?
At the moment, no. However, I do teach small group lessons. In my opinion, large group classes are generally not the best for students, especially weaker ones, given that the pace of the class must cater to the entire group and there is greater potential for distraction. It is also more difficult to ensure that students have done all of their homework because there is just not enough time given the amount of material to be covered. Large group classes do work for students who have good time management and are diligent, and/or for those who are already on the brink of high marks, e.g. 700 in each section for the SAT.
How much time will my student need?
This completely depends on which service you are seeking, but ability is key; stronger students will obviously need less time than weaker ones. For English literature in general, I would recommend at least an hour a week consistently regardless of level. If a test or paper is approaching, more intensive sessions will likely be required. For SAT/ACT/SSAT/any other standardized test, any reputable tutor or test preparation company would require a mock score before he/she/it would give you an estimate of how much time would be required. Please contact me with your student's mock (or real) test results and let me know whether he or she already had any preparation, and I will give you my opinion on your student's individual case. For admissions consulting, it really depends on where your student is in the process and his or her writing ability in terms of the essays; time requirements could vary from a few hours for guidance on polishing essays to 50+ hours starting with the process from scratch. Please see my services for a more detailed list of what I cover.
Will you write my student's essays for him/her?
No. I strictly adhere to NACAC's Statement of Principles of Good Practice and IECA's Principles of Good Practice. I can GUIDE your student, not write for him or her. Anyone who offers this service is unethical and ultimately counterproductive because an essay that has been written by an adult stands out like a sore thumb to admissions officers.