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Jim S. for tutoring lessons in Simi Valley CA Over 700 tutoring hours WyzAnt Tutoring Tutor Tutor United States

Jim S.

Caltech alumnus - SAT, College Apps, Math, Physics, English

Simi Valley, CA (93065)

Travel Radius 10 miles
Hourly Fee $50.00
Discount $42.50 - $47.50 Save up to 15% (i)
  157 ratings

Your first hour with any tutor is always 100% refundable!

I am a Caltech Alumnus tutoring in mathematics, physics, foreign languages and English composition. I have experience tutoring in algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, pre-calculus, AP Physics, and Mandarin Chinese. Exam prep emergencies are my specialty! I also give expert one-on-one assistance and guidance with your college applications and SAT prep.

A little about me: I majored in Applied Physics at Caltech. My SAT scores were 740 in English, 760 in math. My SAT Math Level 2 and Physics subject test scores were both 800. Having lived and studied in France, Austria and Taiwan, I am fluent in French, German and Mandarin Chinese languages with an excellent accent in each, and can tutor in foreign language conversational skills including pronunciation. I also tutor foreign students in English/ESL. My students mostly live in Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks areas.

In teaching mathematics, I am especially perceptive at determining where a student has a gap in understanding or a misunderstanding of mathematical concepts or techniques. Once I have grasped where the shortfall is, I find a way to explain it in very clear terms, enabling my students to make rapid progress in their understanding and in their capability to work homework problems and take exams.

When helping you to edit your writing, my best skill is to advise on word choices that express your thoughts with precision and impact, as well as ways to condense your writing to give it more punch. I'm also very effective at proofreading grammar, spelling and punctuation, and teaching how to avoid the most common errors students make in school essays or the SAT writing essay. In addition I've developed some special techniques to help you prepare for the SAT essay that have proven very helpful in boosting writing scores.

Jim's Subjects

Math:
Science:
English:
Test Preparation:
Computer:
Language:
History:
  • American history,
  • European history,
  • government & politics
Special Needs:
Elementary Education:
Business:
Corporate Training:
Homeschool:

Algebra 1

I originally learned Algebra I in 7th grade before it became a state mandate to push every 7th or 8th grader who's able to into Algebra I. I took geometry the following summer and Algebra II with Trigonometry during 8th grade.

From 9th grade on I was called upon by friends in school to tutor them in algebra, and I rapidly became an accomplished algebra tutor during my high school years. In college I joined a Saturday program to teach middle and high school students algebra, gaining... Read More

Algebra 2

I first studied this subject at my local high school while I was in 8th grade, and the following summer took "College Algebra" at a local college to follow up. It turned out to be exactly the same topics: systems of linear equations,matrices and determinants, conic sections, probability theory.

During my 3 years of high school, I tutored many friends and classmates in Algebra II, and became a very accomplished tutor in this subject. The standardized exams that test it are the SAT and... Read More

Calculus

In the past 2 years I've very successfully tutored capable AP Calculus AB and BC students who wanted to raise their class grade and/or boost their AP Calculus exam score. This year I also have two AP Physics students I'm tutoring for both physics and calculus.

I first took Honors Calculus at a local college when I was in 9th grade. I'm very good at helping students understand the material tested on the AP Calculus AB and BC exams and how to boost their AP Calculus test score, and we... Read More

French

I first started learning French from a native speaker while I was spending my last year of high school in Austria to learn German. This training, together with my musically trained ear, enabled me to develop a robust Parisian accent in French that native speakers have always admired about me. Consequently, one of my specialties is teaching others to develop excellent pronunciation in French.

I followed that first experience with an intensive French class in UC Berkeley's summer session,... Read More

General Computer

I have frequently taught people with little or no computer experience everything from how to power on and off and how to use a mouse to using Microsoft Windows, MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for using e-mail and the calendar. I've also taught how to use ACT! and other CRM systems, and light hard drive maintenance.

Geometry

I tutored several students who were in danger of failing their geometry class to catch up speedily and pass their geometry class by the end of the semester, sometimes with only 3 weeks to go before the semester ended. Because of my deep experience in teaching math to kids, I'm also good at helping home-school students whose parents may be tearing their hair out trying to explain geometry to their kids.

Physics

I first studied college physics as a 10th and 11th grade high school student at a local liberal arts college, and then went on to major in Applied Physics at Caltech.

I have been tutoring students in Algebra I & II, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus and physics for over 20 years now.

This school year I have two AP Physics students who wanted help with physics homework, help preparing for chapter tests, and a better understanding of the concepts of physics.

In... Read More

Prealgebra

Pre-algebra is such a key subject because these days the schools are actually cramming the beginning parts of real algebra classes into the pre-algebra course. If a student gets off on the wrong foot here, chances are they'll do very poorly when they advance to a full-on Algebra I class.

I know where the key pitfalls and traps are that impede a student from learning what they have to know to advance to Algebra next year and to be very successful in that course.

I'm also... Read More

Precalculus

Last school year, I tutored a precalculus student who had been getting a D in this subject. To be frank, she hadn't put much effort into understanding or studying the material. By working with her on a regular basis, I was able to figure out where her difficulties were and set her on the path to success in precalculus. After 2 months of tutoring she scored an A on her final exam and was able to improve her semester result to a B. I'm also very effective at helping good math students become great... Read More

Trigonometry

Trigonometry is a really key subject to master if students want to be successful on their SAT exam and on their SAT Math Level II subject test as well. It's also an important key to success in learning physics and helps boost calculus test results too.

I first took a trigonometry class at my nearby high school while I was an 8th grader, and then took a college trigonometry class the following summer. Guess what, the content was identical, so I snagged an A in the college class as well... Read More

Writing

I have 20 years experience writing technical marketing materials for electronics manufacturers, and 10 years experience tutoring middle school and high school students in their essay and research report writing assignments. In addition I have several years experience helping students prepare for the PSAT and SAT writing exams, including multiple choice questions to identify common writing errors, vocabulary building, and help with the mechanics of writing such as spelling, punctuation, sentence... Read More

SAT Math

My own math SAT score was 760. My SAT Math Level 2 score was 800. I'm very good at helping students understand the material tested on the SAT and how to maximize their math test score, and we do a lot of timed practice tests as well as going through solutions together to the problems missed and special techniques to get speedy answers.

I myself majored in Applied Physics at Caltech, studying advanced math extensively and tutoring middle school and high school students every Saturday... Read More

Proofreading

I have been proofreading sales, marketing, engineering and academic papers for 20 years, much of that at Fortune 500 corporations. In high school I took the SAT only once (before there was a separate essay to score), taking it cold without any advance preparation or prep classes ahead of time, and scored 740 on the English section, including critical reading and writing-related multiple-choice questions. I'd be happy to assist you with any proofreading project you might have.

ACT Math

Because I'm very effective at teaching prealgebra, algebra and geometry, I've been able to help students become very proficient at solving the kinds of problems that appear on the ACT Math exam.

The key to my students' success on this exam has been teaching them both test taking strategy and getting them very familiar with the types of problems that appear on the ACT Math test as well as how to solve them. I'm also great at finding out what it is they "don't get" and helping them "get... Read More

ACT Science

I majored in Applied Physics at Caltech, so I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the sciences, as well as for the skills of interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving that the ACT science exam tests for.

The enthusiasm I developed studying cell biology from one of the primary inventors of the field of electron microscopy (Dr. Jean-Paul Revel) and studying physics with Nobel laureate Dr. Richard Feynman is contagious, so I'm able to help inspire... Read More

Study Skills

I have a strong ability to teach methods for students to organize their studies, their homework and their time. One of the students I coached in middle school and high school raised his cumulative GPA from 3.2 to 4.0 between 7th and 12th grades, graduating as a valedictorian of his senior class. While not every student will make such a stellar improvement, I can definitely assist students to develop and execute on a plan of attack that will significantly enhance their results on quizzes, tests,... Read More

Chinese

I studied Mandarin Chinese in college and then went to the Mandarin Training Center at Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan for a year of one-on-one language instruction. Subsequently I spent 10 years managing Far East Sales, during which I traveled 3 times a year to Taiwan and Mainland China (PRC), giving technical seminars on RF and microwave electronic test equipment and automated test systems at trade shows and customer sites. This helped me to develop full fluency in Mandarin Chinese... Read More

ESL/ESOL

As a result of having spent 5 years studying foreign languages in the USA, Austria, France and Taiwan, and becoming fluent in 3 foreign languages myself (French, German and Mandarin), I have a keen appreciation for the challenges of people seeking to learn or improve their English. I spent 9 months teaching ESL at the Taipei Electric Company in Taipei, and became skilled at teaching not only English language skills but also teaching about American society and culture. I'm very good at teaching... Read More

Differential Equations

I first took a college course in ordinary differential equations while in 10th grade, and followed that up at Caltech with an advanced course that included partial differential equations as well. As an Applied Physics major, I had many opportunities to apply differential equations to problems in electromagnetic theory, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and analytical mechanics. I have a rich background in the methods of solving differential equations, including the use of LaPlace Transforms, etc... Read More

Business

I have 20 years of highly successful experience in sales management, market research, product management and marketing management in the electronics industry. My job titles have included Director of Far East Sales, Product Marketing Manager, Product Manager and Market Research Manager at companies including TRW, Northrop Grumman, Lucent Technologies, Agere Systems, Perkin Elmer, JMAR Precision Systems and Eaton Corporation.

During my career I spent 120 days a year for 10 years traveling... Read More

Career Development

I have 8 years experience as a contingency recruiter ("headhunter"), and have helped a large number of job seekers to elucidate their job skills and career desires, and to create and/or enhance their resume for targeted jobs or careers. I've also counseled them on specific credentials, skills or experience they will need to acquire their desired next career position. In addition I've assisted them to identify likely employers for their skillsets in the geographic areas of interest to them, and... Read More

College Counseling

I have been active for 20 years in counseling high school students in how to find the colleges compatible with their career goals and educational achievement, and how to get the right preparation for excellent universities including our best public universities and the Ivy Leagues. I use resources such as online databases available by paid subscription only and my own experience and my children's' experiences applying to schools such as UC, USC, Caltech, Columbia, Stanford and Princeton Universities,... Read More

ADD/ADHD

Over the years I've had several students in middle school and high school whose parents had them in treatment for ADD/ADHD. I've been very successful in teaching them mathematics and writing mechanics, and greatly improving their grades. It requires a teacher with great patience who's able to redirect the student's attention to their studies and to teach them in a fun and engaging manner that won't make it seem like a chore. I'd welcome the opportunity to help your ADD/ADHD student excel as well... Read More

Aspergers

Over the years I've had several students in middle school and high school who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I've been very successful in teaching them mathematics and writing mechanics, and greatly improving their grades. It requires a teacher with great patience who's able to discover their likes and dislikes, develop a strong rapport with them, and teach them in a fun and engaging manner that won't make the work seem like a chore. I'd welcome the opportunity to help your Asperger's... Read More

Dyslexia

I've had a number of math students with dyslexia, requiring an extra measure of understanding and patience on the part of their teacher. Since I possess that understanding of this issue and am blessed with great patience, I've been very successful helping dyslexic students to master algebra, geometry and even calculus. I'd welcome the opportunity to help your dyslexic student to excel.

Marketing

I have 13 years of highly successful experience in B2B market research, product management and marketing management in the electronics industry. My job titles have included Product Marketing Manager, Product Manager and Market Research Manager at companies including TRW, Northrop Grumman, Lucent Technologies, Agere Systems, Perkin Elmer, JMAR Precision Systems and QLA.

The skills I developed working in marketing include:

- market research in high technology products such... Read More

Microsoft Windows

I have been a Microsoft Windows user from the very beginning of its existence as a product. I personally use Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP on three different PCs now, and I'm a "power user" who performs routine maintenance weekly on 3 PCs (anti-virus and anti-malware, disk drive repair, disk drive optimization) as well as new software installation for advanced users, font installation, ripping music from CDs to MP3 players, and so on. If you need help with a Windows issue, chances are... Read More

TEAS

The TEAS exam for nursing school admission covers reading, math, science, and English and Language Usage. The content is fairly similar to what one would find in an ACT exam, with additional questions corresponding to the easiest portions of the SAT Subject Tests in biology and chemistry. I have been teaching the SAT and ACT for several years, and I majored in science at Caltech, where I studied chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics. I have a particular skill at determining where a student... Read More

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Background Check Status for Jim S.

Passed

Jim S. passed a background check on 11/20/2012. You may run an updated background check on Jim once you send an email.

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