• Undergrad:

  UC Northridge

• Tutors Out Of:

  Oxnard, CA

• Travel Radius:

  16 miles

• Tutoring Certifications:

  anatomy - astronomy - elementary (k-6th) - ESL/ESOL - European history - geography - Italian - literature - physical science - Portuguese - religion - Spanish - world history - writing - zoology

• Tutor's Fee Per Hour:

  $36.00 * with a 10% discount after purchasing $360

I am 60 years old. I'm retired, and as a father who raised 5 children, and now is grandfather of 8 grandchildren, I can say "I love children."

My life's work has put me in classroom teaching and lecture situations from ages K through university. People of all ages have enjoyed my educational presentations - often accompanied with hands-on materials of the subject being presented. My personal collections include fossils, rocks and minerals, meteorites, ancient Roman coins and pottery artifacts from ancient Israel; also large animal skulls and other biological specimens.

I've traveled extensively in the world, and beyond mere travels I have lived in Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Japan, Germany, France and Egypt. I speak, read and write Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, with some knowledge of French, German and Arabic. My academic backgrounds are in English Literature, Theater, Classical Archaeology, Natural Sciences, and World History. My in-depth knowledge of classical Roman, Greek and Egyptian history continues to develop through ongoing study of new books, online articles, and actual travel to the Mediterranean world. I have visited extensively many world locations and have first-hand knowledge of myriads of cities and areas around the globe. Last year I lived 7 months in Egypt (2007).

My experiences and skills have built "Friendship Relationships" in every country I have visited; I have a reputation for being called "warm and carismatic" in my friendliness with peoples of all nations.

My father was LA's Premier Science Teacher in the 1940's 50's and 60's; he was academic Consultant to Disney Education Productins and to Doubleday Publishing. I thus grew up in a science-oriented home. I have continued studying Natural Sciences all my life, writing and publishing a 723-page book on General Sciences in 2004. My study to write the book included reading over 100 current science books and university science textbooks. All my life I have collected and prepared rocks and minerals, fossils, skulls, skeletons and other natural specimens. I collect meteorites, and have several rare specimens.

20 years of my life were given to Classical Archaeology as an archaeological artifacts conservationist and researcher. I am intimately familiar with the history and artifacts of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and Judaea. In my work I handled literally tens of thousands of rare artifacts of the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. My academic studies also encompassed ancient Mesopotamia, MesoAmerica, Africa and Asia, with special emphasis in China, Japan, and Ankor-Wat Cambodian sites.

In the 1970's and early 1980's I was a script-fixer for several Hollywood writers; I write poetry, novels and screenplays. My love of and knowledge of creative writing is life-long.

My publications include "The 1985 Calendar of the Ancient World" and "The 1986 Calendar of the Ancient World" which were sold in 33 countries, and resulted in my being a frequent Radio and TV talk-show Guest in 1985 and 1986.

In the mid-1980's I was Professor of Archaeology at the L.A. University of Judaism. As a Christian scholar, this trust was a great honor.

Here in Oxnard, for 4 years I was a columnist for the Asian-American News.

My style of Tutoring is part Aristotlian - "answer the questions the student asks" - and part traditional: following curriculae as prescribed and required for a course.

I have two goals in Tutoring anyone:

First, I want them to know everything that is required for getting highest marks in the subject.

Second, I want them to understand the theory, philosophy and basis underlying every subject - whether it is a Natural Science, a foreign language, or an area and time of history. My goal is to help the student see why this subject and field is fascinating, and, to gain a true excitement about the subject as someting that directly relates to THEIR life, now and future. We learn best when it is fun, and, knowing why the subject matters is the beginning of making it fun.

I feel that my Second Goal is the more important in the long-term. Facts learned today for the test tomorrow yield A+ grades. However, visions of the subject's fascination, trivia making the subject come alive and exciting - these things are remembered for a lifetime.

I know. I learned this phenomenon from my father.

I look forward to helping you both achieve the high grades you want, and enjoy the process of learning your subject with real fun in "edutainment" that brings the subject to life, helps you remember what you learn more easily and more fully, and helps you discover why you can love your subject.

Sincerely,

David Swingler

Email this tutor in Oxnard, CA!

• elementary (k-6th)

  My father was a Jr. Hi science teacher, and I have been involved with education all my life. I am 60 years old, and, I have raised 9 children of my own. I have 8 grandchildren. I am good with children and youth of all ages - in 4 languages. My experience in interacting with children extends to several foreign countries. I mention this because it is my belief and experience that getting along with kids is the better part of getting them to learn. When a child likes you, they pay better attention, and retain more of the lesson. Having raised my own children over almost a 25-year period, my experience with Tutoring in all subjects has been born from caring about the child. I want kids to succeed. Knowledge is power. It starts in Elementary School. A child's attitude toward study, listening to teaching, hearing, thinking about the lesson, and discovering why the subject is fun and knowledge is fun to know, makes a good student, and a successful child. My father the Teacher taught me the most important thing children learn in school is HOW TO LEARN. Whatever the subject, howevermuch is taught, the techniques for learning are what they need to learn most. These skills help them beyond college. Life is a schoolroom, filled with things we discover we want to learn. Most of what we WANT to learn in this world is outside and beyond school - we must teach ourselves these treasures and wonders. How? By knowing how to teach ourselves. This is how I teach. I teach children both the subject they need to know, and, how to learn it, study it, get everything out of it they want, and where to find more about it. I teach children how exciting it is to know stuff. Knowing stuff is fun. Knowing what others are talking about, to understand and be part of it, is fun. When you know stuff, you're in. Being in is fun. As my life has been a continual process of studying and learning everything I find fascinating in the world - and I've written and published articles as a newspaper journalist and even a 723-page book for young people on Natural Sciences - I am able to help you in every subject for Kindergarten through 7th Grade - it's my playground. I love and have broadly studied the subjects you need: English, American History, World History, Ancient History, Geography, Sciences, Music, Art, even Math. Because I have traveled around the world for 40 years and lived in foreign countries - Brazil, Italy, Egypt, Germany, France, Japan, Cambodia, Peru, Mexico - and been to dozens of Museums around the world and have thus seen the "real stuff" the books talk about - my teaching is sprinkled with fun hands-on application experiences where the subjects we are reviewing became really fun and helped me, all around the world. Stuff we know is cool because it helps us be adventurers, and explore wonderful places and things. Knowing stuff is fun. I often bring hands-on specimens, artifacts, arts and souvenirs to my Tutoring sessions, to surprise and make learning real. Kids love to touch real things. I have many collections. I have coins and paper monies from many countries. I have rocks and minerals that are amazing, fossils and even meteorites to bring and make the world and the universe more real. Touching fun things makes learning fun. A Tutor often helps with the difficult areas. When a child stumbles, I show them how they can get up themselves and do it. I love kids, I care about kids, I want children to see they are smart, and that the stuff they are studying does matter and will be useful. And, they can learn tricks to make their learning easier for them, so it won't be so hard. There's so much fun stuff to know. Knowing things - whatever it is they need to learn - knowing it is cool, and fun. It's fun to know things. Sincerely, Professor David Swingler

• ESL/ESOL

  I have been helping foreigns learn English for 40 years. Difficult pronunciation and useful phrases - with fun words that quickly help you "blend in" like someone whose been here for years - these I can teach you. As an American who has himself learned to three foreign languages - Portuguese, Spanish and Italian - I am an English Tutor who knows the difficulties of learning a new language - and the techniques to make it much more fun, and easier - with fast retention. My major in college was English Literature. I am a writer, with published books, articles in journals, and deacdes of writing research reports in archaeology and in sciences. I have been a public speaker and lecturer for 35 years. I have been on over 75 national Radio Talk Shows as a guest. I speak well. Since I was 19 years old living in Brazil, I have been Tutoring friends in speaking English. The simplifying techniques I learned for studying and learning a foreign language can be yours: I will teach to these techniques to you as you learn English as a Second Language. Because I have lived in foreign countries and have literally 40 years experience SPEAKING ENGLISH TO FOREIGN FRIENDS whose English is limited or slow, I AM EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I don't talk "louder" to be understood (like so many dumb Americans) - I speak MORE SLOWLY, and I use WORDS and PHRASE STRUCTURES that 40 years of experience has shown me FOREIGN SPEAKER UNDERSTAND EASILY. I have lengthy experience speaking to people whose first language is SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, ITALIAN, and also French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hindi and Arabic - whose English is limited or slow. I am regularly told by people all over the world "Mr. David, I can understand you always so well, but other Americans I have trouble understanding." The reason is simple: I have learned how to speak to people who are learning English, because I have been the student learning 3 foreign languages where I was the student, where I am the one who has trouble understanding when those speaking talk too fast, or mumble and slur their words. If you can't understand your Teacher, your learning is slow, and reduced. If your first language is Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian, I can speak those languages to help you in difficult moments. If it is French, German or Arabic, I know a little, enough to help you feel comfortable and appreciated. I look forward to being your Tutor, and helping you become proficient in English. Sincerely, David Swingler

• Portuguese

  Portuguese was my first Foreign Language. At age 19 I attended a special high-intensity language school to learn Portuguese in preparation for living and working in Rio de Janeiro. Classes were 3 months, 6 days a week, 11 hours a day saturation learning. In 12 weeks I was fluent, moved to Brazil, and started working. I lived in Brazil for 2 years. I spoke mostly Portuguese. While there, I read hundreds of newspapers, dozens of magazines, and read 5 full-length books, including the Bible - cover to cover - in Portuguese. I also translated a short book from English to Portuguese. My last 6 months I spoke only Portuguese to Brazilians; there were no English speakers around. Upon my return to the U.S. I formed a close association to a group of Brazilians in Los Angeles and continued to speak Portuguese for another 10 years. I traveled to Brazil 8 times during these years. Since then I have continued to keep up my reading, writing and speaking Portuguese. When I meet Brazilians, and surprise them by speaking Portuguese, they usually think I am Brazilian - not by my looks, but my perfect accent. This instantly perplexes them: I look European, but sound Brazilian. They ask where in Brazil I come from - I make them guess, and they usually say "Rio Grande do Sul" because many Europeans settled there - called "Gauchos." But my accent is Carioca - or to really have fun I use my nordestino accent - and they're baffled. When I reveal that I'm American, we have a good laugh and are friends. One of my sons married a Brazilian girl, the grandaughter of a family I knew very well there - and they moved to Brazil. They live in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba and I have 2 grandchildren now in Brazil. Here is a sample of my written Portuguese: Eu gostaria de ser o seu Professor do Portuguese. Conheco a lingua muito bem, depois de quasi 40 anos de falar. Falo, leio e escrevo o Portuguese. Vivi no Brasil durante dois anos, morei na cidade de Rio de Janeiro - aonde aprendi o sottaque 'Carioca' - e depois vivi tambem no Maceio em Alagoas, e Joao Pessoa em Paraiba, e depois na cidade de Anapolis no Interior, em Goais. Conheco Brasilia, e outras cidades do Brasil. Eu gosto da comida Brasileira. O meu vocabulario e bem grande, inclui conhecimento de palavras de quasi todo objeto caseiro, da cosinha, comidas, frutas, verduras, moveis de casa, ropas, tudo que a gente usa em casa. Tambem tenho vocabulario de negocios, politica, ciencias, geografia, literatura, historia, e mecanico de automovil (importante cuando seu carro se quebra) e pela maioria de ativides cotidianas. Meu Portuguese nao e perfeito, mas pode ver que sou capaz, e posso ensinar bem a pronuncia carioca e nordestino, se quiser. After living in Brazil 2 years, upon my return to the U.S. I quickly learned Spanish, then Italian; I studied French enough to read magazines and books on archaeology in French (I do not speak French, however). As a Tutor who has learned 3 foreign languages fluently, and how to adequately read a 4th, and learned basic phrases also in German and recently Arabic, I can declare that I know the tricks of learning a foreign language - and I will teach you these tricks. As you may already have discovered - language is a formidable wall to surmount. There are techniques that greatly simply it, and make it much, much easier. I know these techniques. I will teach them to you along with your Portuguese. Why do it the hard way? So, if you're looking forward to learning or improving your Portuguese, I'm the Tutor who has Portuguese waiting for you, with techniques for retention and pronunciation few can give you. Sincerely, Professor David Swingler

• religion

  From my own background as a Christian, I began to learn about other religions, a quest to understand how people believe, and how all beliefs are both fascinating and inter-related. At 21 my academic studies in Ancient Roman History took me to Roman religion. This led to Etruscan religion, which led to Greek and Egyptian religions. These took me into study of Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian religions, bringing me back to Christianity, with its roots in Judaism, amid Roman religion, Greek religion and Egyptian religion. In 1988 I began to study Asian religions: Shinto, Buddhism, Hinduism. I was eventually able to travel to Japan, China and India, and study first-hand. My in-depth studies revealed parallels with Christianity: clear and most fascinating doctrines and teachings, all very fascinating. My final venture into religions of the world evolved from 1985 through the present - Islam. In 1985 my art business took me to Jerusalem and resulted in my being 'adopted' by a Moslem family there. Being Christain, "The People of the Book" I was able to learn from my Moslem 'family' much about Islam. I went with them to the Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock and observed them in prayer. I bought 3 English translations of the Koran, which I have read and studied. In 1999 I lived in Egypt 6 months, and again in 2007 for 7 months. By this time I had enough knowledge of Islam and its parallels with Christianity and Judaism (all "People of the Book") and of the life of Mohamed that I was invited to join discussions with Imams and again to pray in Mosque. I was invited to participate in special feasts and ceremonies of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha - The Feast of Abraham. This last experience - The Feast of Abraham - brought me again full circle to my own roots and Faith in Christianty: the week of Eid al-Adha in Egypt, with its High-Day animal sacrifices - took me back to my imaginings of the life of Jesus, and the Judeo-Greco-Roman world Jesus had known, and the Judaism of the Old Testament with animal sacrifices: Holy, Sacred and very seriously lifted to God. Allah is The God of Abraham: "Allah" means "El-Ileh" or "The God" and "Ileh" is the name Jesus called the Father whe he was dying on the Cross: "Eli, Eli" - "My God, My God." If we are to understand our current-events problems in the Middle-East, this is basic knowledge which SHOULD be taught in our schools; tragically, to our own hurt, this reality is ignored, when its understanding could literally save lives. If your interest is Bible, I have read it 4 times in English, 3 times in Portuguese, and once each in Spanish and in Italian. I have studied its verses and passages, and studied its doctrines for 50 years. My personal home library includes books of actual exts of the Holy Writings of Hindusim, Buddhism, Shinto and islam, as well as the ancient religions of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. I was invited to become part of the Adult Education Faculty at the University of Judaism, Familian Campus in L.A., by Rabbi Jack Schecter, and I taught Archaeology of Israel and "Bible Archaeology" for 2 years there. As a non-Jew, this was an honor of great respect. If your interest in Religion is in the areas I have described here, it will be my pleasure to explore these with you and teach you what I have learned. Sincerely, Professor David Swingler