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Latin, Greek, History prof happy to tutor
Gaius S.

4.9 (58 ratings)

180 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $50
Contact Gaius
Response time: 17 hours

About Gaius

Bio

I am a retired Berkeley professor who will happily tutor local students in Latin, Ancient History, US history, and some other fields - especially HS students. I do my best to make Latin easier for students by teaching through the parts I did not understand myself as a HS student of Latin. I have developed several special techniques that make it easier to determine which case, or how to identify the verb's tense, etc. I do lessons at a house or at a cafe.

I am a retired Berkeley professor who will happily tutor local students in Latin, Ancient History, US history, and some other fields - especially HS students. I do my best to make Latin easier for students by teaching through the parts I did not understand myself as a HS student of Latin. I have developed several special techniques that make it easier to determine which case, or how to identify the verb's tense, etc. I do lessons at a house or at a cafe.

Education

Univ of Maryland
Classics and History
UC Berkeley (Classics)
PhD
UC Berkeley (History)
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $50
  • Rate details: Group rates are negotiable. I charge more when I have to drive far from home or pay a bridge toll.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 4/12/2016

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

American History

American History

I have taught US History, Greece, Rome, Europe, World at University and high school since 1994. My advisor was the late, respected Raphael Sealey (Greek Hist, Oxford). Some of my work is on Prisoners of War (POWs).
Archaeology

Archaeology

I have a Ph.D. in Greek and Roman history from UC Berkeley (2006). My dissertation was on a very famous archeological discovery: the Ara Pacis Augustae. I have been teaching classroom archeology in the History of Art Dept at UC Berkeley for three years, which includes the study of Roman material culture such as arches, temples, Roman coins, and amphitheaters.
Classics

Classics

I have a Ph.D. in Greek and Roman history from UC Berkeley (2006). I have been teaching Greek and Roman history, Greek and Roman literature, Greek and Latin, and archeology since 1996 in secondary school and since 2004 in university. I often tutor students in Latin and in academic writing.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

When I lived in Rome (1997-99) I gave English lessons to several students. I have a Ph.D. in Greek and Roman History / Classics from UC Berkeley. I often edit friends' papers to improve the grammar before publication. My professor friends want to publish their articles in perfect English. so they ask me for help.
European History

European History

I recently taught a class on World War I and will teach it again in Falll 2017. I have taught US History, Greece, Rome, Europe, World at University and high school since 1994. My advisor was the late, respected Raphael Sealey (Greek Hist, Oxford). Some of my work is on Prisoners of War (POWs).
French

French

I took six years of HS French and travel to France annually. My French is pretty good and fortified by 16 years of Latin. The reputation the French have for rudeness is no more accurate than the American reputation for rudeness. Some people are polite; others not. It is the same as here, but if you speak Spanish to them you should not expect them to like it. Most of the time if you try to use even a little French they will be very helpful. I travel to France or Belgium every year.
Government & Politics

Government & Politics

I teach US History and government and San Jose State - Political Science 15. Too often students complain to me that their past instructors have presented a clearly biased political ideology. In the classroom, I teach the MATERIAL with a non-partisan perspective.
Greek

Greek

I have a Ph.D. in Greek and Roman history from UC Berkeley (2006) whose requirements include an intense exam in Ancient Greek and Latin (one each). I have taught college Greek. My own studies included classes in Plato, Herodotus, Thucydides, Euripides, Lysias, and Homer. In addition to passages from all of the above, I have translated four full books of the Iliad into English and three full books of the Odyssey.
Italian

Italian

I learned Italian from a book before I got there, and then realized I was not as good in Italian as I thought. But after living there for two years, I am near fluent or fluent. But I find for a trip as a tourist, one really needs only 350 words or so to be understood easily and to understand the important things. My textbook never taught me the right words for when the person behind me wants to get off the bus! Now I know them from experience.
Latin

Latin

I have read the entire Aeneid in Latin and translated 3/4 of it. I have also taught Latin both in HS and on the college level. I an translating Livy as a project, also reading Homer in Greek.
Political Science

Political Science

I think I can help. My specialty is on US Presidential elections and how/why the two houses of Congress were made the way they are - and whether this is injurious to democracy today. I have taught 15 classes of government and politics at San Jose State University. Often, my students complained some of the other professors were too partisan. They said I was neutral. I certainly pointed out the hypocrisy of individual politicians, but I taught government and the Constitution from a neutral perspective. I am more interested in the material than political spin. I am very interested in the demise of political parties, who won the election, and why.
Social Studies

Social Studies

I have a Ph.D. in History, which covers most of High School social studies. I also have a minor in Poli Sci and studied a bit of anthropology to make up the difference. I have taught US History many times, and tutor US History out of school, so I believe I am qualified to teach social studies.
World History

World History

I have a Ph.D. in Greek and Roman History from UC Berkeley. For the last ten years I have been teaching history at UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley Extension, CAL State SJSU, SFSU, and East Bay - including World History, US History, Western Civilization A-B-C, Military History, and Ancient Greece/Rome. I also have taught in high school, so I am familiar with working with different age groups. My favorite is Roman History.

Examples of Expertise

Gaius has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 22 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Gaius S.'s Photo

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Response time: 17 hours

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.9 (58 ratings)
5 star
(56)
4 star
(1)
3 star
(1)
2 star
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1 star
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Reviews

Great!!

Great tutor! Super patient and knew loads about the topic- the Iliad. He was really flexible and accommodating with time

Patricia, 2 lessons with Gaius

Insightful and Adaptable Economics Tutor for Young Learners

Our child recently had a lesson on the current U.S.-China tariffs, and we were truly impressed by how Gaius handled such a complex topic. Tariffs are difficult for almost everyone — not just young people — to fully understand, especially when the situation keeps changing. But Gaius made it incredibly accessible by tailoring the explanation to our child’s age and interests. What really stood out was how they thoughtfully incorporated political cartoons that our child already enjoys — it immediately grabbed their attention and made the economic concepts feel relatable and even fun. The session turned abstract economics into something engaging and understandable. We’re very grateful for the effort and creativity!

EE, 1 lesson with Gaius

Excellent Tutor for U.S. History and English Improvement

Through his lessons, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. history and its political system while also improving my English discussion skills. He explained concepts in an easy-to-understand manner and answered all my questions thoroughly. Additionally, he corrected my English expressions, helping me speak more naturally. His lessons were not just lectures but interactive discussions where we exchanged ideas, which made them even more valuable. I particularly appreciated the in-depth discussions on major historical events and their social impact. Gaius S. is a passionate and dedicated tutor, and I highly recommend him to anyone looking to improve both their knowledge of U.S. history and their English skills.

Jonghyun, 14 lessons with Gaius

Knowledgeable, Patient, and Deeply Engaging Tutor

Gaius has been an exceptional resource for my son’s deep-dive into Roman history. Not only does he bring a wealth of knowledge to every session, but he also communicates complex historical concepts with clarity and enthusiasm. Gaius’s patient approach and willingness to adapt his teaching style have been invaluable, enabling my son to approach research tasks more confidently and understand how to use primary and secondary sources effectively. What truly sets Gaius apart is the time he invests outside of our scheduled sessions. He carefully reviews drafts, suggests essential sources, and provides constructive feedback that helps refine my son’s work. His meticulous outlining and revision guidance have significantly improved the quality of my son’s writing and overall understanding of the subject matter. Thanks to Gaius, my son not only feels more prepared and knowledgeable, but also more excited about his academic pursuits. I highly recommend Gaius to anyone looking for a dedicated, insightful, and supportive tutor.

Dina, 1 lesson with Gaius

Knowledgeable and prepared

Gaius helped me better understand meter used in the Iliad and helped me get a better understanding of the Homeric writing style. He was also prepared by looking up the stuff we were going to cover and making sure he knew the vocabulary that is not used very often.

Jessica, 2 lessons with Gaius

Great and accommodating tutor!

Gaius helped me understanding how political elections works in the United States. I have become much more knowledgeable and comfortable in my understanding after only 1 hr with Gaius. Thank you Gaius!

Fred, 1 lesson with Gaius

Great knowledgeable tutor

Gaius is knowledgeable and patient with our son. He kept our son engaged. He is easy to communicate with and very prompt with his reply. We highly recommend it!

Christina, 1 lesson with Gaius

Knowledgable Tutor

My son had to retake a test in AP World History. Fortunately, We found Professor Gaius. Gaius offered the class with a very short notice. We sent the material couple of hours before the class. He came fully prepared. Gaius is very patient and engaged my son well in the conversation. He also spent extra time to cover the material. He didn't charge for that extra time. I strongly suggest tutoring from Professor Gaius.

Satya, 3 lessons with Gaius

Knows how to make the class enjoyable while learning

Gaius is teaching my 12 year old about ancient Greece and Rome, including The Iliad, the ancient world, and other topics. My 12 year old enjoyed it while learning about the roots of Western Civilization.

Mathew, 4 lessons with Gaius

Extremely Knowledgeable Tutor in the Classics

Gaius has an incredible command over an astonishing amount of knowledge regarding Greek and Roman history. Furthermore, he is also very energetic and clearly is passionate about these subjects, which he has been studying his entire life. He even knows the most minute details, down to the percentage of wheat/barley Roman soldiers used in their bread. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this tutor!

David, 2 lessons with Gaius
Hourly Rate: $50
Response time: 17 hours
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