Sonya E.

About Sonya

I've always loved learning. To me, teaching is an extension of that thirst for education. I started tutoring my fellow classmates in high school and never stopped seeking to help others learn. In graduate school, I taught writing and rhetoric classes to students from the science and engineering schools, helping them develop vital communication skills. My biggest passion is for the English language -- I love helping students express their thoughts as well as teaching them how to see the beauty of language. However, I also have a strong math background and have helped numerous students prepare for and pass standardized exams.

For the last three years, I have worked primarily as a private tutor specializing in ACT, SAT, GRE, English, college admission essays, and other forms of writing. It pleases me greatly to watch students grow in confidence and knowledge as we discuss test strategies and strengthen their content knowledge. I teach test prep in a way that is conscious of the fact that standardized testing is only one step in a student's journey, and I try to impart my students with skills that will empower them to succeed after they have moved on to the next stage in their education. One of the greatest gifts I own is the ability to learn and teach myself new things, and I try to pass this gift on to my students through fostering intellectual curiosity.

My writing tutoring is my biggest strength and passion. From essay writing to rhetorical analysis, I can teach any genre of writing. In addition to my academic writing interests, I also write poems, short stories, and screenplays. Indeed, one of my jobs is to provide screenplay coverage for a Hollywood agent who deals in distribution rights to foreign films. By my count, I have read and analyzed around 10,000 pages of screenplays within the last year. I am a speed reader and can impart many of my strategies to students, which is particularly valuable for the timed reading sections on the SAT, ACT, and GRE. And with the new writing sections on the ACT and SAT, strong writing skills are more valuable than ever for aspiring college students.

I expect a lot of my students, but am also nurturing and encouraging. Many of my students are very busy (and often stressed), so I work with each student to establish a study plan that will work for them. Flexibility is one of my hallmarks. I adapt to each student in order to teach as efficiently as possible.

I am happy to travel locally, but also have significant experience and success working with students online. I also provide online essay editing for my students when they need a paper polished in a hurry.

During my senior year at Rice University, I received a fellowship after my many professors realized I had taken twice as many English courses as any other student in my graduating class. I have an MFA in creative writing from UC-Irvine, and while there I taught new students how to write academic essays and conduct rhetorical analysis. During my final year at UCI, I was awarded the prestigious Strauss Fellowship. With a strong grasp of grammar and a mastery of many styles, if you need a writing tutor, I'm your gal.

I've worked as a GRE tutor for the last two years and have helped many adults (even those long out of school) review the necessary skills in order to succeed on this challenging test. I've been tutoring SAT and ACT students even longer, as I started helping my fellow high-schoolers with these tests when I was in high school. My youngest student is currently a 3rd grader who is discovering the joy of writing. I also work with adults who want to improve their writing and communication skills for their professional lives.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or would like to schedule a lesson. I'm always happy to advise students on the best path towards their specific goals. Inquiries tend to get addressed within 24 hours if not sooner. Thank you for considering me for your test prep and academic needs! I look forward to helping you achieve your academic dreams!


CANCELLATION POLICY: 24-Hour Notice is required whenever possible if a session needs to be rescheduled. I am dependable and expect my clients to be the same, both for their benefit and out of respect for my time. It is important that we maintain a regular study schedule for maximum educational growth.

Less than 2-hr notice/No Shows: Full Session Price
Between 2 and 24-hr notice: $20 rescheduling fee

SICKNESS:

Because I work with so many students, I take every care to minimize my exposure. Please give me advance notice if you are sick so that we can make alternate arrangements. I am always happy to meet students over Skype. If you are sick and do not notify me before I show up at our meeting location, I reserve the right to leave and charge the session as a cancellation in order to protect myself and my other students. Please do not put me in this position. I've always loved learning. To me, teaching is an extension of that thirst for education. I started tutoring my fellow classmates in high school and never stopped seeking to help others learn. In graduate school, I taught writing and rhetoric classes to students from the science and engineering schools, helping them develop vital communication… Read more

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