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Edward B.

Voted 'Most Fun Teacher'

Voted 'Most Fun Teacher'

$40/hour

  • 1 hours tutoring

About Edward

Bio

Since 2011 my principal occupation has been tutoring and college counseling Chinese or ex-patriate students who intend to study abroad. Special attention is given to application essays and extracurricular or research activities. You will find a list of the schools to which my students were accepted on my CV, if you wish to see it. The list includes Harvard, Cornell, Stanford, PENN, Duke, U of Chicago, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, NYU and dozens of other Top 100 schools in the U.S., Canada, and the...

Since 2011 my principal occupation has been tutoring and college counseling Chinese or ex-patriate students who intend to study abroad. Special attention is given to application essays and extracurricular or research activities. You will find a list of the schools to which my students were accepted on my CV, if you wish to see it. The list includes Harvard, Cornell, Stanford, PENN, Duke, U of Chicago, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, NYU and dozens of other Top 100 schools in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

My primary teaching/tutoring experience is in the -- wickedly demanding -- International Baccalaureate Organization Diploma Programme (IBDP): I taught IBDP Economics HL and SL formally, in the classroom, for six years, Theory of Knowledge for two years, and have tutored the same ever since, along with IBDP English HL and SL. Of course, I have tutored non-IBDP English; e.g., ESL, as well as TOEFL and SAT prep. Two students I tutored went from the lowest tier of English class to #1.

Several factors differentiate my approach to teaching English, Literature, and exam prep. One: I have studied six languages; Latin and Spanish in high school, then French and German in college. During Peace Corps service in Ghana, West Africa I studied Dangbe Krobo. When I lived in China I studied Mandarin. Thus, I have a deep understanding of language, of what professors of Linguistics call syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Two: I invented a now-proven strategy for maximizing exam scores on written exam responses of any type. The same strategy enables students to earn the highest scores they can on their required essays. I would be glad to teach this strategy to you.

Three: I do not own a TV. Instead, I read voraciously: science, current affairs, novels, news, history, science fiction, professional journals like Nature; did I mention science? My favorite magazines are National Geographic and Scientific American.

Four: For over 30 years I have been a professional writer, editor, and journalist. You can go online to find a few of my pu

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Education

Boston College
Philosophy
Harvard University Extension
Other
Southern New Hampshire University
Masters

Policies

Schedule

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Subjects

Elementary Education

Reading

Reading

Two students I tutored ESL went from the lowest tier of English class to #1. We focused primarily on Reading aloud back and forth, then noting down all new vocabulary. Students then had to define each new word and use each word in a grammatically correct sentence. Thus, we covered Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. At the college level, I taught ESL Intermediate, Spoken English, Advanced Reading, and Western Culture. Lastly: “(Ned) helped me earn admission to 18 elite schools around the world including Duke, PENN, and UC Berkeley in the U.S., as well as U of Cambridge in England and McGill U in Canada. Over the course of 1.5 years, Synergy also helped me to improve my English. I eventually earned a 7, the highest score, in IBDP English A, and raised my SAT score 110 points.” -- Michael L., University of Cambridge (He is now at MIT working on a PhD.)

English

English,

English

Latin + Spanish + French + German + Dangbe Krobo + Mandarin: These are the languages I have studied formally. Thus, I have a deep understanding of English because the study of foreign languages always involves grammar, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. And words are such fun!
Literature,

Literature

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t." So says Polonius in Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 205-206. This quote from Shakespeare applies to all Literature, thus to life itself. The key is puzzling through both madness and method. This type of interpretation requires wide, deep and constant reading to identify, compare, and contrast themes, motifs, symbols, and all the other elements of literary analysis. Which is why I don't own a TV: no time for it; I'm reading.
Reading,

Reading

Two students I tutored ESL went from the lowest tier of English class to #1. We focused primarily on Reading aloud back and forth, then noting down all new vocabulary. Students then had to define each new word and use each word in a grammatically correct sentence. Thus, we covered Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. At the college level, I taught ESL Intermediate, Spoken English, Advanced Reading, and Western Culture. Lastly: “(Ned) helped me earn admission to 18 elite schools around the world including Duke, PENN, and UC Berkeley in the U.S., as well as U of Cambridge in England and McGill U in Canada. Over the course of 1.5 years, Synergy also helped me to improve my English. I eventually earned a 7, the highest score, in IBDP English A, and raised my SAT score 110 points.” -- Michael L., University of Cambridge (He is now at MIT working on a PhD.)
SAT Writing,

SAT Writing

The Elements of Style, The Harper Handbook, Fowler's Modern English Usage, The Chicago Manual of Style: If you read them, you will not need me to tutor you. I've written everything from creative advertising copy to strategic business plans to feature articles.
TOEFL,

TOEFL

As a high school teacher in China, I tutored TOEFL prep after class for six years. As a private ESL tutor and college counselor, I've tutored TOEFL prep for a further eight years. Note that scores usually go up the second time students take the test; during the first test, students often are nervous and stressed. Therefore, practice tests are crucial.
Writing

Writing

"In the beginning was the Word" but Goethe, in Faust, wrote "Zum Anfang gab es die Tat" ('In the beginning was the Deed'). The frisson between word and deed propelled me into the graphic arts -- design, typography -- and then into the most creative sector of business, marketing communications. There, as a copy writer and creative director, I wrote everything from ad copy to press releases to strategic plans and feature articles. Yet my passion for words is grounded in the formal study of six languages -- Latin, Spanish, French, German, Dangbe Krobo, Mandarin -- and deep reading. I can send you samples of my published works.

Homeschool

English,

English

Latin + Spanish + French + German + Dangbe Krobo + Mandarin: These are the languages I have studied formally. Thus, I have a deep understanding of English because the study of foreign languages always involves grammar, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. And words are such fun!
Reading,

Reading

Two students I tutored ESL went from the lowest tier of English class to #1. We focused primarily on Reading aloud back and forth, then noting down all new vocabulary. Students then had to define each new word and use each word in a grammatically correct sentence. Thus, we covered Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. At the college level, I taught ESL Intermediate, Spoken English, Advanced Reading, and Western Culture. Lastly: “(Ned) helped me earn admission to 18 elite schools around the world including Duke, PENN, and UC Berkeley in the U.S., as well as U of Cambridge in England and McGill U in Canada. Over the course of 1.5 years, Synergy also helped me to improve my English. I eventually earned a 7, the highest score, in IBDP English A, and raised my SAT score 110 points.” -- Michael L., University of Cambridge (He is now at MIT working on a PhD.)
Writing

Writing

"In the beginning was the Word" but Goethe, in Faust, wrote "Zum Anfang gab es die Tat" ('In the beginning was the Deed'). The frisson between word and deed propelled me into the graphic arts -- design, typography -- and then into the most creative sector of business, marketing communications. There, as a copy writer and creative director, I wrote everything from ad copy to press releases to strategic plans and feature articles. Yet my passion for words is grounded in the formal study of six languages -- Latin, Spanish, French, German, Dangbe Krobo, Mandarin -- and deep reading. I can send you samples of my published works.

Language

TOEFL

TOEFL

As a high school teacher in China, I tutored TOEFL prep after class for six years. As a private ESL tutor and college counselor, I've tutored TOEFL prep for a further eight years. Note that scores usually go up the second time students take the test; during the first test, students often are nervous and stressed. Therefore, practice tests are crucial.

Most Popular

English,

English

Latin + Spanish + French + German + Dangbe Krobo + Mandarin: These are the languages I have studied formally. Thus, I have a deep understanding of English because the study of foreign languages always involves grammar, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. And words are such fun!
Reading,

Reading

Two students I tutored ESL went from the lowest tier of English class to #1. We focused primarily on Reading aloud back and forth, then noting down all new vocabulary. Students then had to define each new word and use each word in a grammatically correct sentence. Thus, we covered Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. At the college level, I taught ESL Intermediate, Spoken English, Advanced Reading, and Western Culture. Lastly: “(Ned) helped me earn admission to 18 elite schools around the world including Duke, PENN, and UC Berkeley in the U.S., as well as U of Cambridge in England and McGill U in Canada. Over the course of 1.5 years, Synergy also helped me to improve my English. I eventually earned a 7, the highest score, in IBDP English A, and raised my SAT score 110 points.” -- Michael L., University of Cambridge (He is now at MIT working on a PhD.)
Writing

Writing

"In the beginning was the Word" but Goethe, in Faust, wrote "Zum Anfang gab es die Tat" ('In the beginning was the Deed'). The frisson between word and deed propelled me into the graphic arts -- design, typography -- and then into the most creative sector of business, marketing communications. There, as a copy writer and creative director, I wrote everything from ad copy to press releases to strategic plans and feature articles. Yet my passion for words is grounded in the formal study of six languages -- Latin, Spanish, French, German, Dangbe Krobo, Mandarin -- and deep reading. I can send you samples of my published works.

Other

College Counseling

College Counseling

As a teacher in China, I advised Chinese and ex-patriot high school and college students about the college or grad school application; esp., the importance of extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation. Since 2011 my principal occupation has been online or in-person tutoring and college counseling for students who intend to attend college or grad school in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. My students earned admission to Amherst, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, McGill, NYU, PENN, UBC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, U of Chicago, USC, Vanderbilt, and Wellesley, as well as schools down the list of Top 100 schools. "Just a quick note to say thank you again for all your help and advice. And for pushing me to do my best. UBC was my dream school. Synergy made it possible, and now my dream is true. I love it here! Thanks, Ned." -- Shen W., University of British Columbia

Summer

Reading,

Reading

Two students I tutored ESL went from the lowest tier of English class to #1. We focused primarily on Reading aloud back and forth, then noting down all new vocabulary. Students then had to define each new word and use each word in a grammatically correct sentence. Thus, we covered Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. At the college level, I taught ESL Intermediate, Spoken English, Advanced Reading, and Western Culture. Lastly: “(Ned) helped me earn admission to 18 elite schools around the world including Duke, PENN, and UC Berkeley in the U.S., as well as U of Cambridge in England and McGill U in Canada. Over the course of 1.5 years, Synergy also helped me to improve my English. I eventually earned a 7, the highest score, in IBDP English A, and raised my SAT score 110 points.” -- Michael L., University of Cambridge (He is now at MIT working on a PhD.)
Writing

Writing

"In the beginning was the Word" but Goethe, in Faust, wrote "Zum Anfang gab es die Tat" ('In the beginning was the Deed'). The frisson between word and deed propelled me into the graphic arts -- design, typography -- and then into the most creative sector of business, marketing communications. There, as a copy writer and creative director, I wrote everything from ad copy to press releases to strategic plans and feature articles. Yet my passion for words is grounded in the formal study of six languages -- Latin, Spanish, French, German, Dangbe Krobo, Mandarin -- and deep reading. I can send you samples of my published works.

Test Preparation

College Counseling,

College Counseling

As a teacher in China, I advised Chinese and ex-patriot high school and college students about the college or grad school application; esp., the importance of extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation. Since 2011 my principal occupation has been online or in-person tutoring and college counseling for students who intend to attend college or grad school in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. My students earned admission to Amherst, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, McGill, NYU, PENN, UBC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, U of Chicago, USC, Vanderbilt, and Wellesley, as well as schools down the list of Top 100 schools. "Just a quick note to say thank you again for all your help and advice. And for pushing me to do my best. UBC was my dream school. Synergy made it possible, and now my dream is true. I love it here! Thanks, Ned." -- Shen W., University of British Columbia
SAT Writing,

SAT Writing

The Elements of Style, The Harper Handbook, Fowler's Modern English Usage, The Chicago Manual of Style: If you read them, you will not need me to tutor you. I've written everything from creative advertising copy to strategic business plans to feature articles.
TOEFL

TOEFL

As a high school teacher in China, I tutored TOEFL prep after class for six years. As a private ESL tutor and college counselor, I've tutored TOEFL prep for a further eight years. Note that scores usually go up the second time students take the test; during the first test, students often are nervous and stressed. Therefore, practice tests are crucial.

Examples of Expertise

Edward has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 1 question submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Contact Edward

Response time: 2 hours

$40/hour

Edward B.'s Photo

Edward B.

$40/hour

  • No subscriptions or upfront payments

  • Only pay for the time you need

  • Find the right fit, or your first hour is free

Contact Edward

Response time: 2 hours