Aaron S.
Private tutor in Cambridge, MA
Education
Research Engineer at Harvard, MIT & MGH with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with University Honors
Experience
I believe that every person possesses an innate curiosity about the world around, a sense of purpose deep within, and a powerful desire to reach their greatest potential in the context of their own purpose. Regrettably, these amazing human qualities can become buried beneath any number of “layers” throughout one’s unique life journey. A major source of fulfillment and joy in my life has been in helping others by means of nurturing their innate curiosity, (re)awakening their sense of purpose, removing obstacles to their learning, and encouraging their growth in order to achieve their very best. With this view, I have been truly privileged to serve a great many students of all ages as an academic mentor, private tutor, graduate teaching assistant, laboratory instructor, math learning coach, and basketball coach. In every case, I have treasured the opportunity to contribute to the realization of their aspirations and trust that I have left upon them a positive impression, as they all have upon me. I value each and every student for the unique individual they are. Accordingly, I always customize my teaching approach to best fit their unique needs. With most students, I have found that traditional approaches fail to yield lasting results in the form of sustained learning. Conversely, the most effective approach for the majority of my students—one that altered my own academic trajectory—revolves around one central objective: empowering students to become capable of teaching the subject matter themselves. In other words, my primary aim is to facilitate the learning of my students to such an extent that they become veritable experts and effective teachers of the subject matter in any given circumstance. There are five significant principles underlying this approach that highlight its advantages over traditional methods: First, teaching a subject at the conceptual level can be extremely challenging and thus requires an extraordinary amount of engagement and sensory interaction with the subject matter, enhancing the student's focus on learning and increasing her/his recall of that which is learned. Second, learning by teaching imparts a sense of ownership to the student, spontaneously generating an increased level of commitment and pride felt by the student in thoroughly mastering the subject matter. Third, as the student attempts to teach a particular subject, she/he becomes keenly aware of any lacks in her/his mastery of that subject. One can only teach insofar as one truly understands, and teaching is the best way to expose one's true understanding. This exposure, self-evaluation, and critical thinking are most crucial in truly mastering a subject. Fourth, the ability to teach is a noble personal quality and a highly desirable communication skill, which qualities and skills are unique in that they are drivers of success and possess inherent value across virtually every discipline. Fifth, this approach is actually fun! I have been teaching in this way for many years and can testify that students genuinely love learning by teaching, as it challenges them to reach yet a higher level of understanding and accomplishment. Furthermore, rigorous scientific studies have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that one's happiness and ability to assimilate new information into long-term memory are inextricably linked. I truly believe in this way of learning, so much so that I daily incorporate elements of it into my own learning as a research engineer at Harvard Medical School, MIT, and MGH. I have over six years of experience in teaching or tutoring a broad range of subjects, primarily at the high school and university levels, including math, science, engineering, writing, verbal reasoning, and test-taking strategy. I have also served, and continue to serve, as a mentor to high school and college students. In each case, I have enjoyed every moment! Generally, it is not my practice to tutor exclusively for standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, etc. This is because in nearly every scenario sustained learning, or teaching students how to learn, is superior to transient learning, or merely teaching students what to know. With that said, I recognize the importance and practicality of excellent performance on standardized tests. Therefore, I always tailor my approach for each student in order to help them achieve their individual test-taking goals. I am currently accepting new students! Please contact me to discuss how I can best serve you or your child. I look forward to helping you achieve the highest level of success!
Availability
Weekdays in the evening, Weekends at any time
Can Meet
Up to 1 hour away at my regular hourly rate, Up to 15 minutes away for no additional charge
Hobbies
As relatively recent transplants to Boston, my wife and I currently spend much of our spare time exploring the city and its surrounding areas. I also enjoy playing basketball, snow skiing, hiking, cheesy television shows, and a variety of short stories, magazine articles, biographies, etc. From time to time, I also make feeble attempts at blogging about random things.
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