Sukwon

About Me

I'm Sukwon, and I've been working as a professional tutor for over four years at top preparatory academies in the United States and South Korea. I have extensive experience teaching all levels of math from Pre-Algebra up to Pre-Calculus. In addition, I also have extensive experience teaching various social studies topics, including US History, European History, Micro/Macroeconomics, and more (AP and otherwise). I have a BA in Economics and History from Vanderbilt University.

Tutoring Style

I treat students as human beings first - that means getting to know my students as people and being understanding of differences in learning style, skill level, and background. Learning new math concepts can be a stressful process, so I put a lot of value in being empathetic and setting manageable, achievable goals. During my math lessons, you'll review content, learn different ways of approaching problems, and do guided practice so you can learn how to solve questions as efficiently as possible.

Success Story

Math:

One of my most rewarding experiences as a tutor was working with a high school freshman who struggled with Algebra. She had always been a strong student in math, but a concussion from a sports injury left her with difficulty concentrating and retaining information for extended periods. This was incredibly frustrating for her, as she was used to excelling academically but now found herself falling behind. We adapted her study sessions to shorter, highly focused intervals to help her manage her concentration limits. As I found that she was a very visual learner, I also taught her strategies like illustrating word problems with diagrams and approaching linear function questions through graphs, which helped reinforce her memory without overwhelming her. Over the semester, she not only regained her confidence but also learned new ways to approach Algebra problems by visualizing concepts and recognizing key patterns. By the end of the term, she raised her grade from a C to an A-, proving to herself that she could overcome her challenges and excel with the right approach.

Social Studies:

Another rewarding experience as a tutor was working with a high school junior who was taking AP US History, a topic he was unfamiliar with due to his background as a Korean international student. Things like rote memorization and simply trying to cram the material didn’t work - he needed a comprehensive approach. I worked with him to adapt the material he was learning into a more familiar cultural context, helping him compare US history to Korean history, as well as providing him with news clips and excerpts from newspapers that would relate the material to a modern and relevant context. In addition, we also worked together to develop essay writing skills for the DBQs and LEQs, approaching the exam essays with a methodical, structured approach that clearly laid out the Collegeboard expectations and made sure he was able to target exactly what his teacher, and the AP graders, were looking for. Over time, he was able to master the curriculum and ended up getting a 5 on the AP History exam, a thrilling result for both of us.

Hobbies & Interests

I love to travel - the top three countries I've visited are Vietnam, Ukraine, and Taiwan. I also love to cook and bake, and I'm also an avid reader - I really enjoy 19th-century fiction, particularly Mark Twain and Alexander Dumas.

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