"Hi! I'm David and I'm pretty good at what I do. After getting my BA in Anthropology from Ithaca College, I went overseas for over eight years learning to teach in a variety of educational settings in Japan and South Korea. I am currently in my last semester at The University at Buffalo and will receive a Masters of Education in Music Education Studies--I couldn't resist another subject to teach.

In South Korea, I worked at a private institute that provided college test prep for prospective and current university students. I have tutored students in the SAT (Math & Verbal), ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, and DET with great results. While college test prep is my specialty I've also taught a variety of subjects in English to international school students, people preparing to study or work abroad, and adult learners interested in picking up new skills. I even teach guitar, ukulele, and basic musicianship to adults!

No matter what I'm teaching, my philosophy stays the same. My priority is always to create a comfortable learning environment because stress and anxiety can really block progress. One of my proudest moments as a teacher was teaching business English while working at an adult learning center in Seoul, South Korea (an environment notorious for nervous students) where I became really popular with students—mostly because I helped them feel at ease. My ability to connect with people and create a relaxed atmosphere is one of my greatest strengths as a teacher.

When it comes to delivering lessons, I focus on being clear and concise, while building on previous concepts. I think of lessons like constructing a building—without a solid foundation, it’s hard to move on to more advanced stuff without causing confusion. I focus on real-world applications first and then tie them back to theoretical understanding, grounding students knowledge in practical uses while helping them understand the broader topic." less...