Lorato: Merrillville tutor

Certified Tutor

I will be graduating from the University of California, San Diego this June (2014). I will be receiving my Bachelor of Arts with Latin and Departmental Honors in Literature and Writing, with focuses in education, French Literature, Literatures of the World in English, and fiction writing. I have four years of tutoring and teaching experience at UC San Diego's Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS), both in teaching undergraduate writing workshops and working with both undergraduates and high school students in one-on-one tutoring. I have also worked extensively with ESL students and students from inner-city high schools. I tutor a broad range of subjects, including argumentative and research writing, composition, reading comprehension, beginning French, stylistics and grammar, and literature. I especially love tutoring in argumentative writing and reading comprehension, which is why I enjoy working with students on SAT Critical Reading and Writing and GRE Verbal and Writing. Watching students develop critical skills and confidence in these subjects is the best part of my job!

In my years working as a teacher and tutor, I've noticed that a student's confidence in a subject is often his or her main gateway to success. As a result, I work hard to both develop that confidence and the skills required to perform well both in class and on standardized tests. I also have a dynamic teaching and tutoring style that keeps students engaged and understanding the material. I understand that for most students, school is sometimes boring; luckily, I've been trained in how to keep them interested through both connecting to my students and involving them in their learning process. I do this by structuring my lessons around discussions that do not rely only on me just giving them information (unless it is necessary), but instead help them practice the critical thinking that leads them to coming up with solutions themselves. This has proven to be more effective than the "lecture" or "knowledge dump" methods, since students can then use their learning in other subjects and essay prompts. I guide my students in how to think; I don't tell them what to think.

Outside of my academic work and interests, I love running (I've run track for eight years), hiking San Diego's beautiful trails, and painting.