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Certified Tutor
Muriel
I have a master's degree in Spanish Literature from the University of Georgia and a bachelor's degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Kansas. I am a certified to teach Spanish levels K-12, and I am currently a Spanish teacher at Peachtree Ridge High School. I have been a...
University of Georgia
Master of Arts, Spanish Literature
University of Kansas
Bachelor in Arts, Spanish

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Karla
I recently graduated from my Bachelor's Degree with a Business Administration and Strategy major and a Marketing minor. I've been a tutor for more than 5 years now. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about Business, Marketing, Foreign Languages, Communication and Writing. ...
Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Bachelor in Arts, Business Administration and Management

Certified Tutor
9+ years
I recently graduated from Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School. I am entering Rice University in the Fall, where I will be studying Applied Math and Bioengineering.I grew up with numbers. I attended Russian School of Mathematics every weekend for many years. I partook in AwesomeMath during summer ...
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
Hannah
I am currently an undergraduate at Northwest Missouri State University. I am a mathematics major with computer science and economics minors. My two passions in life are God and mathematics. My goal is to help other students see the wonders and beauty that math can bring to everyday life. I have work...
Northwest Missouri State University
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics

Certified Tutor
Mia
Hello! My name is Mya. I'm a current graduate student at the University of San Francisco, completing my Master's degree in Public Administration and Health Services. I'm a Bay Area native and enjoy meeting new people. I love traveling and learning about new cultures and helping others. I decided to ...
University of San Francisco
Masters, Public Administration
San Francisco State University
Bachelors, International Relations

Certified Tutor
5+ years
John
I graduated from Clemson University with a BS in Economics. I also have an MBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University. I'm currently working towards an MS in Quantitative Finance and Economics from Texas State University. I also work as a Quantitative Analyst at a fixed income investment firm...
Southern Methodist University
Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Clemson University
Bachelor of Science, Economics

Certified Tutor
Jacob
I have always loved teaching, and I started working as a tutor in Math and Science in high school. I now teach a wide variety of subjects from Physics to Essay Writing to Math at every level, as well as standardized testing for SAT and GRE. I love tutoring because it combines two of my favorite acti...
New York University
Masters, Playwriting
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelors, Drama and Astrophysics

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Carol
As an INFJ, I deeply enjoy helping others learn and grow through tutoring. My roots run deep in Florida as a fifth-generation native. Born in Tallahassee and raised on St. George Island until hurricanes struck in 1987, I eventually settled in my parents' hometown of Jacksonville after graduating fro...
University of North Florida
Bachelor in Arts, Psychology

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Diego
I am a knowledgeable and dedicated math tutor with 7+ years of experience tutoring high school and university students, including my own classmates and friends.I especially enjoy working with students taking calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, probability, and abstract algebra, as well...
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Master of Science, Applied Mathematics
University of California-Berkeley
Bachelor in Arts, Mathematics

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Hello! I am a senior at Yale University studying English. I have 5+ years experience tutoring high school/middle school students in writing, college essay editing, Common App advising, AP English, and ACT! My students have earned acceptances to Brown, Duke, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and the University of...
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts, English
Top 20 English Subjects
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Jennifer
ACT Writing Tutor • +8 Subjects
I am a graduate of Auburn University - War Eagle! I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and and a Bachelor of Science in Fitness, Conditioning, and Performance. I love how the body and the brain work together, especially on the sports field! While at Auburn, I tutored student athletes in Nutrition, Kinesiology, and Psychology courses. I decided to tutor, because I love to learn and to spend time with people. Tutoring lets you do both!
Million
Algorithms Tutor • +9 Subjects
Do you need computer programming courses?I believe teaching and learning should be fun. If learning is not challenging and fun, then it will lead to boredom, burnout, and disinterest.I I received my bachelors degree in computer engineering in 2016. I have been tutoring computer programming since 2018. I now work full time as a computer programmer, primarily working as full stack developer and Data scientist."The #1 predictor of success... GRIT!! The ability to persevere, overcome, and move forward in spite of challenges, failures, and obstacles."
Jackie
ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Tutor • +32 Subjects
I am a senior at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. I have a minor in Spanish and a passion for writing. I have experience tutoring several subjects, including Spanish, English/Writing and Algebra. I am a teacher's assistant at the business school and have a lot of experience reading application essays, research papers, cover letters and resumes (in both Spanish and English). I find helping other students to be incredibly rewarding, and am so excited at the possibility of helping you reach your academic goals!
Alan
College English Tutor • +15 Subjects
I am a graduate cum laude of Clark University, with a CELTA certification in teaching English from Cambridge University. I was born and raised in Queens, attended Hunter College High School in Manhattan, and now live in Brooklyn, so I know the city very well. I have years of experience teaching and tutoring a wide range of subjects and students.My expertise lies in two main areas. Firstly, I teach ESL to adults and teenagers. I have experience both teaching in front of large classrooms and intensive one-on-one tutoring. My students come from all over the world, and I aim to tailor my lessons to their respective needs and interests, while covering the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening to English. I always recommend a city-as-classroom approach, where my students immerse themselves in the language both in and out of school.Secondly, I tutor elementary and middle schoolers in English, Math and test preparation. I have experience leading after-school classes as well as one-on-one tutoring at learning centers and private homes. I have had students from all different backgrounds and levels of proficiency, including many children of immigrants. I emphasize study skills and test taking strategies, and love seeing a student's eyes light up when they grasp a concept that had been eluding them.
Cara
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As a graduate of San Diego State University with a BA in English and a graduate of CSU Long Beach with an MA in English Literature, I enjoy the idea of embracing a subject where no answers are correct or incorrect, just proven or disproven with evidence. I enjoy teaching students, and I enjoy what I learn from their perspectives. Learning can be engaging and fun when students are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas in an academic environment. My favorite response to students is, "What's your source?" and then having them find more sources to back up their answers becomes a fun exercise. I strongly believe in John Hatti's research that the key to student success relies upon both immediate feedback on the teacher's part and then reflection on the student's part.
Erika
Algebra Tutor • +20 Subjects
I love teaching students because I love how creative students can be when it comes to solving problems. I graduated with my Associate in Science from Houston Community College and I am currently going to Unity College for my B.S. in Marine Biology. I currently work as an ESL para for 7th and 8th graders. I will be tutoring all math and reading up until high school. I personally love tutoring math more because even though it can be a tricky subject but I am known for looking at problems through a new angle and try and creating new ways on how to solve the problem.
Cheyenne
Advanced Placement Prep Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am currently a senior at Baylor University working towards a degree in health science studies, with a focus in pre-medicine. I am very passionate about the sciences and enjoy tutoring biology, physiology, and anatomy.I am passionate about tutoring because I feel that every student should be able to have access to adequate assistance outside of school. With an increasingly full public school system today in need of some serious reform, I believe that personal and in-group tutoring as supplemental instruction are crucial to allowing students to receive the personalized attention they need for success. Getting help outside of school is one of the first steps to being proactive in a student's academic journey, and improvement as well as new enthusiasm upon gained understanding early on in the academic journey can open doors of opportunity not only to universities and graduate programs, but also inside the mind of the student as growth and steady work ethic can be inspired by a positive learning experience. As a tutor, one has a direct impact on the educational experience of a student, and a positive one can empower and enable students to get help where they need it, as well as the confidence and positive foresight to continue on in time of difficulty.In light of this, I will try my best to make sure that every student I encounter gains an opportunity to have such a positive experience. By providing the right motivation to succeed, and applying materials learned to the real world, I hope to instill in students inspiration to gain knowledge not only for academic success, but to gain insight on the way the world functions around them. Knowledge truly is power, and being a tutor is the perfect way I can spread this power in the ways I can.
Ryan
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My goal is to aid in the educational development of adolescent students in multiple subject matters. I am a history-secondary education major, with a minor in psychology, and have experience teaching in the classroom at the secondary level. Therefore, I can bring new and proven methods to tutoring young students, as well as expertise within the subjects of history, writing and psychology. I am also a proven successful test taker, having scored a 2000 on my SAT exam, passed 4 AP Tests, passed the Praxis II exam, scored a 700 on a History SAT Subject Exam, and passed the EdTPA Teachers Proficiency Exam. Therefore I can teach skills and strategies for test taking to improve scores.
Kendra
Adult Literacy Tutor • +12 Subjects
Hello! I'm Kendra, a professional ESL and Curriculum Development professional. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I have worked both abroad and domestically, online and in the classroom teaching students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. I focus heavily on proper pronunciation, grammar and building your confidence as an English speaker. I look forward to seeing you in class!
Yusuf
Algebra Tutor • +6 Subjects
I like to take advanced concepts and explain them in simpler terms for my students to gain a complete conceptual understanding. I tend to use many analogies and consider my tutor sessions as "discussions."My overall goal is to provide a thorough explanation of difficult concepts, as well as make learning a fun experience for my students so that they're better motivated to learn in the future.Currently, I'm a 19-year-old undergraduate studying biology at Lewis University.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students often struggle with pragmatics because it requires understanding language in context—not just grammar rules, but how meaning shifts based on situation, tone, and social dynamics. Common challenges include:
- Distinguishing between literal and implied meanings
- Understanding indirect requests and politeness conventions across different contexts
- Recognizing sarcasm, irony, and figurative language
- Applying pragmatic principles consistently in their own writing and speaking
Personalized tutoring helps students build intuition for these nuanced language uses through targeted practice and real-world examples.
Pragmatics is essential for success on reading comprehension and writing sections of standardized tests, where understanding author intent and rhetorical strategies matters as much as grammar accuracy. Students must interpret implied meanings, recognize when language serves persuasive versus informative purposes, and understand audience awareness in their own writing. Strong pragmatic skills also improve analytical essays, where students need to explain not just what a text says, but why the author made specific word choices and what effect those choices create. Tutors help students connect pragmatic concepts directly to test-taking strategies and academic writing expectations.
The best pragmatics tutors combine linguistic knowledge with an ability to make abstract concepts concrete. They should:
- Explain the 'why' behind language conventions, not just the rules
- Use diverse, relatable examples that show pragmatics in real conversation and literature
- Help students analyze authentic texts to identify pragmatic patterns
- Connect pragmatic principles to students' own writing and speaking
- Adapt explanations to each student's learning style and current understanding
Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who specialize in pragmatics and understand how to build this skill progressively.
Pragmatics improvement depends on your starting point and study frequency. Many students see noticeable progress in understanding context and implied meaning within 4-6 weeks of consistent, focused tutoring. However, developing the ability to apply pragmatic reasoning consistently—especially in high-pressure test situations—typically requires 8-12 weeks of regular practice. The key is working with a tutor who can identify your specific weak areas (like sarcasm recognition or understanding rhetorical devices) and create a targeted practice schedule. More frequent sessions accelerate progress by allowing immediate feedback on your interpretations.
Effective pragmatics study combines active analysis with repeated practice:
- Close reading: Analyze published writing and speeches to identify how authors convey meaning beyond literal words
- Context analysis: Practice determining how setting, tone, and relationship between speakers shifts meaning
- Annotation exercises: Mark implicit meanings, author's tone, and intended audience effect as you read
- Peer discussion: Explain your interpretations aloud—articulating reasoning strengthens understanding
- Timed practice: Apply pragmatic reasoning under test conditions to build speed and confidence
A tutor helps you prioritize which strategies work best for your learning style and ensures you're applying concepts correctly.
Expert tutors start by assessing where you stand through diagnostic conversations, reading passages, and writing samples. They look for patterns in how you interpret implicit meaning, respond to figurative language, and explain author intent. Some students grasp the concept of audience awareness easily but struggle with sarcasm; others excel at analyzing speeches but misread subtle tone shifts. By identifying these specific gaps, tutors create a focused learning plan rather than generic review. Regular check-ins and practice exercises throughout tutoring help track progress and adjust strategies as needed.
Confidence in pragmatics grows from two things: understanding the underlying principles and practicing with varied examples. Work with a tutor to solidify your grasp of key concepts (context, implicature, speech acts), then do timed practice on realistic passages and prompts. As you see yourself correctly interpret author intent and explain pragmatic choices, your confidence naturally builds. Tutors also help you develop self-checking strategies—like asking "What is the speaker really saying here?" or "Why did the author use this word instead of a simpler one?"—so you can trust your interpretations independently. Regular feedback on your reasoning, not just your final answers, reinforces that your thinking is sound.
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