1^st lesson free

Michael

5 (20 reviews)

Rate $69
Response 1h
Students
Number of students Michael has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
50+
Number of students Michael has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

5 (20 reviews)

$69/hr

1^st lesson free

English
Reading
Literacy
Grammar
Creative writing

Experienced tutor in English in San Gabriel, Michael offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

English
Reading
Literacy
Grammar
Creative writing

Lesson location

- online

About Michael

In my full-time tutoring work, I support English students at every academic and ability level. My writing and critical reading students find that I am organized, nonjudgmental, and objective-oriented.

My expertise lies in writing and grammar development, critical reading/thinking, standardized test preparation, and college essay editing (complete list of services at the bottom). My established lessons are tailored to each student's needs.

CURRENT SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS:

** The AP English Language and Composition test is on MAY 14. Currently accepting new students who want to improve their writing and critical thinking skills for any AP test.

SUMMER TARGETED PROGRAMS:

** Rising Seniors writing their college admissions personal statements: time to reserve a spot in my busy schedule.

** Honors and AP English Summer preparation.

** 8th-10 grade reading and writing program: annotating, analyzing, and writing about short stories each week.

My student-centered lessons are prepared with practical materials and efficient plans. Over the past two decades, I've developed strategies for paragraph and essay writing, critical reading/thinking, and test prep. Each approach is framed as a practical “order of operations” to be used while thinking through any school assignment. These lead to efficiency in answering both written and multiple-choice questions within the allotted time.

I adapt these general techniques to meet each student’s individual needs, goals, styles, and abilities. This is my strength as a tutor.

Working with English language (ESL/ELD) learners, I employ linguistic skills to identify sound issues, explain how they are physically produced, and find solutions for each particular student. Lastly, I can understand what it's like to speak a new language as I am a student of Spanish and Russian.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICES:

- Writing—persuasive, argumentative, & expository essays; creative & personal writing, paragraph structure; revision, fluency, & idea development

- Grammar—I go beyond worksheets and connect the concepts so that you can finally understand them.

- Reading/Critical Thinking skills—annotations & notetaking; identifying appropriate evidence; literary analysis, context clues & inferences

- English Standardized test preparation—AP, SAT, ACT, GED, C-BEST, & ISEE

- ESL/English language acquisition—improving vocabulary, pronunciation, phonetics, & accent

- College admissions essays—development, editing, & proofreading

- English class performance (all levels)—personalized lessons and/or homework assistance

- Vocabulary—build lifelong skills to increase vocabulary

- Public speaking—planning, writing, & presenting

- Editing & proofreading services

My lifelong training and experience have informed my passion for writing and helping people discover their language abilities and potential. For example, recently I witnessed the academic growth of a struggling ninth-grader with whom I've been working for over a year. He arrived at this success after a journey of trying approaches until we found those that worked for him. Now, instead of passively waiting for instructions, he comes to the lesson with questions. His posture straightens up in confidence as he makes annotations about the story. Moments like this embody why I love being a private tutor: there's nothing like the smile on the face of a student who sees what they can accomplish!

Writing and teaching are my nature; tutoring is part of my calling. During college in 1993, I offered an oral interpretation (storytelling) at a local school during a reading day. Then I hosted a three-day program for young creative writers. The following year, I began teaching conversational English at camps and community events, and I offered an adult writing seminar at the Mental Health Association. After graduation, I was trained as an adult literacy advocate. Teaching opportunities continued to present themselves. In 2001, I began teaching groups of students at an afterschool tutoring company while earning a master's degree. During that time, I also provided college-level seminars in writing, journalism, and the arts, as well as a one-credit college course in film narratives. I've found the work rewarding and haven't stopped tutoring and editing since.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Writing from Houghton University as well as a master's degree from Fuller Graduate School. I've been a writer, editor, and tutor all of my life. My experience began as a middle school newspaper journalist and continued into my college senior year as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.

Twenty-five years ago, I had my first experience as a conversational ESL tutor overseas. Then I continued editing college admissions essays as well as university and graduate school essays, theses, and dissertations.

In 2003, I became a full-time writing and test preparation tutor in both classroom and private tutoring settings. Since then, I have educated hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to study at the most prestigious universities.

About the lesson

After introductions, I patiently listen to clarify the student's goals. Then I assess their abilities and what is needed going forward. Then I respond with an introductory lesson to demonstrate some direct solutions. At the end of the session, I offer an organized plan to achieve success.

During subsequent sessions, I plan lessons according to the student's needs, balancing structured lessons with answering the questions that come up along the way. A primary feature of my tutoring is that I center it on each student's unique learning styles, characteristics, and goals, observing and adjusting my approach as needed.

Generally, I teach one-on-one during scheduled weekly sessions. However, I also have flexible students who contact me as needed, such as when they have difficulty completing a speech or writing project for English or History.

I provide a variety of professional English language services for students of all ages and levels. While the majority of my students are between fifth and eleventh grade, I have tutored hundreds, ranging from first grade to adult language learners and even a seventy-seven-year-old grandmother. Almost one-third of my students are second-language English learners. They and their families have come from many countries like Russia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Korea, France, Germany, Lebanon, Egypt, India, Mexico, and Peru. Every year, I help several students write admissions essays, and many of my students have gone on to graduate from prestigious universities such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Princeton, New York University, Dartmouth, and the University of Chicago. Over the years, I have also worked with countless college and graduate school students to develop and edit their papers and dissertations. In the “photos” section of my profile, I have included past student reviews for reference.

I suggest that you look for a writing and grammar tutor who understands your challenges and offers tangible and organized ways to overcome them without judgment. Don't settle for a tutor who just provides worksheets without a goal and a plan to achieve it.

For example, for English standardized test preparation (ACT, ISEE, SAT, AP), avoid a tutor who only offers practice tests and says "read more and study this vocabulary list." Taking several practice tests will not necessarily improve your achievement. You may also need an experienced tutor who offers time-tested strategies to address your personal needs, a tutor who is motivated and help you achieve your goals.

Most of my students know I'm a baseball fan. I recently went to a major league baseball game with a friend and his son. The Yankees, my favorite team, won! It was my first big public event since the pandemic began. What a great time!

Also, I take part in fiction writing contests several times per year. After I enter each story, I submit it to a community of other writers for feedback. Through these events, I continue to learn as a writing teacher.

A few things worth thinking about before reaching out
What specifically led to my seeking a tutor? (Was it a grade issue? Was it difficult to understand specific lessons in school? Did a teacher suggest tutoring?)

What are my specific goals to reach? (What do I hope will happen after completing my tutoring lessons?)

Consider discussing your thoughts about these reasons and goals with a potential tutor before your first lesson. Then ask the tutor to reflect these back to you in his or her own words. The goal is to make sure they listened and understand. Then ask the tutor to offer general and specific ways they can help. Listen closely: does this sound like what you are looking for?

Reviews

All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience had by the students of Michael.

5 (20 reviews)

L

Laura
- 5
Perfect! My son worked with an English tutor for 1.5 years prior to me finding Mr. Evans with little improvement, so I needed to find someone better. Mr. Evans assessed my son and gave him a plan to review, learn and grow his foundation in English. Mr. Evans has been kind, patient and friendly every time he has worked with my son and truly helped him. He helped him build his English foundation that needed help due to him being a dual immersion student at a Spanish speaking school. I recommend Mr. Evans to fellow parents.
Read more Read more

L

Laura

Perfect! My son worked with an English tutor for 1.5 years prior to me finding Mr. Evans with little improvement, so I needed to find someone better. Mr. Evans assessed my son and gave him a plan to review, learn and grow his foundation in English. Mr. Evans has been kind, patient and friendly every time he has worked with my son and truly helped him. He helped him build his English foundation that needed help due to him being a dual immersion student at a Spanish speaking school. I recommend Mr. Evans to fellow parents.
J

Janis
- 5
Perfect! Mr. Evans is an amazing tutor!
He's very helpful, patient and supportive. He caters to my son's needs and goals.
My son has grown in confidence and his writting skills have improved a lot.
-Janis-
Read more Read more

J

Janis

Perfect! Mr. Evans is an amazing tutor!
He's very helpful, patient and supportive. He caters to my son's needs and goals.
My son has grown in confidence and his writting skills have improved a lot.
-Janis-
K

Kelly
- 5
Perfect! Mr. Evans is a delightful and skilled tutor. My 11 year old son's reading and writing grade has gone up by nearly a full grade in less than three months. He understands the chaos of a parent's life and the brain of a struggling child.

At the start of every lesson, Mr. Evans makes sure my son is working on the most relevant assignment. In addition, he has a variety of general lessons he intersperses or uses on days my son doesn't have any homework, maximizing every minute of the lesson. He also took time to understand my son's favorite subjects and uses those topics to link to reading and writing to maintain my son's interest.

He is incredibly patient! My son has attention problems. However, he has dozens of techniques to work with him to keep him engaged throughout the virtual lesson. He has offered numerous successful tips to assist me for when my son has as assignment due before the next lesson. He has saved my son and me from many tense homework moments.

He is also quite flexible. Sometimes I have forgotten lessons or need to reschedule them in advance. He has made it work every time. He communicates regularly with me to ensure we are on the same page with my son's needs and I can reach out to him freely.

I highly recommend the services of Mr. Evans!
Read more Read more

K

Kelly

Perfect! Mr. Evans is a delightful and skilled tutor. My 11 year old son's reading and writing grade has gone up by nearly a full grade in less than three months. He understands the chaos of a parent's life and the brain of a struggling child.

At the start of every lesson, Mr. Evans makes sure my son is working on the most relevant assignment. In addition, he has a variety of general lessons he intersperses or uses on days my son doesn't have any homework, maximizing every minute of the lesson. He also took time to understand my son's favorite subjects and uses those topics to link to reading and writing to maintain my son's interest.

He is incredibly patient! My son has attention problems. However, he has dozens of techniques to work with him to keep him engaged throughout the virtual lesson. He has offered numerous successful tips to assist me for when my son has as assignment due before the next lesson. He has saved my son and me from many tense homework moments.

He is also quite flexible. Sometimes I have forgotten lessons or need to reschedule them in advance. He has made it work every time. He communicates regularly with me to ensure we are on the same page with my son's needs and I can reach out to him freely.

I highly recommend the services of Mr. Evans!
J

Jayson
- 5
Perfect! Michael brings a wealth of experience from decades of tutoring with him to every session. Alongside his vast experience is an adaptability that makes every lesson dynamic and always keyed into what the students truly need in the moment. Beside both of these, his kindness and passion for teaching bleeds through, making him one of the better tutors I've ever worked with.
Read more Read more

J

Jayson

Perfect! Michael brings a wealth of experience from decades of tutoring with him to every session. Alongside his vast experience is an adaptability that makes every lesson dynamic and always keyed into what the students truly need in the moment. Beside both of these, his kindness and passion for teaching bleeds through, making him one of the better tutors I've ever worked with.
C

Cristi
- 5
Perfect! Well detailed and very helpful. Highly recommend
Read more Read more

C

Cristi

Perfect! Well detailed and very helpful. Highly recommend
T

Tra
- 5
Perfect! He’s so patient with my son!
Read more Read more

T

Tra

Perfect! He’s so patient with my son!
A

ANJANI
- 5
Perfect! He is wonderful tutor.
Read more Read more

A

ANJANI

Perfect! He is wonderful tutor.
A

Allison
- 5
Perfect! He connected really well with my son and was very helpful in strengthening his literary analysis skills and his writing.
Read more Read more

A

Allison

Perfect! He connected really well with my son and was very helpful in strengthening his literary analysis skills and his writing.
C

Carlos
- 5
Perfect! Mr. Evans was very professional and very dedicated. He made lessons engaging and always made sure I understood the essence of each topic. I strongly recommend him!
Read more Read more

C

Carlos

Perfect! Mr. Evans was very professional and very dedicated. He made lessons engaging and always made sure I understood the essence of each topic. I strongly recommend him!
T

Tra
- 5
Perfect! I like the way Mr. Evans teaching, straight forward to the point my son needs! He makes my son like to write!
Read more Read more

T

Tra

Perfect! I like the way Mr. Evans teaching, straight forward to the point my son needs! He makes my son like to write!
See more reviews

Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher

B

Brenda

Mr. Evans is very easy to work with. My child has been improving for only few classes.
Read more

B
Brenda
Mr. Evans is very easy to work with. My child has been improving for only few classes.
Rich

The below is a text that my wife and I sent Mr Evans which I think is in itself a stellar review of his expertise:

Hi Mr. Evans this is Rich- Bennett's dad. We just wanted to thank you for the amazing work you are doing with Bennett. Today he got an A on his literary assessment essay, the only A in his class. We are so thrilled with his progress with writing and communicating his thought and ideas as it is critical for any career pursuit ...and in life really. Thank you so much! Rich and Allison
Read more

R
Rich
The below is a text that my wife and I sent Mr Evans which I think is in itself a stellar review of his expertise:

Hi Mr. Evans this is Rich- Bennett's dad. We just wanted to thank you for the amazing work you are doing with Bennett. Today he got an A on his literary assessment essay, the only A in his class. We are so thrilled with his progress with writing and communicating his thought and ideas as it is critical for any career pursuit ...and in life really. Thank you so much! Rich and Allison
Johnson

He really broke down the writing process and gave me the blueprint for successful writing. I would definitely recommend using Mr. Evans if you need help with an essay.
Read more

J
Johnson
He really broke down the writing process and gave me the blueprint for successful writing. I would definitely recommend using Mr. Evans if you need help with an essay.
Le

I first worked with Mr.Evans on my personal statements for undergraduate college application, and during that short period of time, my perception of writing changed completely; that the writing process could be fun. After deciding to change my career, I reached out to him again to help me with personal statements for graduate schools. As always, his constructive feedback and creative suggestions help me better convey my thoughts/stories. Moreover, he also gave genuine advice on college applications (e.g. limiting my application to graduate schools that I actually would like to attend - save me so much on application fee!) and a clear timeline on writing targets (drafts, final version). He truly has a passion for writing and teaching others how to improve their writing!
Read more

L
Le
I first worked with Mr.Evans on my personal statements for undergraduate college application, and during that short period of time, my perception of writing changed completely; that the writing process could be fun. After deciding to change my career, I reached out to him again to help me with personal statements for graduate schools. As always, his constructive feedback and creative suggestions help me better convey my thoughts/stories. Moreover, he also gave genuine advice on college applications (e.g. limiting my application to graduate schools that I actually would like to attend - save me so much on application fee!) and a clear timeline on writing targets (drafts, final version). He truly has a passion for writing and teaching others how to improve their writing!
Khalil

It was very nice. He taught me how to improve my writing.
Read more

K
Khalil
It was very nice. He taught me how to improve my writing.
Francisco

My first language is Spanish, and Mr. Michael Evans has been extremely supportive in helping me express myself in English with correct oral grammar and diction. I appreciate his extensive life and professional experience which has helped me in my writing and awareness of English words and expressions in my personal and work experience.

Read more

F
Francisco
My first language is Spanish, and Mr. Michael Evans has been extremely supportive in helping me express myself in English with correct oral grammar and diction. I appreciate his extensive life and professional experience which has helped me in my writing and awareness of English words and expressions in my personal and work experience.
Anne-Marie

I have received tutoring from Mr. Evans on a forum where we post short stories we have written. The purpose is to receive feedback that will improve our skills and make us better writers. I am an adult woman with a job in the sciences, but I love the English language, and am a lifelong student and learner.
Mr. Evans was the person from whom I received the most abundant and most helpful feedback. His comments highlighted very clearly what did and what did not work well. He immediately taught me how to format my story, offered ideas on how to choose a theme and develop it, and gave me pointers on how to develop a character. He also made numerous suggestions on how to cut down on redundancies, change various words to get the meaning across, paint a more vivid picture, and introduce humor or emotion.
Mr. Evans is incredibly generous with his time and his skills, is very caring and patient, and has a wonderful sense of humor. As a result of his mentoring, I feel that I have become a much stronger writer. One of my stories went on to win an award in a national writing contest, and I credit Mr. Evans for playing a large part in this success.
Read more

A
Anne-Marie
I have received tutoring from Mr. Evans on a forum where we post short stories we have written. The purpose is to receive feedback that will improve our skills and make us better writers. I am an adult woman with a job in the sciences, but I love the English language, and am a lifelong student and learner.
Mr. Evans was the person from whom I received the most abundant and most helpful feedback. His comments highlighted very clearly what did and what did not work well. He immediately taught me how to format my story, offered ideas on how to choose a theme and develop it, and gave me pointers on how to develop a character. He also made numerous suggestions on how to cut down on redundancies, change various words to get the meaning across, paint a more vivid picture, and introduce humor or emotion.
Mr. Evans is incredibly generous with his time and his skills, is very caring and patient, and has a wonderful sense of humor. As a result of his mentoring, I feel that I have become a much stronger writer. One of my stories went on to win an award in a national writing contest, and I credit Mr. Evans for playing a large part in this success.
William

I have been working with Mr. Evans since the fifth grade. He has helped me tremendously with a variety of things, like writing summaries, analyzing stories/poems, structuring essays, and rewriting in general. Currently, I am a freshman in high school, and I believe that writing is one of my strong points. I highly recommend Mr. Evans for students of all ages who are trying to improve their writing and grammar.

Read more

W
William
I have been working with Mr. Evans since the fifth grade. He has helped me tremendously with a variety of things, like writing summaries, analyzing stories/poems, structuring essays, and rewriting in general. Currently, I am a freshman in high school, and I believe that writing is one of my strong points. I highly recommend Mr. Evans for students of all ages who are trying to improve their writing and grammar.
Adalee

He has been my tutor for about five years now and my English has improved immensely. He has taught me many lessons throughout the years about writing, analyzing, grammar, and etc. I was able to take more advanced English classes with his help. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for his help.
Read more

A
Adalee
He has been my tutor for about five years now and my English has improved immensely. He has taught me many lessons throughout the years about writing, analyzing, grammar, and etc. I was able to take more advanced English classes with his help. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for his help.
Mrs

My two children, 5th and 2nd grade, have loved learning from Mr. Evans for the last 2 years. They improved a lot, especially in their vocabulary and writing. Mr. Evans is very organized with a plan for how to help them individually.
Read more

M
Mrs
My two children, 5th and 2nd grade, have loved learning from Mr. Evans for the last 2 years. They improved a lot, especially in their vocabulary and writing. Mr. Evans is very organized with a plan for how to help them individually.
View more recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

5h: $345
10h: $690

free lessons

The first lesson with Michael will allow you to get to know each other and discuss your needs for future lessons.

online

$69/h

Details

$40 per hour for most standard online sessions.

$50 per hour for in-person sessions, advanced writing, or test prep online lessons.

Tuition is remitted by cash, check, or Venmo, either prepaid or at the time of service.

Experienced tutor in English in San Gabriel, Michael offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Michael

About the lesson

Reviews

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

free lessons

online

Details

Similar English tutors in San Gabriel

Jay

Sophie

Maz

Michael

Denise

Luka

Moira-Clare

Mobina

Jack

Fareeha

San

Duncan

Anjali

Pauline

Ellie

David

Sagar

Yolanda

Derek

Tanja

Experienced tutor in English in San Gabriel, Michael offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

Recommended

About Michael

About the lesson

Reviews

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack prices

free lessons

online

Details

Similar English tutors in San Gabriel

Jay

Sophie

Maz

Michael

Denise

Luka

Moira-Clare

Mobina

Jack

Fareeha

San

Duncan

Anjali

Pauline

Ellie

David

Sagar

Yolanda

Derek

Tanja

Share

Tutor profile verified

levels

All languages in which the lesson is available

Reviews

Reviews

Recommendations

free lessons

Report this listing