Dr. Sevan Gonezen is an Experienced University Professor Tutoring University Level Engineering Courses in Person and Online

Learn more about Sevan

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  My passion for tutoring started back in high school when I taught middle school math to a few students. When I was in college, majoring in mechanical engineering, I started working for the mechanical engineering department to tutor students during office hours. I did that for about 4 years throughout my BS/MS studies and it was a lot of fun for me and did not feel like work at all while making some money. Early on, I realized that I have the skill set to pinpoint issues students have and to effectively help the student to understand the material and to solve particular problems. When I continued my education with a PhD program, I also tutored students during office hours as part of my university responsibilities.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I have many years of experience as a university Professor of mechanical engineering, including many years of teaching and research at Texas A&M University. As a tutor, I teach a broad range of subjects in K-12 for any STEM class. I also prepare students for SAT tests, GRE tests (math), and TSI assessment.
  At the college level, I teach many courses in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, etc. Emphasis is on but not exclusive to calculus, numerical mathematics, geometry, linear algebra, finite element methods, mechanics of materials (strength of materials), solid mechanics, statics and particle dynamics, dynamics and vibration, mathematics for engineers, and many other classes (ask if yours is not listed).

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  My physics teacher in high school was a great inspiration and motivated me to pursue an engineering degree.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  A good tutor needs to be able to identify the student's issues and not just blindly "reteach" the material that has been taught in school/university already. A good tutor also needs to realize that students often will not be able to communicate or know what part of the material they lack understanding and why they are not able to solve a particular problem. In other words, the tutor needs to develop some sort of a "sixth sense". I have perfected this over the years, and my students always have this "aha" moment.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  When I was in 2nd grade, our teacher would give out "stars" for doing well in tests and for doing extra work. If a student had enough stars, they could exchange it for a little gift (poster, postcards, etc.). The number of stars for each student was pinned on the board in the order from highest to lowest number of stars. I did very poorly and had one of the lowest number of stars and appeared somewhere on the bottom list. Math just did not click for me and I wasn't focused. However, one day I got upset appearing at the very bottom and everyone praising the number 1 student. That is when my brain decided to do a 180 degree turn. I started taking my homework assignments serious and was focused on understanding the material. Within weeks, I moved from the bottom of the list to the very top. Nobody in the class could believe their eyes, but it was real. And since then, math became my favorite subject and I became a high achiever for the rest of my academic career.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  As described in my previous response, there was a lack of motivation resulting in not being focused. That changed early on in 2nd grade and since then, I did not face any challenges.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  Teaching is surely a passion of mine. I also love to research new things and create/develop novel methodologies (for example in mathematical modeling), may it be of practical or theoretical nature.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering this interview questions :-P)?

  My passion for tutoring/teaching, years of experience teaching and tutoring, my patience, my dedication to teaching, and communication skills. Over the years, I have developed what I call a "sixth sense" to read the student's mind when they are trying to ask a question on how to solve a problem. Often, the question they ask does not reflect the issue they actually have. This is where the skill of a "SuperProf" is needed that my students benefit from.