1st lesson free
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Sam
- Rate $42
- Response 1h
$42/h
Contact
1st lesson free
- Creative writing
- Essay writing
- Test Prep
- English literature
- SAT prep
PhD English educator with 20 years' experience teaches essay writing, IB, AP, IGCSE, and SAT English
- Creative writing
- Essay writing
- Test Prep
- English literature
- SAT prep
Lesson location
About Sam
I'm Sam — an English educator with a PhD in English language teaching and nearly 20 years of experience in international schools and tutoring centers across Asia and Canada. I'm now based in Vancouver, where I work with students around the world.
Over my career I've taught and coached hundreds of students from more than 15 countries through IB, AP, IGCSE, and SAT programs — from Grade 6 learners meeting literary analysis for the first time to Grade 12 students chasing top marks in their final exams. Teaching across so many cultures and education systems has taught me how to adapt quickly to each student's background, learning style, and goals. I've also trained teachers, designed curricula, and published academic research on how students learn to think critically in English.
What I love most about this work is the moment a student realizes writing isn't a mystery. Most students who struggle with essays don't lack ability — they've simply never been shown a clear, repeatable process. Giving them that process, and watching their confidence grow with every piece of writing, is why I still love teaching after two decades.
Outside of lessons, I'm a father, a lifelong reader.
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About the lesson
- All Levels
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
My approach:
I hold a PhD in English language teaching and have spent nearly 20 years teaching English internationally across IB, AP, IGCSE, and SAT programs. My core belief is simple: strong writing isn't a talent some students have and others don't ; it's a method that can be taught, practiced, and mastered.
My methodology
I teach essay writing and literary analysis through a structured, step-by-step approach I developed over two decades in the classroom. My signature technique, the Transfer Method, breaks down analysis into four clear moves: find the image, list its qualities, transfer the meaning, and explain the effect. Students stop staring at blank pages because they always know what to do next.
A typical lesson
Each lesson follows a clear arc: we begin with a short diagnostic or review of previous work, then I model the skill we're targeting, we practice it together, and the student applies it independently while I give live feedback. Students leave every session with concrete written work and a specific goal for next time. I track progress carefully, so lessons build on each other rather than repeating.
What sets me apart
Beyond the classroom, my doctoral research focused on how teachers develop students' thinking skills — so I don't just teach *what* to write, I teach students *how to think* through a text or prompt. I give honest, precise feedback, and my students learn to self-assess against real exam criteria rather than depending on me.
Who my lessons are for
I work with students from upper primary through Grade 12 and beyond: IB English (Literature and Language & Literature), AP English Language and Composition, IGCSE First Language and Literature, SAT/SSAT Reading & Writing, TOEFL, and general academic writing. I also support strong students aiming for top marks and students who have lost confidence and need to rebuild from the fundamentals.
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Rates
Rate
- $42
Pack rates
- 5h: $210
- 10h: $420
online
- $42/h
free lessons
This first lesson offered with Sam will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 1hr
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