Our West Hills Guelph Academy Director, Andrew Wong, is all about providing the best possible tutoring to help children gain confidence and improve their grades. He believes it is his responsibility to help children learn by seeking out qualified and experienced tutors that have the passion, patience and desire to teach. These tutors are there to help get the students to 100% understanding.

See what Andrew has to say about his Academy and the students that attend the tutoring centre in this interview.

Interview was conducted verbally, so transcript reflects natural, conversational English with conscious light editing versus what might appear in a formal, written piece.

Andrew: I have been a scholar for most of my life. My last academic appointment was as a junior faculty member in the Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. I like learning, doing research and dream that one day through knowledge we can transform this world into a better world. I would like to share my passion to learn with the students of Guelph.

Andrew: We have students in Mathematics – from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 12 – and in English, including Reading – from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8 – and in Science, such as Physics and Chemistry for Grades 11 and 12.

Andrew: I got my first degree, a Bachelor of Science, from the University of Guelph. So far, I have been living in two cities in Canada – Edmonton and Guelph – and three cities in the United States – Hershey in Pennsylvania, Chicago and Atlanta. Guelph is the best place to live. So, I moved back to Guelph two years ago and started this service.

Andrew: Since our tutoring centre is on the west side of Guelph, most students are from the west side. However, I have students from the next towns such as Rockwood, Elora or even the Kitchener border.

Andrew: JF Ross, Our Lady of Lourdes, Tyler Evans, Mitchell Woods, GCVI, Centennial, to name a few.

Andrew: They could be younger students who have trouble in reading, reading comprehension or spelling. Or there are some students who are really talented in art and music, but really hate Mathematics. They want to catch up with their English and Mathematics. For the older students, they would like to work on their Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics because they find the concepts are really hard to grasp.

Andrew: The most popular program is the 12 months Mastery Program. Most students can catch up in six months and go beyond their level after that. When it is close to the final exams, many high school students would like to take a bundling program for 20 to 30 lessons. In my own opinion, some students need more than 20 lessons to improve in a meaningful way, beyond what they can get from a quick exam prep grade boost. I only hope they can come back at the beginning of the next semester so they have enough time to work on the essential concepts and truly elevate their understanding of the subject. This will lead to sustained grade improvement over time.

Andrew: I think it is the same for all directors of different tutoring centres of the Academy for Mathematics & English. There is no better reward than seeing students regain their confidence in learning, seeing their grades improve, and hearing what their teachers say. Teachers are usually amazed at how a student improved in only a few months. This is what all the tutors at the Academy want to hear too. The economy in Guelph is good and the tutors are never short of part-time jobs. But no other part-time job can give them this level of satisfaction.

Andrew: This is not an easy question. First, I do know some private tutors who provide excellent service. If you know those tutors are really good, then you should stay with them. Other learning centres have their own strengths and weaknesses.

I have one student who enrolled in a program from a competitor of ours. The parents couldn’t see any improvement. When the student first came here, he really didn’t like the idea. After a few months, his reading and spelling greatly improved and now he doesn’t want to leave and loves coming.

I think one difference [b/w us and our competitors] is that we use the right method. Professor Siegfried Engelmann, the author of our Super Readers program said, “If the child hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.” It is our responsibility to ensure that our students learn their subjects well. We use the right method. We teach in a low tutor to student ratio environment. Every tutor can teach to his/her fullest potential and with patience, because our unique learning environment allows lots of 1-on-1 interaction.

Andrew: I have a Chinese student who just came to Canada last year. Her English fell behind seriously. She could not understand basic instructions in English. She’s now in Grade 9 and her English seriously undermined her learning in Canada. The director of a learning centre usually does not give lessons. But I teach this student personally. I also arranged a Chinese tutor to teach her our regular program. This Chinese student has a master’s degree from the University of Guelph, so her English is good. I do see tremendous improvement and I’m really pleased.

Andrew: I have one student who couldn’t read and spell when he first came here. Now, his reading is beyond his grade level after he enrolled in the Super Readers program. Once his mom asked him, “I can only afford to either continue your Super Readers program or enroll you in a soccer training program. Which do you prefer.” He said, “I would rather stay in the Super Readers program.”

I have another student who didn’t want to be here in the beginning. He always just got a passing grade in Math. Last semester, he got 75% in Grade 10 Math. He is now taking the Grade 11 university track in Math. He is confident that he can get 80% or over this time.

Andrew: I really like customers to know that when I give our free evaluation, I mean it. I pay to the institute who developed the evaluation every time I administer one. I like to let you know where your student currently stands, based on the Ontario curriculum. It is a very comprehensive analysis of how well your student is doing in his subject area. I understand that you have a lot of things to consider before you enroll in a program. I believe the free evaluation I provide will help you understand your student’s situation. This is a job well done for me.

As to why they ought to enroll with me, it is my responsibility to ensure your student learns well here. Again, I would like to quote Professor Engelmann, the author of our Super Readers program. He said, “If the child hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.”