Tutor Spotlight: Lee Ngo
Meet Lee.
Meet Lee. Lee Ngo is a native Oregonian with a dynamic background spanning academia, technology, and media. As a lifelong learner, Lee is dedicated to projects that uplift historically excluded communities. His relatable approach integrates practical skills with pop culture (from Star Trek to Marvel), preparing students for standardized tests and broader academic challenges with creativity and critical thinking.
What's one thing you love about tutoring?
Impact. I've been a teaching assistant, an adjunct instructor, an adult education teacher, and a sports coach. Tutoring, by far, is the best way to work with an individual according to their learning style and specific needs, especially when all parties are "locked in" to accomplish goals in a strategic approach.
How do you keep students engaged During tutoring sessions?
One, I like to do my research on each and every student I work with, including their interests and passions. Everyone learns best when they're taught with respect to a subject they feel confident in, and I like to stretch my own knowledge on the subject as well. I also like to get creative through games, visuals, and other outlets that get students to enjoy their material and form a positive relationship with their learning experience.
What's one study tip every student should know?
Don't get in your own way. Our pride creates obstacles that we're either smarter or dumber than we actually are. Accept the truth that everyone, including tutors, can always learn something new. From that attitude, genuinely earned improvement awaits.
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
Despite my challenges with the subject matter, AP US History shaped me tremendously as a critical thinker and as a socially-conscious human being. I had a teacher who had seen the world and wanted to challenge my perspective on it, and despite how much he challenged me, he also truly believed in me. We remain in contact to this day, and I even created a digital game based on his teaching style and significance in my life. That history teacher is the biggest reason why I wanted to become an educator as well.
share an example of a student you were proud of for reaching their goals.
I worked with a student who repeatedly failed the GED despite even my best of interventions. During a "now or never" scenario, I came to realize that he had an insistence on doing his work all in his head, even if he made mistakes. After I asked him to slow down, write out his thoughts, and then build up from there, I saw something wonderful: he achieved an autonomous "flow state" and wanted to work beyond the allotted. A week later, he passed the GED with flying colors, well beyond our expectations.
What do you admire about your students?
When students achieve an optimal mindset: humble, disciplined, motivated, and respectful, they surprise me in the most delightful ways. I pride myself on my sense of creativity, but students will always find ways to outshine me in that regard.
