1st lesson free
John
- Rate Ksh. 3,000
- Response 1h
Ksh. 3,000/hr
Contact
1st lesson free
- Maths
- Algorithms
- Mathematics Olympiad
- Computer Olympiad
Princeton CS graduate and incoming Mathematics PhD teaches math, Python, algorithms, olympiad problem solving, and chess. Available online or in person around Nairobi
- Maths
- Algorithms
- Mathematics Olympiad
- Computer Olympiad
Lesson location
-
At John's house: Nairobi
- Online
-
at your home or in a public place : will travel up to 20 km from Nairobi
-
About John
I recently graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Computer Science, and I am preparing to start a PhD in Mathematics at Arizona State University in mid-August. Also, I went to Alliance High School and got 83/84 in KCSE.
My background is strongly mathematical. I represented Kenya at both the International Mathematical Olympiad and the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad, and I have also helped out in problem solving with students preparing for IMO and PAMO. These experiences taught me that strong problem solving is not just about knowing many facts. It is about learning how to find the heart of a problem.
This June, I have been teaching at the African Olympiad Academy in Kigali, Rwanda, where I taught abstract algebra and helped students with problem solving in preparation for IMO and PAMO this summer.
During my college years, I initially felt discouraged by material that looked difficult and by how prepared some of my peers seemed. But over time, I realized that some classes and topics that sounded advanced were not always deep at the level of the main idea, while some familiar-looking problems could be genuinely hard. This made me more confident in approaching problems by looking for their crux, rather than being intimidated by the subject name.
I also saw this idea outside my own path. People trained in one area often move successfully into another: math students into finance, physics students into software engineering, engineers into physics, and so on. I myself was admitted to PhD programs in different mathematical and technical areas, including some I was not originally very familiar with. To me, this confirmed something I had already begun to believe: problem solving is more general than the objects being studied. The objects change, but the habit of finding the key idea remains.
See more
About the lesson
- All Levels
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
My teaching is based on a simple idea: a problem should be ranked by its crux, not by the amount of jargon,notation, or background surrounding it.
An easy problem is still easy even if it comes from a subject with a frightening name like extremal combinatorics. There are easy problems in advanced areas such as Galois theory, and there are very difficult problems from familiar areas such as geometry or arithmetic. What matters is not the label of the topic or the jargon in the problem, but the real idea needed to solve the problem - its crux.
In my lessons, I help students separate the rules of the game from the game itself. The rules, definitions, and notation are important, but they are often not the deepest part. Once a student sees which parts are just setup and which part is the actual crux, the problem becomes less intimidating and more enjoyable.
This approach also helps students learn the basics better. Instead of memorizing rules blindly, they understand why the rules matter and how they are used. My goal is to train students to think clearly, identify the key idea, and become bold enough to attack unfamiliar problems.
In my lessons I usually begin by checking what the student already understands, then we work through problems together, slowly separating the ‘noise’ from the main idea. I also give practice problems when useful.
I am a Princeton Computer Science graduate and an incoming Mathematics PhD student at Arizona State University, starting this August. I represented Kenya at the International Mathematical Olympiad and the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad, and I have also helped train Kenya’s IMO and PAMO teams. I have experience teaching a summer class in mathematical communication at Princeton.
I teach mathematics, algorithms, olympiad problem solving, and chess, online or in person around Nairobi. My lessons are best for ambitious high-school students, students looking to apply to college abroad , early college students, and anyone who wants to become a stronger problem solver.
See more
Rates
Rate
- Ksh. 3,000
Pack prices
- 5h: Ksh. 15
- 10h: Ksh. 30
online
- Ksh. 3,000/h
free lessons
The first free lesson with John will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 1hr
Similar Maths teachers in Nairobi
Evelyn
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Rosemary
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 500/h
- 1st lesson free
Bevon
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Jesca
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Ndeke
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Nyaanga
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Evans
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 500/h
- 1st lesson free
SAMUEL
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,800/h
- 1st lesson free
CAROLINE
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
SIR OWUOR
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Martin
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 800/h
- 1st lesson free
TEACHER GEORGE
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 800/h
- 1st lesson free
Joseph
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Edwin
Nairobi
- Ksh. 1,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Filder
Nairobi
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Gloria
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Lucy
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Dennis
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,295/h
- 1st lesson free
Abigael
Nairobi
- Ksh. 1,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Nick
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
-
See Maths tutors
