LSAT Sensei, Chicago, IL
2. What is your web address?
www.LSATsensei.com – company site
3. What makes you such an awesome LSAT instructor?
Besides my stunning aura?
I love my job – absolutely love teaching and empowering. I have a firm conviction that my student(s)’ success equals my success. I take the time to figure out anything and everything, both LSAT and law school related, about each and every one of my students. This entails figuring out his/her study habits, strengths/weaknesses, and motivation(s). Once I have a good baseline idea of where the student is coming from (and where he/she wants to go), I know exactly how to help him/her.
High Energy. I make it a point to keep my classes upbeat. I’m an extreme extrovert, so I’m naturally very high energy in front of a crowd. The idea is to be contagious – and enable my students be equally enthusiastic about the LSAT. For example, the LSAT can be really FUN. Between all the flawed arguments and ridiculous hypos, how can you not laugh and take jabs at it? If a student walks into my class nervous, wary, and/or uncertain, they usually walk out relaxed, focused, and confident.
Teaching Experience. I’ve been teaching the LSAT (as well as other school subjects) for a very long time (for over a decade). And I taught it everywhere (including California, Vermont, Arizona, Seattle, Illinois, New Jersey, China, Japan, Korea, etc.). When anyone does anything for as long as I have (see Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule), you sort of become a “genius” at it. Very few people possess my teaching experience, and even fewer people possess a deep understanding of the LSAT the way I do. I strongly believe that I offer the best LSAT prep service in the Chicago area and most likely one of the best (if not THE best) in the nation.
4. Why do you think most students choose you over behemoth test prep companies?
Besides my stunning aura?
In all seriousness, I think they choose me mainly because the instruction quality is just so much higher than at the large behemoth companies. I give everyone a chance to compare my class/lessons with other class/lessons. Thus far, when given the chance to compare and contrast, 100% of the students chose me.
Another key attraction is that everything about the LSAT Sensei training is personalized and tailored to meet students’ needs. I partner with other LSAT tutors and instructors who help me ensure that all students are getting their questions answered and staying on schedule. Great LSAT prep isn’t simply about what books or curriculum you use; it’s also about how good of a coach your teacher can be. This means constantly keeping a pulse check on student progress – knowing when to be tough and pushy, and when to enforce rest and fun.
It also helps that my classes and workshops are a better bargain.
5. How did you first get into this gig?
I took the LSAT, while I was in China, as a Peace Corps volunteer. I did very well, so some of my fellow volunteers and a few of the expats in the area asked me to tutor them. What began as a small group tutoring session quickly grew into a full size class. Soon, Chinese natives began attending my class. Now that I think back at it, it was kind of crazy and amazing.
When I returned to the States, I got hired by and worked for a national test prep company.
6. Did you go to law school? If so, where?
Yes. The University of Chicago Law School
7. What do you love most about your job?
I love that I get to teach and inspire. I did not enjoy corporate law practice because of my limited human interactions and because there was no tangible difference I was making to improve anyone’s life. I’m a huge people person, and I love that my job enables me to always interact with people.
8. Could you please share with the world one of your most memorable LSAT (horror/fun/heart-breaking) stories?
Jimmy comes to mind.
So Jimmy is one of those plugger types – he’ll plug and plug away until he gets it. When he and I first met, he told me one of the most tragic LSAT stories: while he was taking the test, a crazed and panicked student ran into his examination room, waving a gun in one hand. There were two types of students/reactions – the ones that immediately hid under their desks for cover, and the ones that feverishly continued on with their exams. When I first heard Jimmy recount his story to me – I asked him, “Which one were you?” He sheepishly smiled in response. I knew he was the latter.
I taught and coached Jimmy for six months. By exam day he had gone through each and every published exam at least eight times. This was enough for him to have every single LSAT question nearly memorized. It was amazing. I would ask, “Jimmy, June 1999, the second LR section, question #21?” And he would recite the entire question (not quite verbatim, but close enough) along with the correct answer to the question.
I vividly remember his phone call after the test, “Dave, I might need to cancel. I screwed up.” He was crying.
I remember thinking that, “He’s overreacting.” After all, Logic is logic is logic, and this guy had practically memorized all iterations of LSAT logic from past exams.
Jimmy ended up scoring a perfect 180.
10. (Just for fun) if you could be anything in the world (besides an LSAT guru), what would you be? Why?
Kpop star! I would be a Korean Pop singer. I love to dance, sing and perform. I actually sing and dance for my students all the time (in class). If I weren’t an LSAT instructor, I’d definitely be a Kpop star.
No comments:
Post a Comment