TUTOR PROFILE
Tutor ID: OTC-T1006
Richard Varquez
A thoughtful partner for confident, independent learning.
English & academic writing · IELTS speaking · Business English · Mathematics & more
26+ years teaching
English & Business English
IELTS speaking
Three languages
Philippines · PHT (UTC+8) · Online worldwide · Seven-day availability
OTC-T1006 will be added as your first tutor preference on the request form. You can list up to five tutors.
26+ years
Teaching and tutoring
19 years
Elementary classroom
7 years
Online ESL instruction
C2 English
Certified proficiency
Richard Varquez combines 19 years of elementary classroom teaching with seven years of online ESL instruction. Now retired from full-time classroom work, he supports children, teenagers, university students and adults through clear explanations, responsive feedback and a relationship built for sustained progress.
His strongest areas include English language arts, practical and business English, IELTS Speaking, foundational mathematics and academic support across selected school and college subjects. He works with learners internationally and tailors the pace and approach to their goals.
BACKGROUND & PREPARATION
A Broad Education and Teaching Foundation
University of Mindanao
Bachelor in Elementary Education
Major in General Education · Minor in Mathematics.
University of Mindanao
B.S. Commerce, Major in Accounting
Preparation for business, accounting and practical mathematics support.
University of Mindanao
Master in Business Administration
Graduate preparation informing Business English and professional communication.
Teaching credentials
Philippine LET · TEFL · CEFR C2 English
Philippine licensure exam passed; additional online and language training.
His professional experience spans school classrooms and multiple international online teaching platforms. He has also served as vice president of a teachers’ association and participated in in-service training.
WAYS TO LEARN
How Richard Can Help
English Language Arts
Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, academic writing and composition for elementary through college learners.
Individual guidance · writing and feedback
General & Business English
Practical English for young learners age seven and up, students and adults; workplace language, presentations, email and reports for professionals.
Conversation · professional communication
IELTS, TOEFL & GMAT Verbal
Targeted IELTS Speaking coaching, supplementary IELTS Reading and Listening, and support for TOEFL or GMAT verbal reasoning and writing.
Test preparation · especially IELTS Speaking
K–7 Mathematics
Build foundational skills and confidence through practical examples and real-world problem solving.
Kindergarten through Grade 7
High School Subjects
Biology, Geography, World History and Health Education, adjusted to a learner’s course and goals.
Secondary-level support
Economics & Accounting
Introductory and intermediate economics and introductory financial accounting.
College-level subjects within stated scope
Academic & Presentation Support
Writing review, interview preparation, presentations and project-focused sessions for learners and professionals.
Recurring or focused one-time sessions
Music Fundamentals
Beginner-to-intermediate guitar, drums and keyboard through demonstration and practice.
For ages 10–20 · scales and technique
Read the full professional profile
Education, credentials and experience
Richard holds an MBA, a B.S. in Commerce with a major in Accounting, and a Bachelor in Elementary Education with a major in General Education and minor in Mathematics, all from the University of Mindanao in Davao City. He passed the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission Licensure Examination for Teachers at the elementary level. He also reports a TEFL credential, CEFR Level C2 English proficiency certification and in-house tutoring certifications from international ESL organizations. His background includes service as vice president of a teachers’ association and participation in Department of Education in-service teacher training.
Across more than 26 years of combined teaching and tutoring, Richard taught in elementary classrooms in the Philippines for 19 years and has spent seven years teaching ESL online on international platforms. He has worked primarily one-to-one with both children and adult professionals across Asia, Europe and Arabic-speaking communities. He now seeks ongoing online tutoring relationships while remaining open to targeted one-time sessions.
Subjects and learning levels
English language arts spans reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, academic writing and composition from elementary through college levels. General English is available for learners age seven and older; Business English emphasizes presentation delivery, reports, workplace email and professional correspondence. His other stated subjects include kindergarten through Grade 7 mathematics; high school Biology, Geography, World History and Health Education; college introductory and intermediate Economics; and introductory Financial Accounting. He also offers practical beginner-to-intermediate guitar, drum and keyboard instruction for ages 10–20.
Exam preparation and learner outcomes
Richard’s examination support has a particular emphasis on IELTS Speaking, with supplementary IELTS Reading and Listening. He also offers TOEFL and GMAT support focused on verbal reasoning and writing. He reports coaching IELTS Speaking learners who moved from band 4.5–5.0 to 6.0 or higher through targeted practice in speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary and confidence. Individual results vary; those examples are not a promised outcome.
Languages, formats and online delivery
Richard is a native Bisaya/Cebuano speaker, fluent in Filipino/Tagalog and holds near-native professional proficiency in English, his primary language of instruction. Tutoring may be delivered in English, Filipino/Tagalog or Bisaya/Cebuano. He has basic conversational Spanish, but does not offer full tutoring instruction in Spanish. He offers one-to-one and small-group sessions of two to three learners, using Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, ClassIn or VooV Meeting. Digital whiteboards, screen sharing, document annotation and classroom tools support live instruction. Backup devices, internet and power equipment help him maintain continuity.
Schedule and scope
Based in Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8), Richard reports availability Monday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. PHT, including evening hours that may suit international learners. He can accommodate approximately 25 sessions per week, subject to confirmation. Recurring engagements are preferred, while focused one-time sessions may fit IELTS speaking practice, interview preparation, academic writing or business presentations. Doctoral coursework, calculus and engineering mathematics, and assignments requiring specialized special-education credentials fall outside his stated scope.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Trust, steady practice and lasting independence.
Richard approaches each challenge as useful information. He breaks it into manageable steps, connects new ideas to what learners already know, and teaches them to notice and correct their own mistakes.
Build a partnership
Learner and tutor bring honesty, effort and confidence to a relationship that develops over time.
Teach self-correction
Scaffolding and feedback help the learner understand the process and eventually work independently.
Align the support system
Parents, tutors and the institution share clear goals and review progress with care and respect.
Read Richard’s full philosophy statement
I believe effective tutoring is built on a genuine partnership between learner and tutor — one grounded in trust, confidence, and a shared commitment to long-term growth rather than quick fixes. A good student brings consistent effort, honesty about what they don’t understand, openness to constructive feedback, and a mindset oriented toward improvement through practice. They show up regularly and maintain enthusiasm whether the material feels easy or very difficult.
A good tutor, in turn, brings both pedagogical skill and emotional intelligence — connecting concepts to prior knowledge and real life, using scaffolding rather than giving answers directly, and explicitly teaching self-correction strategies so the learner can eventually work independently. When difficulty arises, I see it not as failure but as diagnostic information: something to be explored collaboratively, broken into smaller steps, with the tutor adjusting pace, modality, and strategy as needed, and carefully rebuilding momentum when frustration runs high.
A strong tutoring institution does more than match people for sessions — it prioritizes measurable learning gains through consistent, relationship-based support. This means providing tutors with initial training in content, equity, safety, and relationship-building, along with ongoing coaching and oversight. Progress should be monitored through formative assessment and session data so instruction can be individualized and the program continuously improved. Cultural responsiveness, learner privacy, and data security are non-negotiable foundations of trust.
Finally, a supportive parent acts as an informed ally — providing structure, logistics, encouragement, and a growth-oriented home environment, while sharing observations about their child’s learning style, interests, and challenges without contradicting what the tutor or school has taught. For younger learners especially, a parent’s presence can offer reassurance during sessions. The three-way partnership among parent, tutor, and institution works best when there are shared goals, clear roles, realistic and measurable targets, and regular opportunities to review and adjust. The tutor leads instruction and builds the academic relationship; the parent supports motivation, logistics, and emotional wellbeing; and the institution supplies reliable tools, communication channels, and safety protocols. Together, this coherent system of support accelerates growth and builds the lasting independence every learner deserves.
Start with a Conversation
Tell us about the learner’s goals and request Richard by name or tutor ID. Our team will follow up about fit and availability.
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