My name is Ruby, and I'm a tutor in Northampton, MA. I'm a Chinese major at Smith College, who is also completing the translation concentration with a focus on Korean. I tutor Korean (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), Chinese (beginner, intermediate), English (as a second language, or even first!), English Language and Literature AP Exams, Spanish (up to AP level), film and media studies. I am originally from Austin, Texas, and have been studying Spanish since elementary school. In addition to those three languages, I am also taking Thai classes at UMass, which I quite enjoy! I really love learning new languages and using what I've learned in each to further my proficiency in the others. I have previous experience working as a private online Korean tutor, creating my own weekly lesson plans tailored to each student, as well as working as an ESL teacher assisting in English grammar and pronunciation for non-native speakers (specifically Chinese speakers). Through these various projects, I am consistently improving my English, Korean, and Chinese. I am extremely passionate about language acquisition and using the arts to learn about the many different linguistic and cultural aspects of our world. I participated in a film-studies pathway in high school, as well as a non-profit youth film collective outside of school, where I learned the fundamentals of filmmaking, producing, and editing. I also have a strong interest in music, especially international music like K-pop and Mando-pop. In the summer of 2024, I studied abroad in Korea and took a traditional Korean music class. Through this experience, I learned the importance of incorporating cultural elements in foreign language acquisition, as it is both an exciting and super fun way to learn. Because of this experience, I like to incorporate different kinds of elements, such as film and music, to support students' different learning styles. For me, teaching languages is a very fulfilling experience. I love being able to help young people expand their knowledge and open doors to multicultural experiences and opportunities. I hope to make an impact on my tutees, and I am dedicated to making their language learning experience as fun and engaging as possible! And I have super great rates! It's just $35/hour per student for small groups of 2 or 3 students (great for math study groups and homework clubs!), or $45/hour for individual tutoring, but I also give a discount for group makers: if your child is the one who forms or adds to a small group by bringing 1 or 2 friends or family members, your price for that student drops to just $30/hr — every session, forever, as long as the group exists. And each friend or family member you invite who joins the group receives $10 off their first session when they book and attend.
Ruby works with students from the following schools:
Ruby offers in-person tutoring on or near the Smith College campus for families across Northampton Massachusetts, Florence Massachusetts, Leeds Massachusetts, Hadley Massachusetts, Westhampton Massachusetts, Hampshire County Massachusetts, Hampden County Massachusetts.
If you have a specific tutor in mind, you're welcome to request them directly — we'll confirm whether they're available and the right fit for your student. Otherwise, Ryan writes a personal email to understand your student's needs, learning style, and goals — then handpicks a tutor from the roster. You're not filling out a form and getting assigned randomly. If the first tutor isn't the right fit after the first session, we'll find you a better match at no extra charge.
Yes. Many families start with a single session to see how the tutor and student connect before committing to a regular schedule. There's no pressure to book in advance — reach out and we'll set something up.
Yes. Many of our tutors are strong across several subjects, and sessions can cover more than one if that's what the student needs that week. Flexibility is built into how we work.
Most of our tutors continue working through breaks, either online or in-person at the college if the tutors remain on campus during that vacation. We'll let you know in advance if a tutor has a gap in availability and arrange coverage with one of our other tutors — in-person or online — in the required subject.
Occasionally, if the student lives very close to the tutor's campus. Most sessions take place on or near the college campus or online. This keeps sessions in an academically focused environment — which tends to produce better results.
The families who see the biggest results are the ones who commit to a regular cadence — typically once, twice, or three times a week. One-on-one tutoring with a student from an elite college, who genuinely understands the material, is a fundamentally different experience from a tutoring center or an app. Most of our clients stay with us for multiple semesters.
Email Ryan@ShiresTutoring.com and mention which tutor and college town you're interested in, or fill out our Request a Tutor form. We typically respond within one business day.
That depends on where your student is starting and how consistently they show up. Ruby will identify the specific gaps, focus sessions on them, and adjust as the student progresses. Families who stick to a weekly schedule typically see meaningful progress within four to six weeks.
Email Ryan@ShiresTutoring.com and mention you'd like to work with Ruby at Smith College, or fill out our Request a Tutor form — you can also click the Request a Tutor button at the bottom of this page. We'll follow up within one business day to confirm availability and schedule your first session.