About Me

Hi, I'm Jonathan Roven! I recently graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. Since 2016, I have provided over 2000 hours of individual and small group instruction to over 30 elementary, middle, and high school students, along with adults, in Computer Science, Math, and Spanish. I worked in-person with my students until 2020, at which point I switched fully to remote instruction.

My Approach

My approach is to tailor my instruction to the student's curriculum, taking into account their skill level and interests. If a student is behind in a class, we work together to identify exactly where the holes in their knowledge are and focus primarily on those areas. This process can take the form of working through homework assignments and pausing to explain difficult concepts. Other times, I give lessons on concepts that the student is struggling with more broadly.

If a student is preparing to take a standardized test, such as Advanced Placement, my instruction focuses on test prep. I am familiar with the format of standardized tests and tailor my approach to include practice exams and specialized test-taking strategies.

I also tutor students who are looking to expand their interests in a subject and get ahead. These sessions are primarily based on the interests of the students: I provide lessons on more advanced concepts within the subject that they generally choose themselves.

Education

Master of Science in Computer Science

Sep 2023 - June 2024

I hold an MS in Computer Science from the University of Chicago. I have studied and worked with principles from Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms, and various computer systems. My skillset includes web development, compilers, software engineering principles, computational linguistics, and other areas of computer science. I am proficient in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, Go, and Haskell, and have experience coding in many more programming languages.

Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

Sep 2020 - June 2024

I also hold a BA in Linguistics from the University of Chicago. I am well-acquainted with the most common branches of Linguistics: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. To supplement my Linguistics education, I worked as a research assistant in the Language Processing Laboratory at my university, creating software and conducting experiments within the fields of phonology and computational linguistics. I also completed two years of Turkish courses and spent a term abroad in Istanbul.

Languages

I speak English natively and am fluent in Spanish. I have taken seven years of Spanish courses and spent time in multiple Spanish-speaking countries.

Studying foreign languages is one of my favorite hobbies. I speak French, German, Portuguese, and Turkish at an intermediate level, and know Italian, Mandarin, and Hebrew at a beginner level.

More About Me

I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Oakland, California. I went to high school at the College Preparatory School, where I participated in the Orchestra and Chamber Music programs as a pianist, joined the swim team, and did theater tech.

My hobbies include playing the piano, cooking, playing Minecraft, hiking with my dog Lucas, solving esoteric math problems, watching Survivor, studying foreign languages, backpacking, and traveling. I’ve visited 33 countries on five continents and am always striving to explore new places.

I’m always thrilled to chat about my interests, and look forward to getting to know more about you too.