Testimonials from past students / parents
In school, math was my weakest subject; I did not even know how to do the simplest things. Ender has been my math tutor for the past 5 months. Ever since going to him weekly, my confidence in math skills has gone way up. He was very helpful and taught me what ever I needed help on. He was very thorough about explaining everything step by step. If I didn’t understand something he would explain everything until I learned the subject completely. Ender did not get frustrated if I did not understand, and he did not give up, he stuck with it and made sure I understood. I would recommend Ender to any math student that is struggling with any type of math.
Matthew G.
May 2008
I found Ender through the Internet for my son, Matthew who is a senior in high school. I read a couple of the testimonials from former students and I took a chance. I’m glad I did. From the first meeting, I could tell Ender was a patient and caring person. Ender made certain Matthew would be comfortable being tutored by him. He made sure Matthew was up to speed before we settled on a weekly schedule. It’s been working out great. Matthew is more confident and his test grades have improved tremendously. I would use Ender again and recommend him to family and friends.
Elaine G.
May 2008
Hi Ender, I really wanted to thank you for helping me to do well on the math portion of the SAT and those tactics not only helped on the SAT but the ACT as well. Your guidance and encouragement have helped me get into my college of choice. I appreciate all your help very much and I would recommend you to anyone I know. We will also have you tutor my brother once he's preparing for the SAT in his junior year. Once again thank you very much.
Kiyon Naser-Tavakolian
May 2008
Ender is just great. Before I came to him, math had always been an unclear cloud of numbers and concepts. Ender helped me organize and understand this cloud to the point where I could not only pass my tests, but I could do well on them. Thanks a bunch and I would recommend him to anyone.
Alex H.
May 2008
My daughter is currently a high school sophmore and has seen Ender for a year and a half now. The results of her tutoring sessions with Ender have been fantastic. Ender has a unique ability to communicate with adolescents. He somehow manages to translate math instruction into a language that can be understood, even by a student who struggles to comprehend traditional math instruction. Ender is of course very skilled at math, but what sets him apart is his personable approach. The students gain confidence in themselves, trust in him and consequently trust in their own ability. My daughter does NOT love math, but never resists going to see Ender. She always comes away a little lighter in spirit and clearer in focus.
B.B.
April 2008
I have worked with Ender at different times over the last two years, and I always leave feeling much more prepared and comfortable with my school math material than when I came. Ender does a great job in reinforcing and teaching math concepts in an understandable way, and this always shows in my improved schoolwork and grades after our meetings. I worked with other tutors before I began working with Ender, and can assuredly say that he has, by far, been the most helpful. I would never have had the success I did in my AP Calculus classes without his help!
I. J. Jones
April 2008
I came home from my first day of calculus practically in tears. I thought I was going to have to drop the course. Then, I decided to call Ender, having previously worked with him to prepare for the SAT. Ender was so patient with me, making sure that I truly understood all of the concepts, pulling extra problems and clearer readings from other textbooks. He even fit me in for a last minute study session before the exam because I was nervous about it. A few days after completing the course, I sent my professor a note, asking about my grade. He responded that I had come "very close to the top." I received an A in a class that I originally didn't think I was even going to pass. Working with Ender clarified the concepts and gave me the confidence to succeed in calculus.
Kari F.
March 2008
Ender Markal is without a doubt the best math tutor in San Francisco. Not only does he instill in you a love for math and its concepts, but he also makes understanding a difficult subject fun and enjoyable. I was struggling significantly in an advanced placement calculus course, and Ender helped me raise my grade and understand the material I was learning, within the first couple of weeks of working with him. Instantly I felt more confident in my work and intelligence of the subject and was never happier in a class. Ender is a kind and generous man whose patience and love for math, allows him to help any student in any area they are struggling with. I highly recommend Ender Markal – trust me, you wont be disappointed! Natasha A. January 2008
Natasha A.
January 2008
I couldn’t be happier: I’ve taken the SAT for the last time! I took it twice, and each time I prepared with Ender. Each time my math scores went up significantly. I’m very satisfied with my math score now, and I can honestly say that working with Ender was great. He really helped me with the math concepts as well as the test-taking strategies that allowed me to do well on the SAT. Ender can explain concepts and personalize strategies in a way that the institutional prep classes can’t – I worked with one of them on the verbal and writing portions at the same time that I worked with Ender on math, but my verbal and writing scores didn’t increase nearly as much as my math scores. Working with Ender is the best and most effective way to go.
Alec H.
Nov 2007
Ender Markal is, unquestionably, an incredible math tutor. I have had a few math tutors before, and I took an SAT prep course. But none of these tutors have helped me to truly understand the work I was assigned with. The SAT prep course from before barely prepared me for the math section. But Ender really taught me how to do the problems that were troubling me. He didn't just have me memorize problem types and guessing strategies. I highly recommend Ender to any one who is struggling with math problems or concepts. He prepared me so well for the SAT, and helped me to get a score that I feel confident will help me in my college application process.
Hillary L.
Nov 2007
I am a media professional, six years out of college and never been a fan of Algebra and Geometry. Where would I even start to prepare for the GMAT? I knew I needed to start from scratch, so I reached out to Ender from SFTutors. Ender was a wonderful tutor who worked with me one-on-one to refresh my math skills, reestablish and simplify the foundations of GMAT math covered in the exam. I tried the Kaplan course; unless you know the material, you are simply learning ways to take the test. Ender on the other hand, makes learning interactive and practical while building confidence in the student. I would highly recommended working with Ender if you are mathematically challenged or seeking mathematical challenge.
Michelle Mendoza
September, 2007
After 10 years in finance, I realized it was time for a new challenge - to pursue my MBA. I immediately purchased a few texts to start my math review; this was a rude awakening. I have not attempted this type of math problems in over 10 years, my confidence was shaken, now what? I contacted Ender immediately and discussed with him my dilemma. He assured me that it was manageable and to begin with the fundamentals. I initially did not understand why he wanted to simplify every problem step by step to this degree? However as the GMAT progressively became more difficult and lengthy in questions, I understood why Ender brought me back to the fundamentals of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, etc.
Ender is incredibly patient and extremely bright. The academic degrees and the mathematics knowledge he obtains, Ender could easily work for a top tier corporation. However due to his passion for teaching, he has chosen otherwise; an uncommon trait to find. Aside from his knowledge base, he is gifted in identifying a student’s method to absorb material and “tweak” the process to meet their needs.
I truly found an enjoyment working through these math problems, and developed a confidence that was never instilled in me. I am thankful for Ender’s personalized attention, and I will continue to use him in the future for additional math issues related to my profession or courses I need additional help with. Overall, Ender is a unique, patient, and incredibly intelligent tutor who can teach professionals with outstanding math issues or exams. Highly Recommended!!!
G.M.G.
September 2007
Finding a good tutor can be a daunting process, but when you’ve found one, it is like finding a true treasure – that’s Ender. When Ender first met my son, he did not waste any time figuring out just what his needs were, and putting together a plan in helping him get back on track in a difficult accelerated math course. The results were evident after his first full visit, and fantastic overall! My son, who has always been good in math, was able to start enjoying math once again, thanks to Ender’s ability to help him understand it with confidence. I would highly recommend him to anyone having math trouble, and have indeed decided to continue with Ender for purposes of preparation with future aptitude tests.
R. Wightman
August 2007
Ender Markal is a great tutor. He has helped me better understand all different kinds of advanced algebra problems. It was hard for me to understand a lot of the material that I was studying in class, but after seeing Ender, I was able to do math problems more quickly and accurately. After each session with Ender I would feel like I knew the material that I was studying much better, and it was easier for me to practice and study those problems at school and at home. My homework started to get a lot easier for me, I was doing much better on my exams, and my math grade improved after seeing Ender. I would recommend Ender Markal to anyone having difficulty with math.
Dominic Schwartz
August 2007
Ender provided my son with the confidence and the strategies he needed to do well on his first SAT. After a few sessions with Ender, Alec’s score on the SAT improved significantly over what he had achieved on practice tests. Better yet, he tailored the sessions to our needs and our schedule. His personalized attention and constant encouragement instilled in Alec a new sense of drive, with respect to both the SAT and his future academic years. We can’t thank him enough!
Heidi Hugo
June 2007
Both of our boys were decent Math students and managed solid B grades. But on entering High School our youngest struggled initially with the principles of Advanced Algebra and completely flunking his first High School Math test really shook his confidence. But Ender’s help quickly filled in the missing knowledge, restored his confidence and has propelled them both to the next level. Ender has remarkable patience and really takes the time to make sure that they understand the principles and concepts behind the math – not just execute “learned formula” problem solving. Now both of them no longer fear Math – in fact they look forward to it and our oldest has decided to continue his Calculus in college. It has been a pleasure to welcome Ender into our home and lives and it says a lot when both boys look forward to Sunday afternoons with Ender!
Mary & Neil James
June 2007
"Mr. Markal is amazing. He makes math fun!"
Our nine year old daughter finished 2nd grade convinced that she'd never be good at math. She began seeing Ender 10 months ago, and now not only has a firm grasp of the concepts, she has the confidence she was lacking. Ender tailors their lessons to our daughter's school curriculum, as well as reviewing and reinforcing basics. While he has high standards and sets a professional tone, he is extremely patient, flexible and engaging; sessions are filled with hard work and humor. In a setting where our daughter feels comfortable and connected, she has thrived. We feel fortunate to have found Ender, and recommend him without hesitation.
Kara Schleunes
May 2007
My daughter had been struggling with Mathematics for sometime now. We have tried a number of tutors and supplemental courses with some (but limited) success. When we got her involved with Ender & SFTutors , there was a very noticeable improvement. I believe that Ender's approach towards tutoring helped my daughter tremendously in actually understanding the underlying principles of Algebraic concepts. Before SFTutors Algebra assignments & homework were a struggle. Now my daughter has much more confidence with the material and is doing quite well.
Phil H.
April 2007
Camille (9 years old)
December 2006
All good things are by referral from friends. That is how we came to know Ender and now it is our pleasure to refer him to you. Math was a confusing and frustrating subject for our daughter. She had several math tutors and she still struggled. Then we found Ender. It has been well over a year now and it is not just her grades but her comprehension has improved dramatically. No matter how heavy the homework assignment is for the night, our high school freshman actually looks forward to her weekly meetings with him. There is a calming confidence in her demeanor after each session. My wife and I are impressed at Ender’s professional manner. He is prompt and wastes no time in getting to it. It is abundantly clear that he is a master in math but what sets him apart from the other tutors is that he’s consistently spirited about teaching.
David P.
February 2007
Ender is an excellent tutor whom I would recommend to anyone. His patience, compassion, individualized attention and ability to find different analogies to explain math problems made my learning much more rewarding. In addition, his enthusiasm and the ease with which he explained some of the difficult math problems motivated me to learn more about math. After only 5 sessions, math seemed to make sense, I recognized the link between numbers and real life situations, and was able to see preparation for the GRE exam as fun and not an unpleasant task.
H. Tylova
January 2007
"Ender really gave a foundation in calculus. With my school classes alone, I felt quite lost and confused. I had to be talked through each and every single problem I did because I didn't understand the concepts underlying them. Once I began working with Ender, things became clearer within a matter of a few sessions. From then on, I began to work on more and more complicated levels of calculus with him, earning dramatically higher grades and becoming a confident voice in the classroom. I would highly recommend him to anyone struggling with calculus who thinks that they're hopeless. You're not. You just need a good teacher, and Ender is amazing."
N. Goel
January 2007
"I found SFTutors through an on-line search. I needed brush-up on math in order to obtain an effective score on the GRE and I couldn't have asked for a better find. Ender Markal is the most patient of instructors. I never felt judged when struggling with concepts or formulas, his explanations were clear and he gave great notes. He also required homework to further instill whatever concept we had reviewed. SFTutors offers patience, a safe atmosphere to learn and structure to engage math. Thanks Ender!"
Julia Joslyn
November 2006
"I was feeling very concerned and defeated before I found Ender. My son was struggling with his math classes, and I was told by Sylvan that he needed to start over from 3 years prior, and work back up to where he is now. I was hoping that Ender could help him pass his first quarter final exam. I now consider myself incredibly fortunate to have found Ender. With less than two weeks before the exam, Ender immediately set up an aggressive and flexible schedule with my son to help him, and my son did great on the exam! Since then, Ender has taken the initiative by managing a schedule that directly relates to my son's classwork, and helps us stay on track with his teacher. Once he understood my son's individual need, he seemed to just know the best way to reach him, and coach him. Ender is not only a math tutor, he is a life tutor."
J. Tyler, San Francisco
November 2006
"Math has never been my strongest subject. During high school I took algebra and geometry, which I unfortunately failed. Besides not doing well, I simply hated high school. I would do anything just to not go. This being said, I found out for myself that I needed to find an alternative. After doing much research, I decided that it would be best for me to take my CHSPE test, in other words, to test out of high school and receive a certificate of proficiency. The test consists of two sections; math and English. I went into that test thinking I knew it all and studying really wasn't necessary. The results were this, I failed both sections. I had no choice but to take it again, but this time I needed help from someone that would prepare me for it. I researched many different tutors, and that¢s when I found Ender. At first I hesitated to even start tutoring considering I had two weeks until I had to take the test for my second time, but I gave it a shot anyways. I met with Ender for all of 5 to 6 sessions, and let me tell you, it paid off. I passed the CHSPE test for the second round and I owe it to him. I used to think tutoring wasn't worth it, but after the help he gave me, my perspective changed in a fabulous way."
V. Warner
October 2006
"I had a dream to go to a top business school to get my MBA. My application was strong, but I was missing one critical element, a high score on the GMAT. To prepare for the test, I took a Kaplan class and learned test taking strategies, but my score did not improve over my diagnostic assessment. I knew that I needed to learn more than test taking strategies to do well on the test, I needed to learn the fundamental concepts of mathematics. I then sought out private tutoring from Ender. I hadn't studied math since high school and was very discouraged and frustrated. Ender's tutoring turned me around. He listened to my thinking, figured out what I did not understand and then helped me find the missing link in what I needed to do to solve the problem. Not only did I gain an understanding of the mathematical concepts, but I left every session feeling motivated and encouraged to continue my learning. As my confidence built, my speed and accuracy increased as well. Ender always acknowledged what I did right, encouraged me to keep trying and held me accountable for studying. He is a patient, brilliant, fun and talented teacher. Because of his work with me, my GMAT score increased by 90 points and put me into the range of accepted applicants at top business schools. I submitted my applications last week and Ender and I are both keeping our fingers crossed that I get accepted! Thank you, Ender, for your time, encouragement, patience and teaching."
Kristi Phillips
October 2006
"I am a woman in my 30s who decided to go back to college. I was painfully aware that Math was my weakest subject, so I decided that I needed a tutor, just a little one-on-one. I say a little because I sort of expected enough to get me through. Then I met Ender the Task Master who never ever gives just a little to his students. He kept me focused and his follow up was incredible. If I did not understand something he would always find away to make sure that I got it. He would apply math problems to functions that I perform everyday. He really kept me on track and he never gave up on me even when I wanted to quit.
I don’t think quitting is in his vocabulary and he helped me take it out of mine. I am doing well in my math class now, which is a first for me! Most importantly I am confident in my ability to solve math problems in and out of class.
He is the Math Teacher I wished for in high school, the teacher who makes sure that all students succeed and will do what ever it takes to make sure no one is left behind. I believe that if anyone needs a math tutor Ender is it. He will build your confidence and most of all teach you so that you really understand and have a solid grasp on Math. I wish all Math teachers had to learn Ender’s style of teaching. I am no longer afraid of math, no more sweaty palms and this I owe to Ender Markal. He taught an old dog some new tricks."
Lisa Williams
September 2006
"I studied math with Ender during my junior year in the high school. Patience was the keyword at our lectures and Ender showed great instances of enthusiasm and understanding that made everything a lot easier for both of us. His communicative skills were so excellent that he always managed to keep my attention high toward the subject we studied. Besides educational issues, he was also an idol for my sports career as a team mate in the waterpolo team. For me it was great to be able to spend so many hours together in the lectures as well as in the trainings.
Thanks for your support and inspiration."
Hasan Cemal Sargin
Aerospace Engineer
September 2006
"Great prep for the GMAT and reasonably priced compared to the teachers I worked with in my Manhattan GMAT class. Helped me understand specific areas that I targeted as trouble spots and had a lot of good practice problems from actual past tests. My score went up 50 points after three private sessions."
Michael Natenshon
September 2006
"I studied with Ender when I was in Middle School. As a child, everybody around me and my family though that I was a smart kid, but I never really thought that way for a long time. I always had problem focusing. So, after primary school it was obvious that I needed some help and I found myself in the hands of Ender Markal. First, he helped me believe that I am a smart kid and turned me into a confident person. After that point, everything was much easier. I think teaching well is a special talent and what I know is Ender is a natural-born teacher. The most important thing that he can easily do is to make you focus on something. After you're focused and you got the fundamentals of mathematics from him, you realize that it is easy and fun. The more you focus and the more you learn, the easier and fun it becomes to deal with mathematics. I think the secret of his success in teaching depends on these points. I really learned math and I got the ability to apply the fundamentals of math to other areas like physics and chemistry. He always motivated me and supported me throughout my academic career and has always been the first person to consult. I feel lucky that I studied with him."
E. Gorkem GUNBAS
ggunbas@gmail.com
August 2006
"I can give nothing but a sterling recommendation to Ender Markal for the outstanding tutoring he gave my son Jonathan. My son attended a boarding school where the math instruction was weak. Academics were not the focus of this school. He did not take any AP courses in high school. I was so worried about what chance he would possibly have to get into any college, much less a UC.
When Jonathan came home on two separate home visits, we hired Ender through Compass, a tutoring company. Jonathan had FOUR 1 and 1/2 hour sessions of math tutoring with Ender, slightly less than most students have to prepare for the SAT, ACT as well as the SAT Subject tests. He had already taken both tests in the spring of his junior year and even one in the fall of senior year. His ACT score in math before any tutoring was a 25. After his 4th and final tutoring session with Ender, he took both tests with a final ACT score of 31 in Math, a final SAT score of 680 in math. I was astounded as this was the same score his classmates who were taking AP classes in rigorous schools were getting.
Jonathan also scored a 630 on the Math II SAT subject Tests. Jonathan got into UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz as well as 4 other private colleges. He will be attending a UC and had to take a math placement test last week, as his major requires that he take Calculus before Psychological Statistics. Again, we met Ender before he took the test. He took the test the following day, scored a 35, which meant he does not have to take any math class at UC the entire time he attends there, unless he chooses to do so. Thank you Ender, we believe you've helped our son tremendously."
Sincerely,
Wynn Holt
August 2006
"We knew that our daughter needed individual attention; not because she's a poor student but more because she needed to work at her own pace and style of learning. Ender helped her learn how to think about the material and how to think through the questions rather than striving for simple memorization. My husband and I felt very fortunate to have found Ender and to have him demonstrate the depth of knowledge, patience and flexibility she needed in this stressful time. Of all the efforts we made to help her prepare for her SAT's, her work with Ender clearly had the greatest impact on her morale and competitive advantage."
Barbara
G. Hurtig
February 2006
"Ender's individualized attention, and flexibility in scheduling tutorial sessions, was the perfect way for our daughter to prepare for college SATs. The preparatory sessions were customized to cover areas where she needed review, and gave her the ability to work through problems and talk out her approach to solving them. Although math is not her strongest subject, she achieved her goal of scoring 700 or better on the Math section of the SAT, which made her more competitive in applying to some of the colleges she is interested in attending."
Maureen Murray Fox
March 2006
"I studied Mathematics under the supervision of Ender Markal for about 2 years. He has great knowledge of fundamental concepts and he is very effective at transferring what he knows into words. He is great with assessing your current level of knowledge and can create a customized learning program for your own comfortable pace. He makes sure you understand and learn what is important.
Besides his analytical skills, he is an easy-going person who is also fun to be with. He has a way of making studying a fun activity. He cares about people and how much they achieve at the end of the day.
With his help I developed strong fundamentals in mathematical concepts which helped me through my studies. In my opinion, it is very important to develop a strong background of math no matter what you study, and no matter what your career goals are. It definitely makes everything else easier to understand. I am currently a PhD student at The Tippie College of Business at The University of Iowa. My studies with Ender not only helped me to get to where I am and also I still use most of the concepts I learned on a daily basis.
I highly recommend Ender as a tutor for people who need to develop good mathematical background that they can rely on all through their lives and achieve all this painlessly.
If you would like to contact me regarding Ender’s tutoring services, or have questions about him, feel free to contact me at kaanataman@yahoo.com."
Regards,
Kaan Ataman
PhD Student
Department of Management Sciences
Tippie College of Business
The University of Iowa
"I have studied with Ender Markal for about 4 years during high school. He was my first tutor and I was very lucky to meet such a perfect teacher. Now I am studying Aerospace Engineering at one of the best universities in Turkey and I can proudly say that he is one of the most important factors that helped me come to this point. I studied harder than I would by myself, because he is a great motivator. He gave me the energy, support and motivation whenever I needed. In addition to his high technical capacity, he is very good at ''teaching'' . He is always full of energy to teach something!
Also, the way he thought was never boring. I believe that this is an important part of success. I was able share and consult many things with him about education life, job opportunities , future plans, etc...
I think he is a great teacher and coach."
Yaprak TEMEL
temelyaprak@yahoo.com
"Dear Ender,
It was really very difficult year, which I had to both attend school and study for university entrance exam. I was very busy and the math was difficult, but your teaching methods which were arranged just for my math level made it so easy, understandable and time efficient. You paid attention to my weak areas that even I did not notice and taught me how to use my knowledge. Your warm attitude and enthusiasm made the courses enjoyable and provided the mental conditions for learning. But the most important thing was the confidence that you built in myself. In the end I was accepted by one the most successful universities in my country. I could not succeed without your help. Thank you very much for being with me.
Best wishes,"
Tugba Kalem
Graduate Research Assistant
Iowa State University
tugba@iastate.edu
"I have always been relatively shaky when it comes to standardized tests. So, when my first SAT scores confirmed this trend, my parents and I looked into tutoring. We were very lucky to have found Ender. He came over to work on mathematical strategies for the SAT, and assigned homework for the next meeting. We also did practice tests, on Saturdays, in the UCSF library, making it the most realistic to the test as possible. Overall, Ender helped me raise my score by over 100 points. And I probably would not have been admitted into some of the colleges, including, UCI (the school I am attending) without his help."
Daria Willis
March 2006