Public Speaking & Debate
In this dynamic online course, students will explore the fundamentals of public speaking and debate, building confidence and mastering communication skills. We’ll cover various types of speaking, from informative speeches, where students present clear, factual information, to persuasive speeches designed to influence opinions. We’ll also dive into impromptu speaking, helping students think on their feet and present ideas with clarity under pressure.
On the debate side, students will explore different debate formats, including Lincoln-Douglas (one-on-one value debates) and team-based debates such as Parliamentary and Public Forum. They will learn to research topics, construct logical arguments, and engage in rebuttals. Along the way, students will practice critical thinking, collaboration, and active listening—all essential skills in effective debate.
By the end of this course, students will not only become more confident speakers but also develop the ability to argue constructively and persuasively, skills they can carry with them into future academic and personal challenges.
Prerequisites
None
Location
Zoom, Dec. 16th, 2024- Feb. 3rd, 2025 ( Dec. 23rd and 30th off with homework)
Time
Mondays 6pm-7pm PT
Grades
4-8
Curriculum
Speech 1: Analyzing public speaking
Speech 2: Content and Delivery
Speech 3: Speaking Presentations
Debate 1: Argumentation and Evidence
Debate 2: Positional Debating and Debate Format
Debate 3: Mock Debates
About the Teacher
Remy Xie is a rising junior currently attending Bellarmine College Preparatory. He is a state medalist and national qualifier in speech and debate with 6 years of experience. He has competed in Extemp, Impromptu, Informatory, and Original Oratory speaking, as well as Policy and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Currently, he is a member of the Bellarmine Speech and Debate Club. Throughout the years, Remy has attended many competitions, such as the State speech and debate tournament, National speech and debate tournament, Stanford invitational, Berkeley invitational, and Stephen Stewart invitational.
Introduction to Music Theory
Are you interested in music theory? Or do your parents want you to learn the stuff behind the scenes of the instruments you play? Either way, the Intro to Music Theory class allows students of all skill levels to foster their interest in music theory, musical notation, and the history of music.
This class introduces the basic principles of music theory, as well as introducing students to music from the Baroque Age to the contemporary era.
Prerequisites
None
Location & Date
Zoom, Jan. 8th - Feb. 12th, 2025 PT
Time
Wed. 7pm-8pm
Grades
4-8
Curriculum/Syllabus
Class 1: Introduction to Music Theory & Staff Notation
Class 2: Key Signatures and Scales
Class 3: Intervals and Ear Training
Class 4: Chords and Harmony
Class 5: Rhythm and Time Signatures
Class 6: Melody Writing and Composition
About the Teacher
Spencer Mo is a current sophomore at The Harker School. He began studying music theory in elementary school and has reached RCM level 8 in 7th grade as well as scoring a 5 on the AP Music Theory exam in 9th grade. He has also tutored music theory to middle school students last year. He is passionate about music in general and spreading the knowledge of music theory to others.
Introduction to Ancient Western Philosohpy
Why do we exist? What is "good"? How do we know what we know? This course introduces students to foundational philosophical questions through the ideas of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Roman thinkers like Marcus Aurelius. We'll blend ancient wisdom with modern examples to spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through interactive discussions, fun thought experiments, and practical applications, we learn to think like philosophers. Along the way, we will explore how these ideas still shape our world today.
Prerequisites
No
Location
Zoom, January 4th - Febuary 8th, 2025
Time
Saturdays at 5-6PM EST (2-3PM PST)
Grades
7-8
Curriculum
Class 1: What Is Philosophy?
Class 2: Socrates – The Gadfly of Athens
Class 3: Plato – The World of Ideas
Class 4: Aristotle – The First Scientist
Class 5: The Stoics – Ancient Self-Help
Class 6: Philosophy for Today
About the Teacher
:
Patrick Tang, a junior at Trinity School in New York City, is passionate about exploring the intersection of philosophy and science, focusing on how philosophical frameworks can deepen our understanding of scientific inquiry. This interest has been shaped by experiences like attending Columbia University’s Pre-College Program in philosophy and interning at AlphaROC, where he has researched the ethical dimensions of data-driven decision-making.
Patrick also values community engagement. He volunteers at the Manhattan School for Children, assisting with elementary education, and at Hotel Oakland Village, where he supports senior residents through activities like music therapy and technical assistance. Outside of these commitments, Patrick participates in Trinity’s track, tennis, and water polo teams, balancing academic pursuits with athletics and a commitment to lifelong learning and connection.
Digital Art and Stylization
In the digital age, drawing on tablets and other devices has become increasingly useful. Moreover, the commercial art industry is primarily electronic, with most concept art, character illustrations, and game sprites being drawn digitally. If you want to pursue a career in game art, animation, character design, or just want to develop your personal art style, this class is for you. Through this course, we intend to introduce students familiar with digital art to more techniques, such as blend modes and how to use them effectively, while also encouraging experimentation through the use of color and talking about concepts such as composition and color theory.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with a digital art application (Instructor uses Procreate)
Location
Zoom, Jan. 18th, 2025 - Feb. 22nd, 2025
Time
Saturdays 5pm-6pm PT
Grades
7-12
Curriculum
Class 1: Composition, pushing shapes
Class 2: Pushing values and colors​, blend modes​
Class 3: Rendering, texture, shortcuts
Class 4: "Polishing" your piece
Project
Week 1 Sketching, color blocking, work time
Week 2: Work time, showcase
About the Teacher
Alexa Zhang is a current junior at Crystal Springs Uplands School. Versed in both traditional mediums and digital art, she has won multiple Scholastic Art and Writing Competition gold and silver keys, participates in various community fundraising art projects, and works as an editor and graphic designer for Mollusk Literary Magazine. Since this year, Alexa has been selling illustrations to clients online. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing and listening to music.
Introduction to Linguistics
What is a wug? Did you know that ‘potato’ and ‘circus’ actually share a vowel? (say it, and you’ll hear it!) Are slang words real words? In AAASE Tutoring’s Intro to Linguistics, you’ll find out the answers to all these questions, and more! This class will serve as an engaging introduction for students to the underlying mechanics of how language works and our interactions with language.
Prerequisites
None
Location & Date
Zoom, March 13th - May 1st, 2025
Time
Every Thursday 6pm -7pm PT
Grades
5-8
Curriculum/Syllabus
Class 1: What is Linguistics?​
Class 2: Phonetics​
Class 3: Morphology
Class 4: Syntax​
Class 5: Semantics
Class 6: Pragmatics
Class 7: Historical Linguistics and Sociolinguistics
Class 8: Constructed Languages
About the Teacher
Joy Xie is a senior at Dos Pueblos High School. As a sophomore, she founded her school's Linguistics Club as an initiative to spread her passion for language. She has also participated in the Summer Linguistics Institute for Youth Scholars, been a volunteer for the online student-led linguistics group LingLeague, and qualified for the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad. In her free time, Joy enjoys making crossword puzzles and can juggle 5 balls.
Public Speaking with an Emphasis on DECA
Students will learn the fundamentals of DECA competitions, practicing performing business role-plays while learning the basic knowledge in marketing and business administration. We will cover important key-performance-indicators (role-play prompts) as well as practice throughout the class. This will help students come into DECA with a solid foundation as they branch out into whatever event they choose.
Prerequisites
None
Location
Zoom, Mar. 18th - Apr. 22rd, 2025
Time
Tuesdays 5pm-6pm PT
Grades
6-8
Curriculum
Class 1: What is DECA: Written events, roleplays, and exams
Class 2: Basics of Marketing: Vocab, practice marketing questions, common prompts break-down
Class 3: Basics of Channels of Distribution
Class 4: Basics of Business Administration
Class 5: Role-play Practice: Presentation skills, KPI practice sessions
Class 6: Final Review: Kahoot test and full role-play
About the Teacher
Elizabeth Zhang has competed in regional and state-level DECA competitions. She received 2nd for her marketing exam in SVCDC and placed 5th and 7th for her marketing campaign and roleplay respectively. On the state level, she received 6th for her marketing campaign as well.
Character Design
The notion of designing your own characters has become increasingly relevant in recent years with the rise of animated shows and digital comics. The modern art industry is primarily digital, and having a successful professional career under requires a thorough understanding of character illustration and design. In this course, students will learn the basics of character design and how to create a memorable, balanced, and consistent character. Using these skills, students will ultimately be able to draw out a full character sheet and create eye-catching characters that tell their stories through design.
Prerequisites
Intermediate-proficient digital artists
Location
Zoom, March 1st - April 08, 2025
Time
Sundays 5pm-6pm PT
Grades
7-12
Curriculum
Class 1: Stylizations/silhouette
Class 2: Color palette/set design
Class 3: Turnarounds and expression sheets
Class 4: Basics of relative color/lighting
Character Project:
Week 1: Design
Week 2: Illustration
About the Teacher
Keira Zhang is a junior at Crystal Springs Uplands School. She has drawn ever since she was a child and is versed in both traditional and digital art. She has won multiple Scholastic Art and Writing Competition gold and silver keys and is closely involved with the online art community. Aside from art, she also enjoys songwriting and music production.
Introduction to Spanish
¡Hola a todos! Have you ever wanted to start learning Spanish or is planning to do so in school? If so, this class helps you build the perfect fundamentals for a head-start to learning Spanish. We will be practicing, reading, and communicating about various fundamental topics (grammar, vocabulary, culture) of this beautiful language with the hope of exploring our own backgrounds in comparison with Latin American and Spanish-speaking cultures. By the end of the course, students will be able to read and talk in basic Spanish. No prior experience is necessary.
Prerequisites
None
Location
Zoom, Mar. 23rd - April 27th, 2025
Time
Sundays 1pm-2pm PT
Grades
5-8
Curriculum
Class 1: Intro to Spanish: Greetings, Colors, Alphabet, Numbers
Class 2: Classroom Objects, Forming Sentences, Family
Class 3: Weather, Seasons, project intro
Class 4: Family (continued), project workday
Class 5: Foods/Drinks, Hobbies/Activities, project workday
Class 6: Project presentation
About the Teacher
Yanzi (Angela) He is a sophomore at Sacred Heart Preparatory, Atherton. She loves learning, teaching, and speaking Spanish and will be taking AP Spanish Language in the following school year. Angela also has received convocations in school for all her previous years of studying Spanish. Aside from Spanish, she also enjoys working on robotics with her teammates, playing piano, and studying biology/chemistry.