Ivanna: Stamford tutor
Certified Tutor
Languages are some of humanity's best inventions. The way in which humans have arranged themselves in order to be able to communicate is awe-inspiring and it is a topic that has always been one of my main interests. I am always in the search for knowledge; I love learning new things and I love sharing that which I have learned. I believe there is power in the ability to speak a second or even a third language, and in the same way that I would like to learn more languages I believe it is only fair to help others learn them as well.
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Undergraduate Degree: Arizona State University - Bachelors, Global Studies/Political Science
Graduate Degree: Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Masters, Political Science: Current democracies.
Reading, fantasy/sci fi. Language learning. Running.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe all tutors and students need to share the trait of patience as well as the desire to learn, for it is important for teacher figures to always continue their own growth as students. Something that I believe is also important would be discussing ways in which to apply the knowledge that you're gaining.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Ask questions and have a general discussion with the student so I can better understand where they are in regards to their class as well as making sure to ask what the student's goals are and what they expect to gain from my tutelage.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I would let them know about the tools or resources that they can find and use on their own. If these are things that they already know about or have heard of, then I would review them on the best way to use said resources. I would also emphasize that properly done research is one of the most important learning tools at anyone's disposal.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Since I work mainly with languages, my preferred method of maintaining motivation levels is with games. Although, I would have to speak with a student first in order to find out how to best keep their motivation up. I would also remind them that motivation is important, but discipline is even more so.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
My first instinct would be to measure the understanding that the student has of that particular skill.