Yovana P.: Paterson tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a native French speaker with over two decades of teaching experience. I have lived and studied in France, and I am deeply connected with the culture. I welcome every opportunity to help learners achieve their desired goals while inspiring them to grow and develop a passion for the language. Using a combination of pedagogical tools such as: direct instruction, coaching, and encouraging learners to take ownership of their learning, I meet each student at their level of development. I work with young learners, high schoolers and adults. My educational background covers undergraduate and graduate studies from the UK and France. I received my PhD from the USA. I teach French, English, Essay writing and editing.
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Undergraduate Degree: Oxford Brookes, U.K - Bachelors, Politics & French
Graduate Degree: Wayne State University - Masters, Law
Reading and outdoor activities with family and friends
- AP French Language and Culture
- Canadian French Language Proficiency
- Conversational French
- Elementary School English
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Language Arts Substitute
- Essay Editing
- French
- French 1
- French 2
- French 3
- French 4
- Languages
- Middle School English
- Middle School Reading
- Phonics
- Reading
- Reading Comprehension (in French)
- Substitute
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe in developing lifelong learners who will continue to enjoy the subjects I teach and will appreciate the relevance of what they learn. Nurturing independent thinkers who can tackle information critically is my philosophy.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would assess what the learner wishes to learn and find out what her needs are, and situate her level in order to cater to her.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By developing an interest and liking for the subject. They then automatically want to learn and succeed.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By catering to her interests and making the subject relevant to the student's stage of development - "meeting her where she’s at."
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Find an alternative way of expressing the concept. Use her language.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I encourage developing vocabulary; learning the meaning of words help increase comprehension.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I like to get to know the student and see what the student perceives as the barriers that she should overcome, and move from there.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Boosting the student's confidence that this is a cool subject that is relevant to their life - I start with daily relevancies.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Question and answer and repetition - tell me in your own words.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By showing her that she has the ability to understand the subject, and that it is not beyond her.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I need to know the syllabus that she is working from, assess where she is at with respect to the syllabus and take it from there.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By asking the student what she feels she needs to know, understand and not understand - the starting point is always the syllabus.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I use written materials and visual information.