Leah
Certified Tutor
Being an English major at Wingate University has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had, and it has influenced me to want to help others enjoy the language and literary materials that are available in the world as much as I enjoy them. English can be a difficult subject for some and I want to help them understand the difficulties, as well as enjoy the wonders embedded in various literature. Of course there is literature that can be dry, but there is so much out there that is wonderful and engaging. You just have to look for it. The English language is one of the most difficult languages to understand, but approaching it from a different perspective is what helps it make sense. My goal is to apply language to everyday use, which is the tactic that seems to help others grasp harder concepts. It can be challenging, but that is half the fun when it comes to English. There is so much potential waiting to be attained. You only have to listen to someone speak or open a book to begin understanding and appreciating English.
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Undergraduate Degree: Wingate University - Bachelors, English
Reading, writing, Batman, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Shakespeare, etc.
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Writing
- College English
- College Essays
- Comparative Literature
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Writing
- ISEE Prep
- Literature
- Reading
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is to help a student as much as I can and not give up, even when the material becomes difficult or frustrating.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would ask what they find frustrating and confusing about English, which would help me establish where we need to start concerning grammar and reading comprehension.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I would encourage them to think outside the box when it comes to reading. Sometimes the meaning is simple, but seems confusing due to syntax.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would utilize visuals to help keep students engaged, such as play adaptations.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Look at the concept from a different angle. Sometimes trying to explain a concept over and over does not work, so using a different tactic would be a better option.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
A good example is Shakespeare. Some of his plays are difficult to understand, so I would recommend students to also watch scenes of certain adaptations to help them understand the entire meaning. Watching plays performed helps people connect better with the literary work. If the work were not adapted into a visual, I would ask what is confusing about the selected section and help them detect context clues to make an interpretation.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I have found that asking them what they struggle with is one of the best places to start when determining how to help someone.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Express excitement myself. When the teacher is motivated, it helps the student feel motivated as well. Also, making the subject interesting helps keep students motivated.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would have them label a sentence or correct a sentence to determine grammar skills. I would have students write out a response concerning reading comprehension to determine their ability to interpret and understand what they read.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Encourage them to keep doing their best and acknowledge the strides that they have made.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By the work that they do. If they are struggling, then the work will show this. Also, their attitude towards the subject is often an indicator, so if the student is always frustrated, then they need more help.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Help them understand concepts using techniques that help them learn best. If a student learns more visually, then I would incorporate visuals in my teaching methods.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Visuals, literary materials, workbooks, grammar books.