Joschua: Woodridge tutor
Certified Tutor
I have been an active learner all my life. It is not just the formal learning that counts, but informal as well including reading, traveling, meeting new people, and trying new things, all of which enrich our lives. I have always been a strong advocate for education, because, I believe, it is the best way to explore the world and find one's place in it.
I am a published writer of fiction and poetry and I am currently writing a screenplay for a feature length film. I founded and run a literary and art magazine called The Literati Quarterly. I have been fortunate enough to serve in the United States Air Force where I acquired Russian linguist training and the US Army National Guard where I acquired French linguist training. I look forward to putting not only my life experience to your service but also my passion to learn and teach.
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Undergraduate Degree: Defense Language Institute - Associates, French
Creative writing, linguistics, art, film and music.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I will not only get to know the student but also assess the student's current knowledge in the subject, and deepen and expand that knowledge base.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will provide the student with free and additional sources that will engage the student on their own time.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I will tell the students about my shortfalls professionally and academically, and what I did to surmount those challenges.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would try to relate the skill or concept to something the student is already interested in. I would be patient and guide the student until the student reaches a level of confidence in the skill or concept.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I will break down the reading into smaller parts and allow the student time to comprehend each section, then engage the student in discussion to see how much information has been retained and learned.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Patience and active listening.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would find out the student's interests and relate the topic to those interests.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would do checks on knowledge before, during and after each session.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By having the student teach me the subject or material covered.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By talking openly and honestly with the student while finding out their long term goals, and guiding them to those goals.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By finding out what the student's learning style is and tutoring to their strengths.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I like to use music, YouTube and other online media to help augment and engage the student.
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy, when it comes to education, is empowering and releasing the potential. As far as I am concerned, my student can be the next Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, Eisenhower or Stanley Kubrick. My goal is to help my students recognize their potential and seize upon it to achieve success. I am passionate about learning because it opens the whole wide world for me. I can only hope to students the same wonders.