Benjamin
Certified Tutor
Currently a student at Yale University studying Molecular Biophysics/Biochemistry and Comparative Literature.
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Undergraduate Degree: Yale University - Current Undergrad, Molecular Biophysics/Biochemistry and Comparative Literature
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1570
- SAT Math: 740
- SAT Verbal: 800
- SAT Writing: 790
- GRE Verbal: 167
I love to build those little ships in bottles.
- Algebra
- American Literature
- AP Physics 2
- Biology
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- College Biology
- College Chemistry
- College English
- College Level American Literature
- College Physics
- Elementary School Math
- English
- GED Prep
- GED Social Studies
- Graduate Test Prep
- GRE
- GRE Analytical Writing
- GRE Quantitative
- GRE Verbal
- High School Biology
- High School Physics
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Science
- Physics
- Pre-Algebra
- PSAT Prep
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Physics
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- Science
- Special Relativity
- Test Prep
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Get to know them a bit. I think comfort is kind of a prerequisite.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Helping students find and do practice problems is key. You need to know what you don't know, and self-testing is the only way to do that.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Point out progress that they don't notice! It's so much easier to notice from the outside.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try approaching it a different way. If not numerically, then graphically. If not graphically, then verbally. Rinse, lather, repeat.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Intuition is surprisingly powerful. If the student has the confidence to develop an idea of what the passage is addressing and then reads it again for evidence for or against this, incremental progress comes quite easily!
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Testing and testing. The key is to know what you don't know very well so you can efficiently fill in the gaps.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
That depends on the subject! You can teach just about anything in a new and interesting context. I have lots of stuff to read and lots of fun examples I've come across thus far in my education. Usually something will stick.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
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Regurgitate what has been learned in a new way. 2. Answer questions and practice.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Pointing out progress as it is made! It's so easy to miss the progress you've made unless someone points it out.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Asking them is usually a good place to start!
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Listening to them and adapting accordingly!
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Questions are a big one. I also like to interrogate and make the student work through what they've learned. Ideally, at the end of the lesson, the student will be able to tell me what exactly the concept is in their own way of understanding it.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Be patient, be flexible, and know what you don't know.