I really try to drive home the fact that the student is in complete control of their own learning. Studying doesn't have to be boring-- you can design studying in such a way that it can be entertaining! If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do? I try my very best to first identify when the student does not understand. Sometimes students don't make it obvious. Once I have done that I go back to where the student's struggles began, and I like to go through the material fresh, but this time framing the topic differently. What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student? I think my students have done the best when they trust me. When I have gained a student's trust they know that I will not be upset if they don't understand a certain topic, therefore they will not feel any pressure during the session. However in the same light I will also be straightforward with them if need be.