What is your teaching philosophy?

Two of my main guides are study sheets and practice problems that I either pick on individual basis or write myself, in advance. The study guides generally receive positive feedback, and the problems have been helpful in building problem-solving skills. In practice problems, I try to emphasize the order in which certain quantities need to be solved, before arriving at the final answer.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

I try to get an overview of their course and the particular concepts they struggle with. My next step is to give a test on learning styles and give questions on topics they have trouble with.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would present them with strategies to approach concepts and problems. The strategies should allow the students to learn and understand concepts on their own, when I am not around.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I believe feedback is very important. I think positive feedback and encouragement, allow a student to continue making effort. In addition, depending on a field of study, relevant examples in real life are a good way to raise motivation.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I would try to understand what kind of learning works best for them. It depends on whether they are a visual learner, or verbal learner, or possible other styles. I would then try to further break down the concepts, by going back to some more basics.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

Give an overview of a concept and then present 3 examples of increasing difficulty. I like to conclude the final and the hardest example, with a summary of a strategy to tackle the problems.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I would try to understand what their goals in life are, and then try to make a connection between the subject what they are interested in life.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Depending on a case, I like to discuss current situation in the class, and what topics the student believes they are having trouble with. If further evaluation is needed, I have a learner test, which helps identify strengths and weaknesses of students' general academic abilities and approach.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

There are different types of students and needs. While I am might not be familiar with all of them, I have been successful in identifying needs and learning styles, to create individualized strategies.