What is your teaching philosophy?

Because I believe that every student is unique in his or her learning process, I make an effort to shape my approach to the study material in a way that is most effective and helpful for a particular student. A tutor should be responsible for not only making sure students master material, but also for inciting confidence in students.

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

In a typical first session, I would make the student feel comfortable with this new medium of studying. Then, I would ask them what they expect from me, and I'd tell them what I expect in return. Once we lay out the foundation of this relationship, we would proceed with the tutorial.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help students become independent learners by guiding them to the correct answer through a method called redirecting. Redirecting questions involves taking a question and breaking it down into smaller, less intimidating ones. Instead of hosting a simple q & a session, I believe this method builds students' self-confidence and allows them to effectively retain material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students stay motivated through my positive outlook. It is never too late to improve, and failure is only temporary!

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

First, I would try to identify what it is exactly that the student finds difficult. Second, I would ask them to explain the skill/concept to me as best as they could. Third, I would try to draw a parallel between the troublesome concept/skill and another one that they have already mastered. Through this comparison, we could begin breaking down the skill/concept to a level the student could understand.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

I help these students by going over a few passages and questions with them to assess their skill level. Next, I will target the types of questions they struggle with by practicing helpful techniques.

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

I find it most helpful to lay out the foundation of the tutor-tutee partnership by giving the student an overview of what they should expect from me and vice versa.

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

I would relate the material to the real world, but I would have them make the connection themselves! This way the student can get an actual visual of why what they are studying is important.