What is your teaching philosophy?

I teach French literature and current events using my own materials like games and memory techniques to create an entertaining and enriching environment for students. I believe that there is a unique way of engaging students to learn language.

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

One of many challenges in teaching is understanding that a student has often an educational need beyond learning the content you are teaching. A teacher needs to consider the life experiences of their students. They do need a certain level of awareness and perception to relate to a student on their level. A teacher would consider asking students at the beginning of the course what events or experiences led them to start learning a topic. Understanding a student means taking the time to view their learning experiences through they eyes.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Great professors create a love of learning in their students. Once a person has a love of learning, they become a lifelong learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I think that a professor can help spark both curiosity and self-learning, and make it take hold. There are techniques to help instill a love of learning in a student. I think one of many techniques is to connect the ideas and concepts discussed in class with concrete examples of things that happen outside of the session context.

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

Everyone is more likely to learn more about something that they already like. I think the best way to improve reading comprehension is to encourage a student to pick an article or a text from their favorite book. Taking notes and asking questions on a paragraph are both great way to enhance reading comprehension.

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

Good professors teach a subject, while great professors create a love of learning in their students. One of the greatest gifts a professor can provide to a student is to instill a love of learning beyond just the subject matter.

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

I believe that there is a unique way in engaging students to learn a language. A teacher would consider asking students at the beginning of the course what events or experiences led them to start learning a topic. Understanding a student means taking the time to view their learning experiences through they eyes.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

Textbooks, Internet, audio (songs for kids), software (for kids), and quizzes.

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

Creating a self-supporting mindset enables students to work through challenges and overcome their fear of failure.

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

A professor would make instructions student-centered by providing to their students challenging content, outlets for self-expression like social media, and opportunities for reflection on the process of learning, not just on the subject matter. Encourage students to think about thinking.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Memory techniques, and reading and recalling information by taking notes and being able to recalling them.