What is your teaching philosophy?

Spanish is my first language, and I both love it and am very proud of the language and the culture. I understand the importance of learning a second language and admire young people that make the decision to learn a new language. The purpose of my teaching is to help students learn a skill that will help them feel empowered and will create new opportunities as they work to attain their educational and career goals.

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

I would take a moment to get to know a little about the student, their Spanish level, and the reason why they are interested in learning the language. I understand that each individual has different ways of learning and I am open to exploring methods that better fit the learning style of each student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe that building a positive, respectful, and trusting relationship between the student and the tutor is a key element to help the student become an independent learner. We can create a collaborative learning environment where the student feels comfortable participating and asking questions. Some important elements I can provide are motivation, support, and feedback.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would guide the student in the creation of his/her own short and long-term goals that we can monitor periodically to determine progress and provide feedback.

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

I would try different methods or techniques depending on the student's learning preference.

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

I would break down the reading material into smaller pieces, and discuss each section by asking questions that help the student retain the concepts and/or ideas just read.

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

Understand the student's objectives, plan the topics to cover, and schedule the necessary sessions to accomplish the goals.