Tatiana
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Hampshire College - Current Undergrad, Double Major: Chinese Language and Culture and Religious Studies
Chinese culture, alternative education, Women's studies and feminism, Sci-fi, Jewelry-making, traveling, hiking, singing.
College English
Comparative Literature
Conversational Mandarin
Elementary School Math
High School English
Homework Support
ISEE Prep
Mandarin Chinese 1
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
When at all possible, I push students to come up with their own answers. I assign lots of practice and, depending on the subject, ask the student to do some kind of creative work. I provide lots of encouragement, positive feedback, and reminders that it's okay to make mistakes.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session with a new student I like to get to know each other a little bit. I will want to begin assessing the student’s level, strengths and weaknesses in the desired subject and what the student wants and needs out of our future sessions. Much of this will take place in conversation, but I will also want to dig right into some material to test knowledge and ability.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can help by making a student aware of the best resources for looking up the answers to their questions. I can help them assess their own learning goals, strengths and weaknesses, and help them develop strategies for reaching those goals.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
The worst enemies to motivation are frustration, boredom, and lack of confidence. I try to stay attuned to what my student is experiencing, and I like to improvise and try multiple methods to tackle these feelings when they arise. Sometimes the right thing to do is step back and work on something different, and at other times the right thing is to make things more challenging. It depends on the student and the situation!