What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe motivation is contagious - when someone sees that you're excited to learn, they get excited too. I've been a successful didact in history, politics, and language because I learned how to make learning feel natural. Every lesson is like riding a bike: the learning is not necessarily easy, but once learned it becomes an important, usable skill you'll never forget.

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

Gauging the ability of student is essential. We will run through essential material so I can understand how you best learn. For example, I learned that I had language skills when I discovered that I learn by writing - not necessarily by typical classroom instruction. Every student will bring their own learning style, and my first lesson will simultaneously instruct you and measure your own native comprehension abilities.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

You wouldn't be here if you weren't ready to learn, so I believe your motivation is already there. If you have the desire to learn, I can set you on a course of discovery. I will direct your motivation to work hard, and to navigate you to greater skills and higher test scores.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

We both know that learning and skill sharpening takes hard work. There's no way around that fact. In my teaching experience, I saw other classrooms go from excited to blasé after a few weeks. What kept my student going strong? Spirits stay high when students see the progress they make and realize that hard work is rewarded by becoming more talented and skillful.