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

In the first session, I usually ask about what the student is searching for. Then depending on the answer, we speak about the best ways to fit to the requests and the future lessons plans. Finally, I begin to teach a few first and funny words or sentences in French that everyone can use right away. These are the first steps to engage the student in the learning process and the cultural awareness.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

As soon as I can, I let him know about the French cultural wealth (movies, books, cuisine, way of life...). This way, he/she can develop his/her own personal awareness, not only about the language but also about what it means to be able to speak French and understand this culture. We always speak about what the student learned every time we meet, and what he/she would concentrate more on his/her own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By giving him/her a schedule in advance of what we will do together. Reminding them constantly what the purpose of his/her request is. What is the goal? What are the different steps to climb before getting there? The effective results are the rewards. But it's also a great pleasure to treat my students when they succeed to do something difficult. My teaching process is based on different incentive methods.

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

I would ask the student why he/she has this kind of difficulty, why he/she does not understand. I would try to find the primary reason and develop the all concept in order to simplify the learning process in a way the student could catch.

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

I ask them to visualize the reading situation and speak about what they see in their imagination. If they are wrong, I explain why and let them make other assumptions until they get it right. This way, they can develop their own comprehension process by themselves.

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

The strategy to learn the basics by having fun in doing something they love. Taking the student's interests as a first asset.

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

By giving the student all kind of rewards! Who doesn't like to be treated? Also, I would encourage the student to go over his/her dislikes or struggling and open his/her mind on the subject.

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

A 5 minute simple oral test at the beginning of each session + writing tests every time we finish a specific topic + other types of testing such as audio or video recording.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

I always keep a positive attitude towards any student's difficulties because I believe everyone can learn on his own path. I begin by teaching small and simple aspects of the language so everyone can understand what I am talking about. Once the student shows he understand the subject, we can go further or in another direction. But I never overtake a process' step without being sure that the student learned anything from it.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

During the first session, we talk a lot about their goal(s) and their need(s). Depending on their level of language, I can evaluate what are their needs for these specific request(s).

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

My experience in teaching allows me to easily adapt my lessons to any kind of needs. I am very flexible and I always update my subject to fit the most to my students' requests. Also, my different lesson plans follow a system based on the age or grade's levels and on the students' interests.

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

Books, audio and video documents (music, movies, etc.), games, toys, puppets for the little ones, recording systems, arts & crafts materials, cooking materials...

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that you can only learn something when you enjoy using it. So instead of teaching French as a boring list of grammar aspects and vocabulary words, I engage the students to take part in the process of learning by using many creative and interactive processes. The most important thing: learning needs to be fun but also effective.