What is your teaching philosophy?

Learning is very process based, meaning there are key elements which must be in place in order to gain knowledge. Students learn best when they can personally identify their struggles and receive assistance on how to overcome these obstacles.

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

In a first session, I typically learn as much as I can about the student. I like to consider all of their strengths and weaknesses in order to develop a personal plan for them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

My ultimate goal is for all of my students to become independent learners. I strive to get them to a level where they no longer need me. This can be accomplished by ensuring they have a strong foundation in the subject matter and the necessary problem solving skills to approach any future obstacle.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

For initial motivation, I make sure students find a personal interest in the subject matter. Once they can relate to it, they are much more willing to work hard. Over time, I believe that progress itself is extremely motivational. Therefore I keep students motivated by showing them how far they've come from the start.

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

I strongly believe that the root of most problems is a weak foundation in the subject. To help a student understand a concept, I make sure that they have a solid knowledge base on which that idea will be built.

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

As a former ESL (English as a Second Language) student, I understand how difficult it is to struggle with reading comprehension. I have found the most success in simply breaking everything down to its simplest elements. After understanding the pieces, either word-by-word or idea-by-idea, everything else begins to make sense.

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

Since every student is different, no two strategies are exactly alike. I make sure to create a personalized approach to reach success.

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

To get a student excited about learning, it is most important to find a personal connection to the material they are learning. Every academic subject encompasses a ton of unique ideas; finding one to connect to is generally a quick process.

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

Confidence can only come from within. To increase a student's confidence, I make sure they see their own achievements so they realize that they were truly responsible for their own progress.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

To evaluate a student's needs I simply converse with them. I find that students are usually able to identify their own weaknesses, given that they are asked the right questions.

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

The materials prepared will depend on each tutoring session. Some sessions may be conversation based, to learn concepts, while others may be problem based, to strengthen those concepts. I usually prepare a general outline to be covered, but I allow each session to naturally transition in a way that's most receptive to the student's needs.

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

Since academic subjects vary and each approach towards them is different, the techniques used will vary accordingly.

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

I am very flexible when it comes to adapting to a student's needs. After identifying their strengths and weaknesses, I work accordingly by creating a plan that will work best for them.