What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that a good tutor inspires in students the desire to learn by discovering ways in which students can relate to the material. Also, as every student learns in his or her own way, the tutor and student should work together to find the best approach to learning.

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

I would get to know the student to try to understand the student's motivation and how best to approach the learning process. I would also try to assess the student's strengths and weaknesses

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can give the student the right tools and guide them on how to approach the learning process, so they can continue to learn effectively on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would encourage them when they are able to grasp a concept, and I would give them real world applications so what they are learning would seem relevant to them.

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

The best way is to encourage them to read more and to find books they are interested in. The more they read, the better their reading comprehension will be.

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

Finding common ground and setting goals are the best approaches to a new student. Knowing what the student hopes to achieve before getting started is always very helpful.

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

The best possible way to get a student interested is to find real world applications in the subject matter. This always allows students to see the benefit in what they are learning.

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

Repetition is one way to reinforce ideas. In the case of the sciences, assigning questions can determine the student’s progress. I also like to have students explain the concept back to me to see if they understood it.

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

I start by helping them grasp an easier concept in the subject matter, and then asking a question about that concept. Usually, they get it right on the first try, and this gives them confidence to tackle harder concepts.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I always make sure that I am having open communication with the student. Also, I like to assess students through question and answer, which allows me to understand what level a student is at, and what more needs to be accomplished

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

If I am seeing that a student has quickly grasped one concept but is having trouble with another one, I make sure to focus more time and attention to the latter.

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

In the sciences, I like to use MCQs as a means of assessing a student’s progress. For ESL, I believe that best tool is conversation. I also like to use a marker board to explain the subject matter.