What is your teaching philosophy?

For me, the main objective is to make learning fun and enjoyable. In order to do that, I must help a bright young mind to discover his or her own potential. My role as the facilitator is to simply show the tricks and techniques that will help a student to succeed and thrive. Everyone has the capacity to do well; one can always improve from before, at the very least. All that a student needs is supervision and the necessary tools; with the right training, he or she is capable of acquiring a formidable skill-set. With my help, I am more than confident that you will be able to attain the recipe for success.

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

I would first ask a series of basic introductory questions regarding academic interests, test-taking styles, and learning preferences. The next step is to assess the student's knowledge of the relevant subject material. From these opening exchanges, I will be able to pinpoint certain strengths and weaknesses. Then, we will be able to create a long-term game-plan and establish a sturdy foundation. The key of the first session is brainstorm ideas and develop strategies designed to address weak points and build on strong suits. With proper planning and the right mindset, anything is possible.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Every student possesses limitless potential - we all have tremendous intellectual capacity. The main objective is to help students expand their academic skill-set and find confidence in themselves. First, they need the necessary techniques and methods; with these, they will be able to attain a nuanced understanding of questioning patterns and develop useful problem solving strategies. Anyone is capable of achieving great results, he or she just needs to realize their own ability to succeed. My job is to provide pragmatic guidance and unyielding support; once students develop positive learning habits and begin to see their own improvement, they will have the tools and intangibles required to succeed.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would constantly remind them of their progress. Even though a student might reach an impasse and struggle with a certain section, I will always point to their progress in other areas in order to prove to them that they have the ability to overcome adversity and succeed. Moreover, I'd help to breakdown questions into a digestible components and show how a simple formula or technique can help them to unearth the correct answer. I'd also motivate them by letting them know that all questions - at least most of them- can be answered with the right tools.

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

Break down the skill or concept into small, digestible components. After carefully analyzing each element, we would bring the pieces of the puzzle together in order to gain a better understanding of the bigger picture.

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

I would advise them to simply focus on the main argument that the author is making and to resist the distractions of inconsequential details. The goal is to concentrate on the topic and the author's point of view. First, my strategy would be to have a student solely focus on examining and analyzing introductions. Usually, the thesis is always located within the first few sentences of an article. If a student learns how to pinpoint the main argument in introduction, then they will have an easier time understanding the rest of a passage. The body paragraphs are usually supporting arguments that reinforce the thesis or main message of the piece. Writing is extremely formulaic, so there are techniques and methods that can enhance reading comprehension skills.

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

Developing a well-balanced, personalized approach. Taking time to analyze positive and negative test-taking and study habits. Concentrating on addressing weaknesses, and learning techniques and methods designed to maximize academic performance.

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

Providing students with the necessary tools and methods required to unlock the answers to challenging questions. The goal is to eliminate their fear of the subject. In order to do that, it is essential to show them that all questions are answerable if they are adequately prepared and take the right approach. All a student needs to do is identify the patterns in questioning; then, they will realize how they must tackle a problem. Nothing brings more delight to a student than discovering the right answers to the same questions that once boggled him or her. As a student starts to see that he or she is more than capable of finding solutions to challenging problems, they will begin to attain a sense of fulfillment from their work.

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

Analyze their test-taking habits and track their improvements in scoring. Asking questions is always a great way to assess one's knowledge of the material, but it is also important to test a student's understanding of specific problem-solving methods.

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

Providing them with the tools and techniques required to succeed. Once they see that all questions are intrinsically formulaic, they will see that all problems can be solved if one takes the right approach.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Assess their performances in certain subject areas. For example, if I were teaching the ACT English section, I would examine a student's entire performance in a piece-by-piece manner. If he or she already performed well in the rhetorical skills questions, I would concentrate more improving his or her knowledge of grammar and mechanics.

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

As a tutor, it is my job to make the necessary adjustments in order to fulfill a student's needs. I will always design a personalized tutoring approach for each of my students. No two people are exactly the same, so no tutoring approaches should be exactly the same.

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

Review books, test materials, web articles, textbooks, study packets, flashcards, etc.