What is your teaching philosophy?

I think many philosophies have their merits, but I would consider myself a constructivist. A learner creates their own meaning with their unique learning process.

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

The first session is usually the one in which we get to know each other, talk about the subject or problem, and then make the first steps in working on the issue. However, I have had many students who only wish to have 1-2 sessions in total, and in these, it is imperative to get to the point and start working immediately!

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students are more likely to become independent learners if they understand how they think. This is called metacognition and students are much more confident and successful if they understand their own learning style.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

It is important to not make a student feel bad for being unmotivated. Everyone has subjects they do not care for, and some students struggle with the classroom setting in general. Boosting confidence, maintaining a good attitude and guiding the student to meet their goals is the best method.

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

I step back and think of a different approach. Depending on the student's age, I may ask if they can explain what specifically they are finding difficult, but this can often be met with a blank stare and confusion. If a student does not understand, repeating the same explanation is not enough. Examples using things relevant to the student is one of many helpful methods.

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

It is important to find out what things are relevant to that particular student. If the student is into sports, music, movies, or a specific hobby, I can use this to create useful examples that relate to the student. It is also important to remain patient and cheerful as some students are very shy during the first meeting.

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

Relevant examples help the student get engaged with a subject. How can I make this relate to the student's interests? Also, as an educator, showing your own enthusiasm for the subject boosts motivation and engagement.

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

"Do you understand?" is a horrible question. Students often agree to this because they are bored/frustrated. It is much more effective to have students show their understanding by restating the concept in their own words, or by answering an example problem on their own.

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

The keyword here is build. Confidence does not magically appear, students need scaffolding and feedback to gain confidence and mastery in a subject.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate in a very individual way. Each student has a unique way of thinking and understanding. The best way to evaluate this is the most simple: have a conversation.

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

Some students are really visual learners, so I search for charts, pictures, media, etc. that can aid them. Other students work really well with examples. Scaffolding is another useful technique, where we work through the material together and I slowly take away "supports" by giving more independence to the student.

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

I typically use my computer, visual aids, worksheets, textbooks, educational websites/blogs, and anything that will be helpful to that particular student.

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

This is a very age dependent question. This can also vary depending on whether or not English is the student's first language or not. In the case of younger students, workbook style reading comprehension is very useful. I also often have these students read out loud as this boosts their comprehension of the words. ELL students and older students can be much more case dependent and usually require a meeting session to understand where they are experiencing difficulties.