What is your teaching philosophy?

I want my students to not just memorize things to pass their classes. I want them to genuinely understand the subject matter and to be able to apply their knowledge in their classes to yield the results they deserve.

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

Introduce myself, and get to know the student on a personal and academic level to adjust future sessions to his personal pace and receptiveness.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By showing him how to apply and use his knowledge in real-life situations and not just inside of the classroom. This can be illustrated really well with vivid examples and intercultural competence - especially for foreign languages.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By making him realize that motivation and hard work are the most important factors for success - academically and personally.

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

I would try to simplify the concept to its basics, and then try to emphasize the key factors for understanding the subject's matter.