How would you help a student stay motivated?

I like to remind students that they are responsible for their future. People will help them along the way, but eventually they are going to be on their own. Stay motivated now to make life easier in the long run.

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

I would ask a student to reflect on their learning. Reflect on where they currently are, and compare this to where they were a week or month ago. This will help them to see the scope and quality of their learning.