What is your teaching philosophy?

Help the student learn the way she or he learns best!

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

I would go over the objectives of the student for the class; what areas is the student enjoying, and where they are struggling. In the first session, I make sure I know if there is any background knowledge that needs to be complemented.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would encourage the student to ask questions, to conceptualize what he or she knows, to examine his or her study habits, and then I would challenge the student to think beyond the classroom setting.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Compliment the student on his or her work habits.

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

I would break down the skills or concept into smaller parts by relating it to something I know the student knows.

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

My strategy will be two-fold. First, we can both find alternative sources of information outside of textbooks and lecture notes. They are a lot of great online videos from YouTube and other sources that are suitable for people who learn best by watching and hearing. Second, I can search for small reading assignments that would be the most suitable to the student.

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

I like to develop a personal relation with the student by finding out what they like, and what they want to get out of the class. If you can peak the student's interest, he or she is more likely to work regularly on the material, which will be conducive to success.

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

Find the best learning method for the student! I can talk about the applications and the links to prior subjects before even going into the subject itself.

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

The best technique for every subject is to see if the student is able to clearly explain the main tenets of the material. A step below would be to challenge the student to solve problems that are just slightly beyond what they have been covering in their classes.

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

I like to show the student that they would have no difficulty answering exam questions if they practice diligently.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

At the start of a session, I ask the student to summarize what they understand about the subject, and then go over a few problems or questions based on their answers.

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

I constantly re-evaluate what works and what doesn't work for the student. Every person has different way communicating, and even the most introverted person will show signs of disengagement, or boredom. I will try to detect those signs, and modify the way I present the material accordingly.

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

I first use the student's notes, as he or she would be more comfortable with those. Then I will use my own notes from when I took the class, or the best material available online. Online learning tools can suitable even for college students.