What is your teaching philosophy?

There is only so much that I can teach, but there is so much more that you can learn.

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

I will first get to know my student a little bit, observe them, and try to figure out what kind of learner they are so as to fit my teaching style to their learning one.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I make them accountable for their assignments, as well as give them space to explore many sources of information.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would talk about their goals and remind him/her about them. I try to keep their goal at the surface so that they can remember why they're doing what they're doing.

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

I would look for real-life scenarios that use the skill or concept. It helps them understand it better when they have a clear understanding of what it is used for.

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

I give my students advanced dictionaries when they have trouble comprehending reading. I find that this helps to expand their vocabulary, which is usually the root of the problem.

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

To truly care about my student. I ask about their day, their weekend, their break, etc. I talk about their interests, and I try to connect all of that to their learning experience. This helps the student to be more involved, and to stay interested in learning.

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

I converse with the student about their dreams, their goals, and their lives. I use all of this information and connect it to the subject they're struggling with to spark their interest.

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

I assign projects and presentations. I find that their level of understanding and preparation is far greater when a student has to prepare to present a topic

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

To build a student's confidence in a specific subject, I bombard them with practice assignments. This is so that they can practice until they make very little mistakes, which will make them more secure and confident with the subject.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By spending time working on assignments with them. When I can observe how they think, I get a better understanding of their needs, as well as where they need more practice and help.

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

I ask the student how they prefer to learn. Most of the time, even if the student doesn't know what kind of learning works best for them, they know what kind doesn't work. I use this and try several different techniques until I find the one that works best.

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

I use everything from books, the Internet, and, depending on the subject, I'll try to create as many interactive activities as possible.