
Karam: Lakeland tutor
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: California State University-Long Beach - Current Undergrad, Chemical Engineering
Soccer/Bowling/Movies/Jogging
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy is to approach students' problems using their way, not mine, as I can explain a problem in various ways, which makes it easy for me to acclimate with different students. I will find the student's best approach, and I will apply it.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In the first 15 minutes, I will break the ice with some basic information, like major/school/interests. Then, I will address the student's main issues and focus on them right away to fix the problem.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I help him/her try to solve the problem, and then I can intervene if needed. After that, I keep giving my student problems. Then, I let him/her do them independently.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I keep reminding them of the consequences of both their success and failure. I constantly let them know the importance of education.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would ask the student what makes this concept hard to learn. From that, we start working on the problem step-by-step.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I analyze the sentence word-by-word until they completely get it.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Empathy; the ability to read their minds and the ability to feel them struggling.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would make them work with the concepts they like the most to make them feel good, and then I would gradually introduce the hard material to them.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Doing as many problems as possible, and then I might give a general exam after that if needed.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By doing so many problems.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
With their answers to my questions, as I tend to ask my students some questions before we start.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
A few sheets of paper, a pen, and a calculator.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I listen to them and target their weaknesses.