What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that teachers should not just instruct but educate students. In addition, as "transmitters of knowledge," the teacher should instruct in such a way that students enjoy not just the end result -- i.e. passing exams, etc. -- but the learning process.

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

In a first session with a student, I will get to know him/her. I'll ask about his/her family, country, culture and so forth so as to make the student feel comfortable. In the case of ESL adults, I would ask exactly in what area the student does not feel confident.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by having him/her incorporate the subject into his/her everyday life. In addition, I would give assignments, such as reading/summarizing articles; working on presentations; asking him/her about current news, etc.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated, giving praise when he/she does well and encouragement when he/she falters as well as further practice in the areas needed most.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would review it until he/she feels comfortable. I would also give practice exercises during a session to see if he/she has grasped that concept better, and thereafter, give homework based on that concept/skill.

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

For students who are struggling with reading comprehension, I would work with him/her paragraph by paragraph, focusing on not just reading, but pronunciation and vocabulary. Thereafter, I would ask some questions based on each paragraph until he/she has understood what the entire article/book is about.

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

When I start working with a student, I have found that first and foremost, letting him/her know to not feel intimidated to ask questions or have doubts or review a certain area is key. I have also found that, when you ask a student about his/her hobbies or goals or even country/culture, he/she is quite eager to tell you. I start from there because it puts a student at ease.

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

To help a student get excited or engaged in a subject they are struggling with, I would use various games that incorporate that subject. I would also, where possible, use their daily activities to make that subject more 'real' and relevant to them.

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

To make sure that a student understands the material, I would provide worksheets for practicing (after explaining in detail). I would also choose a theme (such as travel or sports) and focus grammar, for example, or vocabulary around that theme.

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

To build a student's confidence in a subject, I would start from the basics, and as he/she begins to master the subject, make it more challenging as we go along- all the while praising the student for every 'hurdle' he/she crosses in that subject.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs based on giving assignments in all areas of language learning. At that point, I can observe where the student is struggling. For ESL learners, they are already aware, so I would focus more on that particular area, but still include all components.

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

For students who are quick learners, they could handle more of a challenge. For those who take time to grasp a subject/skill, I would dedicate more time to that student on that particular skill.

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

I use paper, the computer for documents and videos, and books as well as everyday objects.