What is your teaching philosophy?

To help students learn how to reason through challenging material by guiding them to ask meaningful questions.

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

I like to get to know the student and their goals for the course. Then I like to dive right into learning the subject matter.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

我喜欢教学生多提问题,to research the answers to those questions themselves. The ability to research is a skill that grows with practice, and over time, students will research more effectively, learn faster, and need to consult others less often.

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

Since everyone learns differently, I might try explaining a concept using a diagram, a practical example, a video online, a practice problem, or even a more theoretical derivation.

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

I like to find out what subjects a student finds interesting and explain the subject in terms of their interests. As a biology tutor, I find that explaining difficult concepts using the human body and health/well-being is applicable to everyone, since we all have bodies!

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

I want to ensure that a student can verbally explain and write out a concept without consulting their notes. It is also important to make sure the student can answer questions in the format they will encounter in class, so I like to use practice tests and old problem sets.

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

When a student asks an insightful question or gets through a complicated problem, I want to give him/her positive feedback. It is important to know when you understand something (just as it is important to know when you don't understand something).

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

I use any textbooks and notes I have on the subject. The Internet is a great resource for videos, practice problems, and interactive tutorials. I also like to use the student's notes and textbook.