What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in the Socratic approach to learning. In this approach, learning is promoted by asking probing questions and not through lecture. Learning is fun and in my classes, you will be amazed at how much you will learn while enjoying the experience! No matter the subject, international aspects and cultures are woven into the tutoring sessions so that you will be prepared to participate in the global environment that encompasses your subject(s).

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

The beginning of the session will be spent getting to know each other. I am sincerely interested in knowing the student as a person. The next step is to assess the student's tutoring needs so that I can target my approach and content to maximize the time we have together and the learning objectives of the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students who develop a passion for learning become independent learners. My goal is to instill that passion in each student I tutor.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Helping a student stay motivated is a blend of caring, believing, and rewarding. First is to sincerely care about the student and his/her success. Second is to believe the student will be successful and instill that belief in him/her. Last is to reward and celebrate each achievement, no matter how small.

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

Sometimes the difficulty in learning a skill or concept is overcome by taking a different approach in presenting the information. Relating the skill or concept to examples in everyday life often helps to "turn the light bulb on."

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

Reading comprehension is helped by breaking down the assignment into understandable segments. Sometimes outlining the content, highlighting, and making notations also aid comprehension. Word association is another technique.

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

Introducing humor creates a welcoming learning environment.

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

By being excited and engaged myself. Positive thinking is contagious.

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

Asking questions that apply to the material being studied is one way to ensure the material is being understood. Asking the student to demonstrate his/her understanding by giving examples also helps, as does repetition.

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

By complimenting the student on his or her achievements. It is important to not over-compliment, because it leads the student to assume the praise is not sincere.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Evaluating a student's needs is accomplished through a combination of assessment and listening to the student's concept of what areas/topics they feel need to be addressed and why.

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

I adapt my tutoring to the student's needs by understanding the issues and the personality/motivation of the learner. This often means bringing in new material, or approaching those needs using different learning tools.

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

The types of materials I use are graphics, PowerPoints, videos, articles, and real-life examples.