What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy of teaching is to enrich the lives of students with knowledge of culture, history and language using meaningful, effective and varied teaching techniques.

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

We will start with a few basics to gauge current level and work up through different levels of language through conversation and written assessments.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

To seek out information on their own and to be able to self-assess.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by giving them new information that keeps and maintains focus so they are looking forward to the next session/class.

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

We would work around it together. There is always a different way to present information so that with practice, the concept is learned.

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

I guide students through comprehension by looking at key words and phrases in a text.

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

Students engage in learning when visuals are presented and there are different ways to practice a new concept. Questions in the target language can be asked and answered.

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

I would find a unique text or visual and present the concept in a meaningful manner.

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

Oral and written assessment of a student are great ways to check understanding.

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

Positive reinforcement through prior knowledge of a concept is great for a student's confidence. Getting them to understand a concept on their own also helps.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Continually assess the content and the student's knowledge.

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

Students often need accommodations to learning, so I find what the student is struggling with, and then I provide feedback; lastly I will work to strengthen student knowledge by accommodating their learning needs.

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

Visual aids, question prompts, conversation prompts, cloze activities, reading and writing activities, and anything the student might want to try.