What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in a personal in-depth approach to teaching. Students seem to adapt best with teachers who allow exploration and conversation regarding each subject. Thus, the students have the opportunity to become excited and find a way to relate to each subject in their own way.

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

我想要熟悉学生工作nd to get to know their hobbies and interests. In addition, I would lightly breach into their personal difficulties and frustrations in certain school subjects. Finally, I would ask them to bring up something they love in school and ask why, then ask for an example of something in school they found troubling, and find ways to see if I can make that problem an opportunity for him/her to learn and get excited about the material.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

An essential part of teaching/tutoring is building and encouraging confidence and independence in their work. I work hard to listen to my students. After asking questions and guiding them in their process, I use each session to allow them to talk more and figure out the process and answers on their own. The simplicity of listening to a student and encouraging their thought process and helping craft their articulation is an incredibly successful and rewarding way to help a student become an independent learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

In my experience, students react very well to finding connections between their studies and their personal life. I love relating any subject or situation with something the student can understand and get excited about. For instance, the possibility of comparing a character in a novel with their own experience could make the student feel intimately involved with the character(s) and plot. In addition, rewards (any kind, including simple positive encouragement and/or game-time) gives the student a sense of positive reinforcement to work hard and do well in their studies.

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

I would talk to the student about what they do enjoy about learning or school. If they are more resistant, I would ask what games they play and why. This would probably lead me to what drives the student and what potentially excites them. Then I would work to find a way to bridge their passions with the required criteria. Finding games and personal connections with their studies seems to be a wonderful way for students to appreciate and flourish in many subjects.

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

Thus far, I have found patience, encouragement, the student's personal interest in the reading material, and positive reinforcement to be the most important key in helping a struggling and/or resistant student in developing their reading comprehension. If a student is excited about the material, they are much more likely to find the push to read and understand.

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

I've found working closely and clearly with a student has proved to be a very fruitful experience. I work hard to get to know the student and their interests in order to find the best ways in which to communicate and help the student in their studies.

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

After discussing a student's personal interests and passions, I would do my best to find a bridge between their subject matter and those interests. Usually a student becomes more engaged with schoolwork if it feels "fun" and personally engaging. This is possible with any subject.

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

After talking/working through the material, I would make sure to test them on the materials at hand. It's very important to give the student a chance to work through and solve any answer on their own. At the early stages of working with a student, I especially like them to talk through their process and how they came to a conclusion. This is very helpful in allowing the pupil to maintain and grow with the work. I would do the same if a student continues to struggle with a certain subject.

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

Positive reinforcement is an incredibly important part of any student's education. I find it very important to make sure a student knows when they're doing something right, as well as how and why. Allowing a student to feel that they have the opportunity and ability to do well does quite a lot regarding their development. Every student should get the opportunity to feel elated when they do good work, and also to be inspired instead of discouraged if they fall behind.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

It's as simple as listening, reading, and evaluating their attempted work and improvement. Students act and react in many subtle and active ways. I find it very important to listen, watch, look at all aspects of a student’s progress (or lack thereof) in order to communicate and adjust accordingly.

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

Every student is different. Before I walk into a room or session with a student I try to get as much background information as possible. However, it's not until I'm communicating and working with a pupil that I get a proper indication of how to work best with them. It's crucial to understand every student is different. There are always indications on how to handle/work with each student. For example, with a hostile student I would try to ease off and allow them to talk whilst making the material seem personal and easygoing. With a more outgoing and confident student, I would invite them to be challenged in our studies, as they usually work best with a challenge.

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

I mostly love talking with students and trying to find verbal ways to communicate with them. I do also encourage them to take notes and allow them to draw if that allows them a better way to initially articulate their answers or questions. If necessary, I'm happy to appropriately utilize pictures, paintings, drawings, videos or other types of media within reason.