What is your teaching philosophy?

I am a caring, supportive, dynamic tutor who believes that language is best learned in an immersive environment in which students can contextualize what they've learned and put it immediately into practical application. To simulate this kind of environment, I use interactive methods such as role play, conversation exercises, creative paraphrasing and using tools already obtained in the target language, while gradually layering in more technical skills like grammar and vocabulary. Most importantly, I think enjoying what you've learned and making connections to its relevance in your own life keeps us all more effectively engaged.

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

Get to know the student, see what he or she already knows about the subject and what she hopes to learn with me. Maybe play a simple talking game appropriate to her level.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By providing listening activities that he or she can do on his own. Also, with language, it's often fun to help a student become more observant in general of language use around them.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By crafting lessons around already existing hobbies or interests that the individual has.

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

Try a different approach - some students learn better by listening, others reading or writing, others with physical activities, etc. Also, again by relating the content to something he/she is already familiar with.

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

By breaking down text into simpler blocks of meaning and identifying repeated themes.

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

Getting to know the student's interests and understanding where I can be of most help.

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

By relating themes covered in subject material to those relevant to the student's daily experience or interests.

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

Have the student talk to me about what he/she understands, have him/her try out a few exercises on their own, and re-frame the question in different terms.

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

With a lot of positive reinforcement and encouragement, by repeating successful experiences, and by pointing out improvements.