What is your teaching philosophy?

My approach to teaching is to first assess what exactly the student is having trouble with. I find that quite often many students don't understand certain concepts because there are many other basic concepts that teachers assume they already knew, but in truth the student is actually unclear on those concepts. Once I find the root of the problem, I can break down the concepts and teach the student step by step. I am good at getting into the students' heads and thinking like them, allowing me to figure out what they are having trouble with and anticipating their mistakes. I can then tailor what I teach them and give them to practice accordingly.

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

During the first session, I like to get to know the student and try to understand their learning style. I then ask them questions to see exactly what they know or don't know. This helps me figure out what they are having trouble with and adjust what to teach them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

When I teach, I like to try to impart a good work ethic on the students as well as helping them understand the academic subject. I hope that if I can get them into the habit of preparing early and asking questions, similar to what I do when I study myself, they will eventually do it for themselves.