How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe it is important to promote practice outside of the short tutoring sessions. I would recommend that the student, should they be studying Spanish for example, engage in fun and educational activities such as watching a favorite movie with Spanish audio to ensure more frequent exposure to the new language.

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

I would remind them that everyone has challenges they are hoping to overcome, and that they help us grow as individuals. No one started out as an Olympic athlete or Nobel Prize winner without working hard at it! Anything you try is bound to be better than not trying at all.