I believe that I can instill a sense of excitement and desire to learn in the students by showing them the right paths to take in their learning process. Since success is a great motivator, I think that they will be motivated to learn on their own once the begin to see and understand the purpose and tools of the subject.

I would constantly reinforce their successes and help them have the confidence to overcome those areas that are confusing them.

There are many roads to the same learning goal. Some students require visual examples. Other react to oral explanations. If one approach is not working we will continue to change the learning method until we achieve success.

All too often, students become so fixated on the individual words that they forget what it is they are trying to learn from what they are reading. I have found it helpful in those cases to ask "What to do think the author of what you are trying to read is trying to tell you?" and then discuss the student's answer with them until I agree that they understand the concept to be learned from what they are reading. Usually they can then read the material and understand how it relates to the concepts to be learned. If not we would break the wording down into sections and analyze each section separately until it is understood.

I use examples and humor from my own business background to motivate the student. I try to make what we are learning interesting and also point out how such knowledge will help a student earn a good living and have a rewarding work career. Self-interest is a great motivator.

I will lift the veil of mystery and confusion that the student is struggling with and show them how to understand and use the subject. Sometimes a student can continue to try and learn a subject when they have not learned the basics because students learn at different rates. This is defeating because a student will become lost and discouraged. In those cases it is necessary to go back to basic and show them how those basics are necessary to learn what they are currently studying. This is kind of like showing a student which wrench to take out of their toolbox to tighten a given screw. They may not have understood the purpose of the wrench when they initially put it in toolbox, but once they grasp the concept the rest of the task becomes easy.

Ask questions about what has been learned and ask the student to apply what has been learned to a set of facts. If they can answer correctly they have learned the subject being covered. If not then we have to go over it again until they do.

Constantly refer to and congratulate them on their learning successes and occasionally go back and discuss the really simple things they were initially struggling with but now fully understand.

At the end of each session ask where the student thinks we are in terms of their learning goals and adjust the learning process to satisfy the student's goals, or explain why they are expecting too much, too soon.

I listen to the student, as well as talk to them and adjust my teaching based on what the student says..

Written examples, Excel and Word documents, and material that the student wants explained.

Anyone can learn. The secret is for the tutor to determine what the student wants to learn and how they learn (visually, verbally etc.). If they are only listening to me because someone else wants them to and not because they want to learn, we are both wasting our time until I can convince them that it is in their own self-interest for them to want to learn the subject because of what it will do for them in the future. If all else fails, and they still totally lack motivation, I will wish them good luck flipping burgers and send them on their way.

Initially I need to learn what the student’s goals and expectations are. Then I need to determine their present knowledge of the subject, if any. Then I need to find out how they can and like to learn. We will then mutually determine a tutoring plan.