Laurie
Certified Tutor
I am a passionate educator with more than ten years of experience. I particularly enjoy teaching languages (English and Spanish) to children, teens, and adults. I'm available for other subjects as well - my strengths are math and communications (writing, public speaking, editing, etc.).
Connect with a tutor like Laurie
Undergraduate Degree: Wayne State University - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
Graduate Degree: Autonomous University of Madrid - Master of Arts, International Relations
foreign languages, reading and writing, film, yoga, music, running, cooking, travel
- College English
- College Essays
- Conversational Spanish
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- High School English
- Languages
- Public Speaking
- Spanish
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 3
- Spanish 4
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy is to incite a genuine interest in my students so that the material is more engaging, and thus, their goals are more attainable. I also adapt my methods to my students' unique learning styles.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a typical 90 minute Spanish class, we will go over verbs, grammar, and concepts from the previous class, practice with written and verbal test problems, carry out a popcorn review of relevant verbs and vocabulary, engage in a game or role play, introduce new concepts, and do a short listening and/or writing exercise. I like to keep activities short and engaging, and to balance new concepts and previously learned themes.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I encourage my students to determine what they want to learn.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I match my teaching styles with my students' learning' styles and interests.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I'd explore several ways of approaching the topic / subject in order to see what resonates best with them.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Very small steps - and topics that are very interesting to them!
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Please see previous answers.