Experience Summary
As a teacher’s assistant for photography in high school, I realized that I had a natural aptitude for teaching and breaking subjects down into manageable parts. In college, I was the person that other students came to for guidance with difficult topics, from mathematical equations to evolutionary theory. Since I earned my BS in wildlife biology, I have taught in many capacities, including as a substitute teacher and as a trainer for new employees. I have taught discouraged children to read and fostered latent talents. As a tutor for the Interfaith Refugee Ministry, I worked with children and adults from all over the world, including a woman from Zimbabwe who was studying to earn her GED, but struggled just to create a complete sentence in English. After meeting with her for a few short months she had become a capable essayist and passed the test on her first attempt.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is a mixture of many elements. The first thing I do is to make students enthusiastic about their studies. To give subtle motivation and build interest, I make the topic applicable to a person’s life. The next step is to work on confidence. You have to help students see that it is possible to overcome personal difficulties with specific subjects. To do this, I focus on each learner’s strengths and break topics down into manageable parts. I ask the questions that will direct each student to make connections on their own. As frustration is an inevitable part of learning for struggling students, I always remain flexible and ready to try a new tactic when necessary.