Bio

I have lived in Europe and Canada, traveling across the ocean countless times, experiencing more cultural diversity than most people my age. I have consistently excelled academically in a variety of educational systems. I have completed the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and, more recently, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Honours Mechanical Engineering from McGill University with distinction. I am immensely passionate about learning and understanding that the only way to grow consistently is to learn consistently. I hope to learn until the day I die. Education is the stepping stone to success and the key to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. From Mathematics to Spirituality, I absorb from all walks of life with an open mind, for no single discipline holds all the answers to Life’s questions.

Teaching Experience

I have been tutoring my peers since 6th grade, starting with after school tutoring and eventually founding a peer-to-peer tutoring system during my IB years to help struggling students with their areas of weakness. During my university years, I was consistently assisting my underclassmen by explaining topics, helping them with their assignments, and reviewing material with them in preparation for their exams. Eventually, I became a teacher’s assistant in my own right for a course titled “Advanced Mathematics for Engineers,” I held weekly tutorial sessions showing students how to approach problems related to the course and answer any theoretical questions that they had. In total, I would say I have an equivalent of 4+ years of tutoring experience across my academic career in a variety of subjects.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Understanding, compassion, and kindness are necessary to alleviate any worries or concerns a student may have. It is of utmost importance to relate the teaching to the student’s own unique set of circumstances to build upon prior knowledge instead of building isolated islands of information that may or may not be useful or translatable in other areas of life.

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

First, I would ask the student about themselves and their reasons for seeking tutoring: what are their weaknesses and what areas they would like help with. In essence, I would like to understand what areas concern the student to adapt to their specific needs. Afterward, we would create a plan of action and formulate an appropriate system to address any specific issues that may be on their minds. Finally, we would start the tutoring process at a convenient pace for the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By sharing studying strategies that have helped me in my own academic journey and inspiring them to seek learning as an end in itself and not as a means to get good grades. Grades are temporary; true knowledge lasts a lifetime. An example of an additional technique I can teach them is mindfulness and breathing exercises for anxiety and stress relief.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By relating their learning experience to things, they are actively passionate about in or outside of school.

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

After a few valid attempts at learning the concept, we would take a small break, relax and perhaps do some breathing and mindfulness exercises before trying again. If the difficulty persists, I will look for an alternative approach to convey the knowledge required. It is of utmost importance to play around the student’s strengths and weaknesses to leverage them to achieve great results.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

By breaking down the concepts into easy and digestible pieces of information.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

Ensuring that the student and the tutor are on the same page and that there is a system to address questions as they arise naturally.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling with?

By relating the subject in question to another subject that is more meaningful to the student.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Quizzing students on theory and practice is an efficient way to check their understanding.

How do you build a student’s confidence in a subject?

By relating new concepts to old concepts and building a web of information, they can draw upon them whenever they get stuck. If you don’t know something, you can use other nodes in your web to figure it out.

How do you evaluate a student’s needs?

By asking them questions and mindfully listening to their answers.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student’s needs?

By paying attention to what clicks with them and what does not. This is essentially a process of trial and error.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

Reference Textbooks for theory and practice purposes.

Teaching Skills