Jessica
Certified Tutor
I'm a librarian here in the city of Jacksonville, FL. Not only do I speak Spanish fluently, but I have also studied the language in a great deal of depth and can help with everything from grammar and conjugation to reading and speaking. I am enchanted with languages, and believe that it is very important to know more than one language, whether it be for travel, business relations, or school-related purposes. If you are having trouble with any part of the Spanish language, I can help you!
I am married and have two teenage sons. In my spare time, I enjoy not only cooking and running, but also watching movies from India and South Korea.
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Undergraduate Degree: Rhode Island College - Bachelors, Spanish
Graduate Degree: University of South Florida-Main Campus - Masters, Library and Information Science
Running and cooking
What is your teaching philosophy?
Everyone has a different style of learning, so I like to find that style from my student first, then base the lesson plans on the way they learn best.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I will try to get to know them. I want to know what they are having trouble with whether it be grammar, vocabulary, tenses, etc. Also, I will want to know their goal, what they expect to accomplish, and make a plan together to be able to meet that goal.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will teach them how to find the answers on their own. It may be research using the internet, giving them good quality websites to use, or recommending certain books.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
The way to keep someone motivated is to create small goals, goals that are practical. Making lists of things and being able to check them off as you accomplish them keeps you motivated and positive.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would find different ways of teaching the concept. Maybe the student needs to see it mapped out, maybe they need to hear the way it sounds, or maybe they need both. I would also try to find as many examples as I could on teaching that concept from different textbooks.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would try to make it fun and have them read something they are interested in. Then I would question them on what they read and which things were key to their comprehension.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Repetition is key. Also using the language or concept as much as they can to retain it. If they are learning new vocabulary words for example, I would figure out a way they can use those words in their daily life as to keep them fresh.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I like to bring in cultural aspects. I think that gets students excited to know there are people their age in other countries maybe liking the same things or doing the same things. Humans want to know about other humans; I think it is their nature. Using Spanish as a connector to meeting others or just learning what others around the world are doing is a great way to get excited about the subject.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I constantly will back track to make sure they've understood what they've learned. Then we can add one more new thing, then back track again. Questioning students is a great way to find out if they've understood a concept as well.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Positive encouragement, smiles, and "great job!" go a long way! Also I would find the student's strongest ability in the subject and reinforce them by showing them how well they do on a certain task, and tell them if they are great at this, I am confident they can tackle the next one!
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I would have a conversation with the student, parents, and with the teacher if possible. Getting information from many different sources can help evaluate the student's needs. I would ask each one what the strengths and weaknesses of the student are.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I like to find out how the student learns. Are they a visual learner, auditory, both?
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I have textbooks I use. Hopefully the student has their own textbook, because I may not own the same one their school uses. The internet helps a lot with examples and websites that have small quizzes.