I believe that teachers should not just instruct but educate students. In addition, as "transmitters of knowledge," the teacher should instruct in such a way that students enjoy not just the end result -- i.e. passing exams, etc. -- but the learning process.

In a first session with a student, I will get to know him/her. I'll ask about his/her family, country, culture and so forth so as to make the student feel comfortable. In the case of ESL adults, I would ask exactly in what area the student does not feel confident.

I can help a student become an independent learner by having him/her incorporate the subject into his/her everyday life. In addition, I would give assignments, such as reading/summarizing articles; working on presentations; asking him/her about current news, etc.

I would help a student stay motivated, giving praise when he/she does well and encouragement when he/she falters as well as further practice in the areas needed most.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would review it until he/she feels comfortable. I would also give practice exercises during a session to see if he/she has grasped that concept better, and thereafter, give homework based on that concept/skill.

For students who are struggling with reading comprehension, I would work with him/her paragraph by paragraph, focusing on not just reading, but pronunciation and vocabulary. Thereafter, I would ask some questions based on each paragraph until he/she has understood what the entire article/book is about.

When I start working with a student, I have found that first and foremost, letting him/her know to not feel intimidated to ask questions or have doubts or review a certain area is key. I have also found that, when you ask a student about his/her hobbies or goals or even country/culture, he/she is quite eager to tell you. I start from there because it puts a student at ease.

To help a student get excited or engaged in a subject they are struggling with, I would use various games that incorporate that subject. I would also, where possible, use their daily activities to make that subject more 'real' and relevant to them.

To make sure that a student understands the material, I would provide worksheets for practicing (after explaining in detail). I would also choose a theme (such as travel or sports) and focus grammar, for example, or vocabulary around that theme.

To build a student's confidence in a subject, I would start from the basics, and as he/she begins to master the subject, make it more challenging as we go along- all the while praising the student for every 'hurdle' he/she crosses in that subject.

I evaluate a student's needs based on giving assignments in all areas of language learning. At that point, I can observe where the student is struggling. For ESL learners, they are already aware, so I would focus more on that particular area, but still include all components.

For students who are quick learners, they could handle more of a challenge. For those who take time to grasp a subject/skill, I would dedicate more time to that student on that particular skill.

I use paper, the computer for documents and videos, and books as well as everyday objects.