Milton
Certified Tutor
I graduated in 2010 from the College of Education at UNLV with a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education. I also studied for and obtained an endorsement in Teaching English as a Second Language at Sierra Nevada College. Presently I am studying for a Masters Degree in Education at Southern Utah University
I am a native Spanish speaker, so I am familiar with all the intricacies of the Spanish language: its grammar, its structure, and its proper pronunciation.
When working with students I like to tailor a learning program that adapts to the student's needs, strengths and learning style. I cover both practical applications and grammar structure (a little grammar goes a long way!) I also take into consideration the age of the student and the learner's interests and motivations. I am fully bilingual and I know from personal experience what is like to learn a foreign language. I am a high school teacher in a magnet school of Northwest Las Vegas. For seven years I have taught Spanish and English to children and adults. I am ready to start when you are!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Nevada: Las Vegas - Bachelors, Secondary Education
Graduate Degree: Sierra Nevada College - Current Grad Student, TESL
State Certified Teacher
Learning languages, painting & drawing, hiking , biking and astronomical observation
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that education is the key to a quality of life that only a professional career can provide. The extent to which we expand our working capacity and explore new academic fields, dictates how we are making ourselves more valuable to our society and the community.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The students will get to know the scope of the program and will answer a few questions to assess their current academic level in the target language, as well as what steps will be required to achieve the desired level of proficiency.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
One of the main goals is to teach the student how they can advance in their learning process by utilizing some practical tools available for everyone.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
In the initial assessment, the student will self evaluate the motives they have to acquire the target language, such as why is it worth embarking on the learning process and what results they expect to accomplish with it.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Different people learn in different ways; assessing the student's learning style can pinpoint the best approach to make the materials and the concepts much easier to assimilate.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
The text can be simplified to a more basic vocabulary, better and more practical examples, retell the story in an oral manner, and with vocabulary that is more understandable.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Using multimedia and real life examples, applying the situations to the student's real situation, starting with easy steps, and building up the level of difficulty to increase their overall performance.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
By knowing what topics, subjects or activities the student is more interested in, the lessons can be tailored to their level of motivation.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
All forms of assessment are valid because the student needs to develop all four proficiency skills. Knowing what forms of assessments are favored by the students can be a great advantage in the production of authentic speech.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
The student's confidence can be uplifted just by showing them that proficiency in the target language can be achieved through some easy strategies.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By assessing their knowledge level, by self inventory, by interviewing the student and by observing the student's performance and the results of assessments.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By incorporating effective teaching techniques, by providing practical learning strategies, and by giving purposeful and adequate feedback.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
The use of textbook, workbook, paper and pen, laptop computer, cellphone apps, videos, online practical exercises, oral practice, and casual conversation.