Dr. Carmen
Certified Tutor
I am a Spaniard born with chalk dust in my veins! My passion for the teaching profession led me to complete my Doctor of Education degree: ESL. I am a lifelong learner who enjoys experiencing new cultures around the world. My background in linguistics and the Latin language has greatly enriched the way I approach the teaching of second or foreign languages. At risk of falling into clich, I consider Theodore Roosevelt's words to be the benchmark for great educators: "They do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."
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Graduate Degree: Universidad de Letras de Castilla La Mancha & Universidad de Extremadura - Unknown, English Filology
Graduate Degree: Northcentral University - Doctor of Education, Doctor of Education: Teaching of foreign languages ESL
I am a long distance runner and and avid reader of current affairs and classical literature. I enjoy doing art projects with my two children and hearing them play music!
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that teaching a second/foreign language requires comprehensible input, the learner's motivation, and high self-esteem. In order to attain this, input should be contextually embedded, meaningful to the learner, and challenging.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Introduce myself and agree on rules and goals for this and future sessions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will help them by offering the skills required to become lifelong learners, and encourage them to continue improving their language proficiency and knowledge of the foreign culture(s).
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By adjusting the lessons to their favorite topics, offering a variety of assessments based on current news/issues, and encouraging the practice of the target language while learning from their mistakes. Mistakes are inherent to the process of learning.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I repeat the main content/skill in as many different ways as possible.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I use contextual clues, drawings, and encourage the use of the learner's funds of knowledge.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Brainstorming, role-playing, and drill and practice, depending on the type of learner.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
By adapting the lesson(s) to the student's interest, and by not penalizing or stressing the student's mistakes, so that they do not become withdrawn or discouraged.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Formative and summative assessments on previously learned material, such as quizzes, tests, and class activities.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By encouraging participation while supporting their weakness with additional activities that have worked for the student before. By emphasizing that mistakes are inherent aspects of learning.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Through a variety of assessments, including oral, written, reading, and speaking.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By offering meaningful activities on topics in which the student shows an interest, and developing lessons of appropriate target language proficiency.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Video clips, PowerPoint, songs, written activities such as fill in the gaps or open-ended questions, and reading assignments, etc.