For everyone
Ask a student how a session went and you'll hear anything from "that was a waste of time, I'm still lost" to "I learned more in that hour than in the whole class." Ask the tutor and you'll hear just as wide a range. Most sessions land somewhere in between.
What I care about is whether a lot got done. The key to that is preparation, on both sides of the table.
What I bring
- Mastery of the material. To find where your understanding breaks down, and steer it back, I have to know the subject cold.
- A team mindset. We're working on the same side of the problem. That keeps the conversation honest and gives you a real share in the progress.
- Good listening. I can only teach to your level if I understand where you are. Your mistakes are information, not failures, and I treat them that way.
- Focus on the goal. The goal is always that you understand and get proficient. If I drift from it, so does the session.
- A sense of service. You're paying for focused teaching, not for my old grades.
- Respect, patience and encouragement. I'll tell you when you've done a good job, because it helps. I try to keep things easygoing and, when I can, even a little fun. And I won't push ahead before you're ready. It doesn't work, and all it does is make you dread the next session.
What you bring
The most useful thing a student can bring is work they've already attempted. When you've tried the problems on your own, you know what you understand and where you're stuck, and you can steer us straight to the hard parts. None of our time goes to material you already have.
Don't worry if you're not sure what your questions are yet. I'll help you find them. But the more you've tried first, the more we get done.
Keeping expectations honest
We're both human, and no session is perfect. I'm always trying to explain better, and I learn from my students every week. You can always get a little more prepared for the next one. That's how the hours add up.