BellsCraig

I feel like it's very important to find out exactly what style of learning and teaching works best for a student and to give them the support that they need and require.

I want students to feel safe in asking for what they need and to feel comfortable enough to communicate.

If it's someone who's old enough to speak for themselves then I ask them what it is that they wish and what their goals are and how they believe that we may best achieve those goals.

If it's for a child then I ask the parent what goals they want to have set and I will work with the child directly to see what techniques work best in allowing the child to feel safe and comfortable and find a joy in what they are doing.

I've been tutoring for about 30 years, and as an autistic person with a voracious appetite for learning I have a wide variety of topics that I am proficient in.

I'm a life coach and I have worked with many people to overcome their fears in various areas of their lives.

I have a biology degree and I used to work at MIT as a stem cell specialist.

I spent many years of my life working as an au pair with children of all ages and before that I specialized in babysitting some of the most difficult children.

I've been tutoring in conversational English for over a decade. 

What got me started in tutoring was when I was in community college in my early twenties, and many of my friends were ESL, and were struggling to complete their written papers in and understandable English. I was inspired to begin working with them to improve their vocabulary and their English comprehension.

Came very naturally to me.

One of my greatest joys in life is helping people.

People who take private lessons with me generally pay $30 an hour for a lesson that I don't need to come up with a lesson plan. (Life coaching starts at $50 an hour)

But I shift that to $25 an hour if they pay in advance. My preferred system is for somebody to pay for a month at a time... If they only want one session a week that's $100 a month and every 3 months when there's a fifth week they can either use that to make up a day that they've missed or they can get a session for free.

If someone chooses the monthly then they get to pay the month in advance by the 28th of the previous month.

I've worked with all kinds of students... Neurotypical, neurodivergent, special needs, Deaf, as young as 4 years old, and so far as old as 65, of various language backgrounds, with various needs.

Everyone has something they wish to learn, and everyone deserves to be accommodated. 

Find someone that makes you feel comfortable, and that they themselves are comfortable talking about the topics that you require.

For instance... A conversational English student is going to be best served by a tutor who is able to discuss the areas of interest in their life. The best way to come fluent is to talk with somebody at length about the areas that are the most interesting to you.

If you are not comfortable communicating with your tutor and you don't feel like it's a safe space, the likelihood of you getting anything out of it goes way down.

I wish for each and every one of you to succeed and that means being able to find a space where you feel comfortable asking your questions and are supported in doing so.

What style of learning has worked best for you?

Which areas do you struggle with?

Do you have any learning disabilities?

What is your biggest fear about the subject you are working on?