Amanda O

You created a welcoming and comfortable learning environment by weaving in personal interests and giving learners space to share their own. You shared your personal preferences (“I’m not a mnemonic person”), gave encouragement freely (“great job identifying that one”), and welcomed learners’ thoughts and personalities. One strong example was the conversation around fictional characters. When you asked who learners would have dinner with, it sparked thoughtful and fun responses. Lily brought up The Hunger Games, and you responded by connecting with her on your own experience reading the first book and wanting to finish the series. You also made sure that there weren't any spoilers, showing awareness of the group dynamic and improving other learners' experiences. You treated learners’ opinions with respect, encouraged them to speak freely, and responded with genuine interest ("The minions. I love that answer ... That's my favorite thing ever."). These conversations strengthened the sense of community in your session and made learners feel more connected.

Tutor · 8 mo. ago

You were clearly prepared to run this session, even while managing some initial tech issues. From the start, you outlined the structure of the session, explaining that you would go through pronunciation, definitions, synonyms and antonyms, origin, use in a sentence, etc. That kind of clarity gave the session a strong foundation and showed you were organized. You also showed a deep understanding of the material. You explained “mnemonic” both as a noun and an adjective, and connected it to its Greek origins. You even brought in historical context, noting that it entered English in the 1600s through Comenius. Those examples showed that you had more than just surface-level knowledge. You made the word meaningful by linking it to everyday memory tools, like PEMDAS or “Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach.”

Tutor · 8 mo. ago

You kept learners actively involved throughout the session. You called on both Lily and Nicole with personalized questions, such as asking them to sort synonyms and antonyms or share observations about a popularity chart. You encouraged them to contribute both through direct prompts and through the chat, and you stayed playful while keeping them focused. You also asked them to explain their thinking, not just provide answers. When Lily gave her explanation about why “mnemonic” could be an adjective, you validated it and added your own ideas. These moments helped build understanding while helping learners feel more confident about their responses. Your energy was a big part of what kept things engaging. Even when something didn’t go as planned, like the steak idiom question, you kept the tone light and helped everyone refocus. ("This question did not measure your ability at all. And half these questions were a little perplexing. Well, great job, Nicole! Sorry about the steak question.")

Tutor · 8 mo. ago

You showed strong flexibility throughout the session. You checked in with learners who seemed unsure and adjusted your approach to meet them where they were. For example, when Nicole hesitated during the synonym sorting activity, you gently offered support and invited Lily to help. You encouraged everyone to participate in whatever way felt comfortable, including unmuting or typing in the chat. Rather than rushing through the session, you allowed it to flow naturally based on your learners' pace/understanding. You skipped the idiom section when it seemed like the group was already familiar the concept, showing you were paying attention to how the session was flowing.

Tutor · 8 mo. ago