Balaskandan R

Bala consistently checked for understanding: “If you can’t hear, type in the chat,” “Do you have any questions?” “Let me annotate this to make it clearer.” They slowed down when explaining the image of The Death of Socrates and repeated key terms. When technology lagged during the video, Bala quickly adapted and provided context. Bonus: Bala broke down complex terms like “paradox,” “virtue,” and “dialectic” with simple, accessible definitions—great instructional scaffolding for middle school learners.

Tutor · 20 days ago

The tutor made the learner feel comfortable and appreciated her efforts, but confidence-building could be improved with more content-focused discussion.

Tutor · 22 days ago

Bala was extremely well-prepared, with a clear structure, annotated slides, multiple video clips, and historical context that connected Socrates’ life, philosophy, and legacy. From explaining the quote “The most virtuous way…” to describing Socratic paradoxes and even referencing Martin Luther King Jr., Bala demonstrated strong subject mastery. The use of both videos and primary/secondary sources (like The Death of Socrates painting and the TED-Ed video) strengthened the session. Highlight: Bala even addressed Jonah's unexpected philosophical question about Hegel’s dialectics. Though Bala didn’t have a full answer on the spot, they acknowledged it respectfully and promised to follow up—an excellent example of modeling intellectual humility.

Tutor · 20 days ago

THANKS

Learner · 22 days ago