I believe it is critical to create an encouraging and positive learning environment. I want my students to feel like they are an integral part of the learning process and they therefore must be encouraged to participate (which is always a bit easier to do when tutoring!). Furthermore, all this must be carried out in a positive way; I believe students should be made to feel successful and should always be encouraged to continue learning. If ever a student feels like a failure or like they are not capable of understanding the material, they will shut down and the learning process will end. Another, perhaps equally important, element of my teaching philosophy is the need for empathy. It is important to help students understand that their struggles are not unique to them; I, too, learned Spanish in a classroom, and I, too, encountered great difficulty with certain grammar elements. I was able to overcome these difficulties, and so will you. How can you help a student become an independent learner? I can help a student become an independent learner by allowing them to take ownership of our tutoring sessions. I make them responsible for helping select the material we will cover, and they can also share with me ways they think will be most useful in helping them learn the material. I like to position myself as a "facilitator," so the student takes a greater leading role in the sessions.