Chris Tutor Interview

Tutor Chris Tutor Interview

Q. Hi Tutor Chris! Would you introduce yourself briefly to the Cafetalk community?: A. Hello Cafetalk! It’s great to be part of this community! As you know my name is Chris. I am an American living, and teaching in the Philippines. I love teaching, and being able to see a person improve is a very rewarding experience. I think learning and improving yourself should be one of the main goals in life. I also love movies in a big way! I have seen thousands of movies and TV shows over the years. My favorite genres are sci-fi and documentaries, but I will watch almost anything that is different. I am an Aquarius, so maybe that is why I love the ocean, (even though I am terrified of sharks) and snorkel every chance I get! I love cooking and experimenting with ingredients from different countries, and fusing them into unique tastes. For example, bacon, broccoli, and Swiss cheese takoyaki.
Q. You are originally from California, but at the moment, you live in the Philippines. Can you tell us a bit about your life there?: A. Life in the Philippines is a daily adventure. It is similar to living back home, in that people have the same goals and dreams, but because of the different culture, they are expressed differently. There are many contradictions that I find fascinating. For example, Flashy fashion, but soft spoken, or quiet in the office, but will sing karaoke till 4 AM.
Q. What are you usually up to when you’re not teaching on Cafetalk? What are your hobbies or interests?: A. As I mentioned above, I love movies so I like going to the local IMAX with my girlfriend. We sometimes go on day trips to resorts, such as Hundred Islands, or weekend trips to Puerto Galera, and Boracay to go snorkeling and island hopping. Recently I have been learning to cook Japanese street food like okonomiyaki (Hiroshima style), and takoyaki. For takoyaki, I have been experimenting using traditional quiche fillings instead of just octopus.
Q. In your profile you state that you believe in a teaching atmosphere that is fun and free of negativity. In your opinion, what is the most important thing to keep in mind when teaching a foreign language, and how do you incorporate that positive teaching atmosphere in that?: A. I feel that the most important things to remember are respect, and empathy. You must respect that someone is trying to improve themselves, and have entrusted you to help them along their journey so words such as “Great, perfect, almost perfect, almost there, one more time, let’s try that again” are words that my students often hear. My students range from ten years old to silver haired, and from beginner to college professors, so empathy is vital to tailor my lessons to suite individual needs, and personalities.
Q. What can students look forward to in your classes that is unique to the way you conduct your lessons?: A. While I am not sure that my style is “Unique”, I will say that working together is vital to achieve your goals. I feel that improvement is a journey that never ends, but does have a beginning. First we assess a student’s English level, and get your goals, then together we plan how to reach them.
Q. We also see that you offer both “relaxing” and “deep” conversations. Can you briefly explain the difference between those two? How can students imagine that?: A. “Relaxing” conversation is for students who are very comfortable using English. These students want to take it to the next level. We practice using idioms, slang, cultural references, and do not focus on grammar, intonation, and pronunciation. “Deep” conversation is for the student who has challenges with foundations skills. The focus is simple sentence construction, such as pronunciation, subject verb agreement, and tense, correct word usage, etc. Feedback is immediate, and we will practice a single sentence/word until it can be spoken with confidence before moving on.
Q. You offer a variety of lessons! Which of those lessons is the most fun to teach, and why would you recommend it to your students?: A. That’s kind of a difficult question. I love seeing a motivated student improve, or hearing that “Ah!” when something clicks into place in their mind, but I also love having advanced conversations about complex ideas. For example I have had very interesting conversations about the movie “Pulp Fiction” and late night American television shows recently. As for lesson recommendations. I would say it’s best to start with the Free Evaluation. Let’s check under the English hood, so to speak, and see if I am the right tutor for you, and then decide if “Deep” or “Relaxing” conversations are the best fit you.
Q. Finally, would you like to leave a message for your current and future students?: A. Come dive into my English pool, the water’s fine!