From observing Hugo’s Session, I got a good idea of how Hugo actively engages his younger students in sessions while still keeping a strong positive environment for his student to learn and grow their knowledge in.

Firstly, Hugo started with a friendly and open mood, and held that atmosphere throughout the whole session, allowing him to keep the student constantly engaged in the work, while also preventing the session from moving into slow paced and lacking in work and growth.

When it came time for the student to complete an extended exercise or task, Hugo ensured the student’s active concentration and completion of that task with a small, friendly incentive which still revolved around the topic (e.g. English).

For example, when Hugo asked the student to complete a series of questions, he mentioned that afterwards, they could “both write down long words and compare to see who won.” not only is this an engaging incentive for a younger student, it also encourages the student to revise the English work that they had just completed, so that they can positively compete.

Furthermore, by rewarding the student (choosing a shorter word than the student), it allows Hugo to much more easily link into doing more work with positive reinforcement; it invites the student into continuing to complete similar work as they understand it both more clearly, and believe in their own competence slightly more.

Overall, Hugo made friendly jokes, often relating to the topics at hand, at times when the session began to slow down, to keep the student engaged, and from there chained onto more exercises. He ensured an environment perfect for a student, especially a younger one, to learn and prosper their education with appropriate engagement choices at appropriate times all the while keeping a positive, forward attitude in between.

Felix Panizza