I observed Cara tutoring an English session ! I really resonated with the way she created a calm and supportive learning environment from the very beginning, which helped the student feel comfortable contributing answers and asking questions. During the session, they went through a practice paper and set out an answer. As this was a higher level student, she made sure to explain explicitly what the rubric was asking for and how they could frame their answer in a way that hits all the highest bands.

One of the strongest aspects of the lesson was Cara’s questioning style. She used open-ended questions to prompt deeper thinking and avoided giving answers too quickly. This helped the student stay engaged and develop their own understanding. Cara also broke down complex rubric requirements into smaller, manageable steps when the student showed hesitation which made the work feel less overwhelming. She consistently acknowledged the student’s effort and improvements which appeared to increase the student’s confidence throughout the session. The tutor was also attentive to the student’s pace, adjusting explanations when needed and checking for understanding regularly.

Overall, Cara reinforced the importance of balancing correction with encouragement. She ensured that the student felt comfortable and confident enough to provide her own ideas while tailoring them to what was required by the task.

Annaliese Lakis