Personal Description:

My name is John, I'm 23 years old, and I am a Wilfrid Laurier graduate. I'm definitely a (medieval) history and English buff, but I'm also a musician and have a fondness for technology and its related sciences. I was a divisional-level student representative for two years at WLU and a student member of the English curriculum council for one. Both of my parents are immigrants and grew up speaking different language so I definitely have experience with ESL speakers!

I'm hoping to gain more experience in teaching before I head to England to work on an MA in Medievalism Studies, where I aim to become a language specialist with a focus on modern adaptations of 'Viking' culture.

Tutoring Experience:

In my 4th year at WLU I was invited to take a semester long pedagogy course, and was hired for a full year as an Instructional Assistant working with first year Medieval Studies students. This involved running sections of up to 25 students at a time through interactive lectures, assisting with the main lecture of over 200 students, and planning guided learning experiences through the library's collection of old artefacts and texts. I have also done tutoring on the side in a variety of subjects, primarily to students of a similar age, since I was in high school.

Tutoring Approach:

I'm often a very laid back instructor, and have no problem being flexible when it is in my student(s)' best interest. I do, however, appreciate students who put in effort, and will gladly adjust should such students need a more rigorous environment to thrive. As a result, my lesson plans / syllabi are often fairly basic, written with flexibility in mind, and updated on a lesson-by-lesson basis to ensure student success. I believe that building a bond with students is highly beneficial, and as a result I always strive to be inclusive and welcoming with my students.