Who are you? What do you do in everyday life? And what do you do at Studied?

I am Benjamin, 22 years old and a second year master student in applied mathematics at Eindhoven University of Technology. Within this, I specialize in the application of mathematics to medical imaging, such as MRI scans, combining geometric principles with probability. At Studied I therefore mainly tutor mathematics, both at university and high school level. Physics or languages I am happy to pick up there! In my spare time I can be found in the gym a lot: this clears my head after a long day of studying. My other great passion is music, both for listening and making it myself.

What subject do you enjoy teaching the most?

As mentioned, I prefer to tutor math! Most of all, I enjoy teaching this at the university level. It happens regularly that students from other studies have difficulty with a math component in their studies. Here I like to help them!

What do you love about teaching at Studied?

For me, the satisfaction I get from teaching is twofold. On the one hand, it is simply amazing to see a student actively improve through the lessons, and ultimately achieve his or her goals that previously seemed unrealistic. On the other hand, it gives me a lot of energy and pleasure to show students another side of the material. A side they don't see, because they break down on it without concrete results. With the right amount of guidance, students, in my experience, gain a broader view of the material, and this makes for tangible progress. The best part is seeing with your own eyes that a student's "light bulb goes on"!

What do most students struggle with?

I often see in mathematics that abstraction gets in the way, and that students lack a piece of intuition. Here, precisely because of my great mastery of the material, I can assist them well. Abstraction is the strength, but at the same time also the weakness of mathematics. Most students definitely have the abilities to become familiar with complex mathematical ideas, but for this it is crucial that they instinctively grasp what they are doing at the abstract level. This aspect is often forgotten in non-mathematics courses. That is exactly where my job lies.

How do you ensure that your students progress?

The most important thing is to encourage students to think actively about the material. Not just doing what is instructed, but critically reflecting on what they have learned and on their own shortcomings. This ensures an overarching understanding of the material. I also find it extremely important to verify whether the student really understands something, or just has a vague idea. I do this by asking a lot of questions, going into detail. It often happens that the student thinks he or she understands something, but does not master the subject sufficiently. This must be spotted at all costs, so that real improvement can take place. In return, of course, the student receives well-deserved compliments!

What is your most important tip for students?

The most important tip I can give students is: dare to be critical of yourself! This is difficult, because it is tempting, when you don't understand something at all, to be satisfied when you understand it "a little" or "well enough" later. This often stands in the way of progression! Only when there is the courage to be critical can goals be achieved.

What is your most important tip for final exams?

From my own experience I can say that, exciting as they may be, individual exams are not very different from the school exams of which you have already had so many. The difficulty is really purely in the amount of exams in a short period of time. Starting your preparation on time reduces this stress factor, and so is the most important thing.

How important do you think the click with your students is?

The click with students is the most important aspect of teaching, and this cannot be underestimated. No matter how nice all the tips and ideas mentioned above are, if there is no click, then it is all worth nothing. This is why for me the lessons are also centered on the person, and not on the profession per se. In this way the lessons are also exactly tailored to the individual student, because everyone is different!

Do you find your work compatible with your other pursuits?

The flexibility makes the work excellent to combine with my other pursuits. It is ideal for me not to spend a whole day or part of a day working, but to be able to schedule 1 or 2 hours at convenient times. For me, this is a huge plus of working at Studied.

Would you recommend working at Studied? And why?

I would recommend working at Studied to anyone with a passion for helping others with knowledge. Having knowledge is valuable, sharing its even more valuable! You also learn a lot from this as Tutor yourself. Your communication skills are addressed and sometimes put to the test, as well as your subject knowledge. This gives the work a challenging aspect, and an opportunity for tremendous personal development!

Taking counseling with Benjamin? Check out www.studied.nl and contact us!