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

I am Ruby, 19 years old and I have been living in Maastricht for over a year now where I am studying University College. Within my studies I focus on psychology and neuroscience. Outside of that I am a member of student rowing association Saurus where I am busy as a rowing coach and member of committees. I also play field hockey and enjoy making music. At Studied I give final exam training and tutoring in the science subjects (physics, chemistry and math B) and in Dutch, English and French.

What subject do you enjoy teaching the most?
Ithink physics is the most fun subject to teach. This subject is really about understanding and being able to apply the material. Applying the knowledge to everyday situations makes the relevance of the subject clearer and makes physics come alive more, which I always find cool to notice in discussions with tutoring students!

What do you love about teaching at Studied?

What I like about teaching at Studied is the flexibility that the student and I have together to shape the lessons. There is no set program to follow; we look purely at what the student needs in the short and long term. Around this we create a plan together. For example, we set goals until the next test week. This flexibility is also required for individual tutoring: sometimes I have to explain something to the student, sometimes make a link to another subject, sometimes just invent an assignment. I really like this demand for creativity within teaching.

What do most students struggle with?

Many students understand the material we discuss, but get stuck as soon as that material has to be applied in a complicated task. In tutoring, we work to approach such a task step by step and break it down into something more understandable.

How do you ensure that your students progress?

I make sure students progress by having them think critically about the material themselves. I rarely explain anything; usually I ask the student what they already know about a particular subject. This way we find out how well the student understands something and where any bottlenecks are.

What is your most important tip for students?

My most important tip for students is to not be afraid to make mistakes. I sometimes notice that my tutoring students find it annoying to ask a question or give an answer they are not sure about. This is not a bad thing at all. If you didn't have any question or ambiguity you wouldn't learn anything in tutoring. Making mistakes is exactly what you learn from, and that is what you are here for!

What is your most important tip for final exams? 

For final exams, my tip is that as long as you do your best, you will be fine anyway. It may feel like repeating material last-minute is going to make all the difference, but it won't. Sure, repeating material in the weeks before your exam is important, but of greater importance is the foundation you have laid over several years for your subjects. This is what will be tested on an exam. With the right effort, you will be just fine. And remember: it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to do this with your year group, later you will look back on it with a smile!

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

The click with my students is very important to me. By creating a nice, open atmosphere, I hope the student feels comfortable and dares to ask any question. I also notice that students often enjoy talking about what is going on in their lives outside of school. Tutoring is a nice and safe environment to discuss many topics.

Do you find your work compatible with your other pursuits?

I find my work very compatible with other pursuits. Because most tutoring takes place one-on-one, the student and I can flexibly plan lessons at times that suit both of us. Usually this is physically in the center of Maastricht, but sometimes also online.

Would you recommend working at Studied? And why?

I would definitely recommend working at Studied because I experience the working atmosphere as flexible and nice. I get a lot of freedom to shape the lessons in my own way together with the (parents of the) student. I also feel that I am taken seriously within the company: I am regularly asked for my opinion about the organization or about new steps that Studied wants to take. Finally, I am a fan of the clear and fast communication between Bas, the student and me. By working with goals and evaluation conversations, I feel that I am not just giving explanations during tutoring sessions, but giving structure to the learning process of my students. I experience this as valuable!

Taking mentoring from Ruby? Check out www.studied.nl and contact us!

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