Tell us a little about yourself…
My name is Madeline Dement, and I am a Sondheim scholar and global studies major with a focus in international development and minors in Spanish and international politics. I studied abroad with UMBC in Barranquilla, Colombia last summer where I was able to greatly improve my Spanish skills.
Tell us about how you are involved on campus.
Along with tutoring for the LRC, I work closely with the Shriver Center on campus as the events coordinator for Refugee Youth Project’s College JUMP. In that role, I coordinate college-access workshops for high school refugees in the Baltimore area. I’m also the secretary of the Spanish Conversation Club!
How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?
I became a tutor after being recommended by one of my Spanish professors. I was looking for ways to practice my Spanish even more, and I thought that I would be able to help students exceed in their Spanish classes with the strategies that I’ve cultivated in my years of learning the language.
What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?
I love when a student finally understands a topic that they’ve been struggling with and tells me about a time in class when they were successful with it!
Why should students utilize the tutoring?
Tutoring is a great way to reinforce whatever you’re learning in class, no matter what level you’re at. It can give you that little bit of extra time and guidance that you need to really understand a topic, and it gives you an opportunity to practice it with someone with more experience. Especially when learning a language, practice is the most important thing, so committing to tutoring is a great idea.
What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session?
Make a list of questions that you have and topics that you don’t understand in class to bring to your appointment. The tutor will structure the appointment based on whatever you want to work on, so the best thing to do is come with questions!
When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?
Students can make appointments for 50-minute tutoring appointments through the StudyTree app. If a student wants a weekly appointment, all they have to do is email the LRC! Along with private appointments with tutors, Spanish students can also visit the Spanish Lab on the first floor of the library from 2-5PM on Fridays for walk-in help!