I've been a personal tutor since 2004, helping adults and secondary-school-age students of all abilities to reach their academic goals.

 

I primarily tutor English language, literature and drama, but my background in philosophy means I'm also able to help with more specialist academic skills, like analytical essay writing. 

 

I am familiar with all the major UK exam boards for GCSE, IGCSE and A' level and as an English language examiner, can also help with revision classes and short-term study programmes that focus specifically on exam technique. 

 

My main aim is to boost confidence in my pupils and to get them to realise that they are able to engage with the subject matter. Over the years I have taught a number of students who have been very reticent about tuition, largely because they feel they 'don't get it' and never will. My primary goal as a tutor is to break through these barriers and build up self-esteem so that my students not only understand the subject, but enjoy studying it. 

 

I have found that collaborating on a personal study programme is the best way for me to work with pupils. Early on, we will establish key areas of focus, based on what the student feel is the most challenging aspect of the subject. This could be text-based ('I just don't understand what Shakespeare's going on about and Plath's poetry makes no sense to me') or skills based ('I don't know really know how to use commas in a sentence') or genre based ('I don't know how to write a good speech'). More than likely, there will be a combination of elements, which we can organise depending on time and work priorities.

 

As far as possible, I try to incorporate the student's own interests into any work that we do so that its relevance is more readily apparent. For instance, the student who really loves football, but loathes English, is much more likely to understand how to write a review if we look at commentaries of their favourite matches. The science whizz can learn a lot about the impact of nature through the work of Wordsworth. And the history buff is much more likely to engage with 'Othello' when viewed through the lens of historical attitudes towards race and class structures.

 

Ultimately, I want to share my enthusiasm for my subjects with my students and to help them fulfil their potential.