Philip - Exeter tutor






Information About Philip:


Personal Description:

I am an English literature graduate from Cambridge, a teacher, graphic artist, digital photographer, sometime journalist (for arts website The People's Republic of South Devon), poet and actor who has recently returned to my hometown of Exeter. Back now in beautiful Devon, I have had the good fortune of tasting life in various places: I have lived in London, Bristol and Cardiff, and I also spent two years living and working as an English teacher in rural Japan.

I love meeting new people and interacting with them on an intellectual and creative basis. I am an excellent communicator and have proven this by forging successful working relationships with people and children of different ages and nationalities. Furthermore, I adore the process of teaching: the awareness that a student has grasped or been exposed to something new, or has made an intellectual leap which he or she would otherwise have not been capable of, is incredibly rewarding and gives me a real buzz.



Teaching Experience:

June 2008-present

Artist & Designer of Workshops on Comic Book Art and Graphic Storytelling to schools and community centres in the Exeter area. During my PGCE, specialised in targeting visual learners and delivered end of year assessed presentation on harnessing students' visual imaginations in the teaching of literature.

Have designed & delivered workshops to students in Year 6 and above. I have designed a broad range of workshops on both practical and theoretical aspects of graphic storytelling. For more information, see my website and click on "Workshops".


Oct 2006-May 2007

PGCE Teaching Placements

1: St Katharine's School in Pill, Bristol.
2: Bettws High School in Newport, South Wales. One of the poorest council estates in Western Europe, Bettws is considered a challenging placement and was extremely helpful in developing my behaviour management skills and strategies.
3: Brimsham Green School in Yate, outside Bristol.

Taught individual lessons for all Years 7-13, including Media lessons for Year 13.
Adapted, designed and delivered schemes of work for Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12.
Responsibility for SEN classes in Years 7 and 8.
Observed SEN teaching, drama and media lessons, form tutor sessions, PSE assemblies; engaged in pupil pursuits.


Sep 2005-Jul 2006
Supply Classroom Assistant for New Directions Recruitment in Cardiff, working at Primary Schools in South Wales. Also during this period, some private tutoring with the agency 3A Tutors.


Jul 2003-Jul 2005
Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in Japan. Worked on remote Japanese island Okinoshima. Employed by local board of education through internationally administered JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme. Worked at several Elementary Schools (children aged 7-13) and six Junior High Schools (children aged 13-16).

Planned & Conducted Lessons on my own and in collaboration with Japanese colleagues. Assisted setting and assessing school examinations.
Organised & Presented Seminars during school holidays to Japanese Elementary School teachers wishing to improve their English teaching skills. Produced accompanying literature.
Organised Adult Evening Classes on a volunteer basis for the local community running basic conversation classes and English poetry classes.



Tutoring Approach:

Although I have taught in large classes of up to 45, I especially enjoy teaching in small groups or on a 1 to 1 basis. In this environment it is possible to gain an understanding of the way in which the pupil(s) operate(s) and learn(s) and to tailor the teaching accordingly. Fundamentally, I believe that learning must be a creative activity and the student must not be afraid of making mistakes. Furthermore, learning must be a self-conscious activity. The student must be encouraged to reflect on the ways in which he or she learns most efficiently, and to take responsibility for his or her own learning. The tutor, on the other hand, must be sensitive to the various intelligences and talents of his or her students, and adjust the teaching methods accordingly. At Bristol I was influenced greatly by the research on multiple intelligences and the language of learning.



Map showing Philip's location

Qualifications:

  • BA (Hons) English Literature from Pembroke College, University of Cambridge
  • PGCE English with Media Studies & Theatre Studies (Secondary School) from University of Bristol

Further Information:

Availability:  Weekends / Weekdays (all times)
Types of Tutoring:   Travels to you
References Supplied?   Yes
Current DBS/CRB Check?   Yes
Additional Languages Spoken:   French