Belle Isle Tutors and Belle Isle Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher of English with many years of study, research and training in some of the world's top universities. My qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in English Literature and the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) in English. My Initial Teacher Training covered all aspects of English and all abilities in the 11-18 age range. My interests, of benefit to many students especially at university level, include Critical Theory, Classical Literature, and African Literature. I have guided many students doing research and proof-read their dissertations. I have also taken the official training for one-to-one tutors rolled out by the government to complement classroom teaching. I have been marking GCSE English Language and Literature exams for a number of years and served as Team Leader for the June 2013 exam series with Edexcel. Additionally, I mark A Level English Literature for OCR. In fact, I recently received certificates from OCR and from the Joint Qualification Council which oversees exams in England to recognise my contribution to examining. I am a specialist in the new (2017) GCSE curriculum with experience of teaching both the AQA and Edexcel exam board versions.

Teaching Experience:
My first teaching appointment came in 1988 in Cameroon where I taught English and African Literature, becoming an A Level examiner for the Cameroon GCE examination board in 1990. I moved to England in 1991 where I later took the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) leading to the PGCE and QTS, finishing my last year as Education Student of the Year in my university and receiving a national commendation for the quality of my work. I have since taught in different schools in Kent and Medway, preparing students for exams such as Functional Skills, IELTS, GCSE, A Level, IB and AEA. I have also given one-to-one tuition to looked-after teenagers under a government scheme as well as taught in a secure unit for which, in addition to enhanced disclosure CRBs, I was vetted over a six month period. My first long-term (over 3 months) supply position involved teaching GCSE English, A Level English Literature, and the IB. Most of my teaching has been in selective (grammar) schools. I have also given English lessons in my local community as part of an outreach programme organised for speakers of other languages by my church where I teach Bible Studies also. For the last few years I have always had KS3 to KS5 students whom I tutor privately. These students have have usually achieved or exceeded their target grades at GCSE and A Level.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to establish the needs of the students and carefully review all available assessment records. If the student is preparing for a special exam such as the GCSE, I would start by ensuring that the student is aware of the full requirements of the exam and establish a clear plan to cover these. Alongside any such programme, I believe in incorporating the fundamentals of English grammar which are sometimes overlooked in formal teaching settings. I like to build a good rapport with the student so that they are comfortable revealing possible areas of weakness that we could turn into strengths. I ensure that the student is given a clear structure for each exam task and then test the student to ensure that they are able to apply the strategies in exam conditions.

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Personal Description:
I started tutoring in 2009 and have been an associate lecturer in Earth Sciences with the Open University since 2014. I love all science and am passionate about supporting learners of all ages and abilities to achieve their best, while hopefully finding a bit of the magic in the subject along the way!

I'm also a student myself, in the process of writing up my PhD which is focused on the tectonic evolution of central Greece,

I'm based in North London, living in Finsbury Park, and I've lived here most of my life... 44 years old and counting!

Teaching Experience:
I have been a tutor of secondary school sciences/Geography (KS3 - A Level) since 2009.
I have taught science at secondary school and revision colleges teaching KS3, GCSE and A Level.
I am an associate lecturer in Earth Science and Evolutionary Biology with the Open University (Since 2014).
I have have had various fixed-term lectureships teaching geology and palaeontology at UCL & Birkbeck College (London).

Tutoring Approach:
My core approach:

Is friendly and student-centred, empowering students to succeed in their studies with support and guidance every step of the way.

Focuses on developing a real grasp of the key concepts central to the course of study, including homework support and ample practice to refine exam technique.

Provides a safe and supportive atmosphere where no question is too daft and the focus is constantly on the journey towards achieving the best possible results in exams and coursework.

I have a wide range of resources which can be used as informal between-session homeworks or simply provided for enrichment beyond those provided at school.

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Personal Description:
I have a BA grade 2.1 obtained at University of Chester in English and a CELTA/ESOL teaching qualification from University of Cambridge. I am a bilingual speaker of Italian and Spanish. I have been teaching for five and half years in state schools, academies, summer camps for young learners of languages and private houses. There is nothing that gives me more satisfaction and sense of fulfillment than teaching languages. It is a fascinating experience to see students learning and progressing, and gaining confidence in expressing themselves in another language.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored and taught Italian, Spanish and English as a Foreign Language for more than 7 years in schools, academies, languages summer courses and private houses. I prepare GCSE/IGCSE/A-Level students for their examinations or coursework and speakers of other languages for ESOL/Trinity College examinations. I have also taught Spanish and Italian for business purposes in private companies and in one-to-one sessions. I can adapt my teaching resources to different teaching environments such as students' homes, my own home, clubs, conference rooms etc. I use IT such as PP presentation etc, and textbooks. I have created my own resources as well, in order to adapt to different needs and enhance students' level and abilities.
I can provide references( from head teachers, adult students, etc.) regarding the high standard of my teaching methods. Students have always attained high marks in their examinations after being tutored by me.

Tutoring Approach:
I can design and tailor my lessons plans following my personal syllabus- which include a range of activities that stimulate the different skills required when learning a foreign language, namely writing, reading, speaking and listening. I can target specific areas, if needed, such as pronunciation, use of language, grammar or reading.
I can create my own resources using the internet, textbooks and other sources of information. I usually take into consideration the different abilities of students in order to tailor my lessons and make them more effective and interesting.
My lessons are designed to motivate and encourage independent learning. I elicit from students as much knowledge as possible from previous learning in order to scaffold it with new notions and provide them with practical linguistic tools. I stimulate their productive skills, e.g. speaking and writing, by using visual cues or written prompts in order to give them suggestions and make them work independently. I use as much 'real life'material- Internet, DVDs, songs, extracts of conversations from foreign media, etc.- as possible. I tend to do this from an early stage of the learning experience in order to make the student aware that the language they are learning is a live and real one, spoken by millions of people overseas. When teaching English as a Foreign Language, I motivate students to practice English outside the lesson environment and provide them with practical speaking skills. All this, of course, alongside the academic preparation for their exams.
I am an approachable teacher, and I like to create a comfortable learning environment where the student can build up his/her confidence to use the foreign language and 'take the risk' to speak Italian, Spanish or English. A good teacher is the one who can guide the student without being too intrusive. In short, the teacher must be able to listen and interact with their students. Only in this way students can have a truly enjoyable and rewarding learning experience.

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Personal Description:
James is a freelance theatre director who trained at RADA and the Kings Head Theatre in London.

I have directed several theatre productions at drama schools, fringe and off-west end theatres. As an Associate Director, I have worked in the West End on numerous productions including The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe and the Olivier and Grammy-nominated Amelie The Musical. I have also worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company as an Assistant Director on their sell-out show A Christmas Carol starring Adrien Edmondson.

Teaching Experience:
In my early career I taught at Theatrix Performing Arts School and directed students through Trinity College London acting examinations as well as public performances. My students achieved a 100% pass rate with Merits or Distinctions in their performance examinations. Theatrix recently gained notoriety after alumni Ambika Mod starred in the hit Netflix television series One Day.

I have been a guest director at three drama schools including Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Drama Studio London and Court Theatre Training Company.

Tutoring Approach:
I focus predominantly on text analysis when working with students on the practical and performance aspects of theatre. I use exercises, improvisations and games to engage them with the scenes they are working on.

I try to facilitate a students' personal creativity when working with them on theoretical theatre work; I encourage them to use their own ideas and opinions. It is my view that theatre is not objective, so allowing personal style is very important.

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Personal Description:
I am native Spanish speaker and a qualified and experienced Spanish teacher.

I offer Spanish lessons for all levels and purposes.

For GCSE, A-Level, DELE, IB, 11+, 13+ my student`s grades have been equal or above their target grades. This is because I prepare my lesson`s according to each student`s needs using a range of resources to cover all aspects of the language learning: Listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar.

For adult learners who are interested in using the language in real life situations in countries where Spanish is spoken, I adapt my teaching to cover life situations in which they will use the language abroad.


For A Level I cover all the books theater plays and movies within the curriculum: La casa de Bernarda Alba, Crónica de una muerte anunciada, Como agua para chocolate, Réquiem por un campesino español, La sombra del viento, La casa de los espíritus, Rimas, Las bicicletas son para el verano, El otro árbol de Guernica, El coronel no tiene quien le escriba, El laberinto del fauno, Ocho apellidos vascos, María, llena eres de gracia, Volver, Abel, Las 13 rosas, La lengua de las mariposas and any other.

I offer enjoyable lessons to all levels and I offer extensive out of lesson support providing my learners with activities to do in their free time and recordings of words for them to practice their pronunciation. I also give them links to web pages to further develop their knowledge of the language.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Spanish for more than 15 years.

-Guildford College Of Higher And Further Education - 6 Years
-Guildford Adult Education - 6 Years
-Surrey Adult Education - 6 Years
-Time For Talking (GCSE and A-Level Exam Support) - 3 Years
- Freelance Spanish Tutor To adults - Sweden - 4 Years

Tutoring Approach:
In my opinion learning a language should be an enjoyable experience so I have that as a priority when planning my lessons.I also take into account the learner`s needs and their preferred learning style and prepare the lessons accordingly. It is very rewarding for me to help learners reach their expected results.

I help the learners solid grammar base that will allow them to express themselves in Spanish, both in writing and speaking as well as understanding what is written or said.
I adapt to the learner`s preferred learning style and methods. I am very friendly and easy to follow.

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Personal Description:
I teach biology in a very simple way to enable different student to understand it. Teaching approach is vary from one student to another and it depends on specific student needs. Also, I can help in answering biology questions in a scientific way and in practical. All students that I have taught were able to get highest marks in biology.

I also teach Immunology, Microbiology and Physiology for higher levels.

Teaching Experience:
- Currently, I am a private tutor for general biology and immunology since 2017.
- Teaching biology at Brunel university/ West London (2013-2015).
- Private A-level biology teacher/ West London (2005-2006)
- Biology lecturer at Al- Yarmouk university/ Jordan (1998-2005). Subjects taught: Human physiology, Comparative anatomy of vertebrates, embryology, and general biology.
- Private teacher for biology and chemistry for medical students in The University of Jordan/ Jordan (1997-1998).

Tutoring Approach:
I am tutoring biology since 1995. I taught this subject in 3 best universities. My students were happy and they were able to understand biology in a very simple way. Also, they were able to get higher marks in their exams. I also taught biology for A-level students in the UK in 2005.

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Personal Description:
I`m a professional singer and guitarist graduated in modern singing (BAhonsConservatory of Music) drama (Acting Diploma) and performance technique ( Tech Music School Diploma) With over 10 years experience as a coach, mainly working with children and young people.
I`m currently on stage in the West End and I dedicate my time off to one of my biggest passions, which is teaching. I'm a native Italian though I've spent most of my life abroad, due to my career, mainly living in the Uk in the past 15 years.
I offer individual tuition in a fun and engaging way, helping young and aspiring musicians, as well as adults and professionals, find the best way to express themselves through singing/playing.
I also offer Vocal technique tuition for actors and professionals who regularly use their voice at work ( breathing, diaphragm support, voice placements).
Guitar lessons for children and adults of all level, ABRSM, LCM and other exams prep. Music Theory classes also available via Skype.
I work from my home in central London, near Tottenham Court Road Station, in a relaxed and friendly enviroment.
I also teach Italian and diction/pronunciation at all levels.

Teaching Experience:
Over 10 years teaching experience within school settings as well as being a freelance tutor in a number of disciplines. I`ve been working with students of all abilities and age, beginners to advanced.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are always customised. I don't like following a standard method of teaching as I strongly believe that music is something very much related to the emotional side of each individual, especially if we are talking about singing.
I trained in several techniques and methods myself, from opera to jazz and musical theatre, achieving a deep understanding of the vocal instrument, and therefore I pride myself on having the possibility to fallow every time a different path, tailor making the lesson for every student according to their personal skills and wish, putting all my knowledge at the service of our goal.
My classes are always fun and effective, and my students and I build strong relationships based on trust and mutual interests.
Regarding the guitar lessons, I believe that the classical approach is always a good start. So we usually go through the basics of music and of the instrument together to build a strong and solid technique that will lead the student to a complete autonomy.

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Personal Description:
My name is Maria and I come from Italy. I have always been passionate about foreign languages and I got a Diploma specialising in English, French, German and European Certificates (C1 Advanced level ) in English and French.
I have recently graduated at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama getting my MA in Advanced Theatre Practice, i also got a BA in Drama, Film and Media Studies in Italy.
I am a positive and friendly individual, professional and responsible. I chose becoming a tutor because I really care helping other people and I like sharing my knowledge.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Italian, French and English for 4 years assisting students of any nationality and age.

Tutoring Approach:
My classes are friendly and tailored, I try to make my students feel comfortable, enjoying my classes and feeling that they can always have a person to count on.

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Personal Description:
Professional History and Politics tutor, Tutors` Association member, former university lecturer, Associate Fellow RHS, PhD, PGCE, +10 years experience.

Hi! My name's Joe and I am a full-time, professional tutor and have been offering expert tuition in A level History and Politics since 2014.

I previously worked as a university lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Modern History after completing my PhD in History in October 2021. As a result, I have an acute understanding of the skills required to study at advanced level, an insight I will provide to help you master your A levels.

I have tutored over 60 History modules across AQA, OCR and Edexcel specifications, and my published research expertise centres on modern history, specifically empire, imperialism, and decolonisation. If you struggle with any aspect of the subject, whether its how to improve the structure of your essays, refine your primary source analysis skills, or more effectively assess interpretations, I can guide and support you through practical ways to elevate your engagement with the subject. Beyond A level History, I warmly welcome enquires from undergraduate and postgraduate History students looking for supervision and support in essay and/or dissertation research and writing.

I have also taught the full suite of modules for A level Politics for both AQA and Edexcel specifications. Whether you're learning the subject for the first time or resitting your exam, lessons are tailored to help you engage with Politics in an exciting and thought-provoking way that combines in-depth and up to date analysis of current political events with a comprehensive grounding in political theory - all whilst making it enjoyable too!

Don't hesitate to get in touch; I would be delighted to help.

Teaching Experience:
Don`t just take my word for it, here is just a snapshot of the great results and feedback I`ve got from past students:

"I'm happy to let you know that I received an A in History, I was the only one in my year to achieve an A in History!! Many thanks for all your help over the years, really appreciate it."

"Thank you so much, and thank you for all your help in History! I got an A and I got my offer so will be going to Oxford in October!"

"I got an A overall in history! Could not have managed it without your tutoring, particularly in the coursework but also in cultivating a general historical understanding and appreciation. I will be going to Leeds in September to do history - very excited for it."

"I am delighted to say that I received an A grade for my History A Level, with a mark of 156/200, so I am in a much stronger position to apply for university than I was last year. I would like to express my gratitude for your mentoring and encouragement throughout the last year, my result would not have been possible without your outstanding teaching. I still find myself using the comprehension and analytical skills you helped me develop, and it is a skill I expect to continue to use at university. Thank you for a fantastic year of teaching, I have enjoyed it immensely."

"I managed to somehow get into Oxford and got an A in history which I'm really happy with. I don't know if I was near a boundary or not but heard there was very few A's given out this year for history especially at our college but overall happy! Thank you very much for your help!"

"Thank you! I managed to get into my first choice, University of Exeter, which I`m very happy about. Thank you for all your help over the past year."

"All results are in and I got a B for History. Kings College have accepted my application and I will be taking up my place to study there in September! Thank you so much for everything you have done. I honestly do not think I would have achieved this result if it had not have been for your input and teaching. On top of this, you have inspired and helped prepare me for my undergraduate studies through your teaching and I cannot thank you enough for this."

"I managed to receive a grade A! I'm very pleased with it, and the coursework component seems to have made the difference. Thank you ever so much for all the help and support over the months."

"Attached is my results, I achieved the A in history!! Durham confirmed! Can't quite believe it! Thank you ever so much for improving my grades, my attitude to History and my exam skills. Your help this past year has been invaluable and has had such a positive impact on my sensibilities."

"I got into Durham and got AAB. I got an A in politics so it all went well. Thank you for all the help you gave me."

"I have my place at Bristol, so I`m very happy! Thank you so much for all of your help, I honestly wouldn`t have been able to achieve that grade without having had the sessions with you. What I learnt was hugely valuable to my understanding of the subject, and it improved the way I wrote history essays immensely- I am incredibly grateful!"

"Thank you for helping me!! I got an A in History and am going to Manchester Uni my first choice!! All the structure work and essay writing definitely helped me build my confidence!"

"Thank you Joe! I got into Cardiff! Thank you so much for your help this year! Couldn`t have done it without you :)"

"I have you to thank endlessly because I got an A* in History! Thank you very much."

"Thanks so much! I got an A in politics and a B in History. It would never have happened without you - even my teachers can`t believe it!"

"I got my A!!!! Just wanted to say thank you so much - I definitely couldn`t have done it without you." (History)

"Just thought I`d let you know I got 3A* and a A* in EPQ. In Politics I got 100/100 and 92/100 so very happy! Thank you for all your help over the past 2 years."

"Just wanted to let you know I got an A in my history A level. I got 92% in the resit unit so I was very pleased with this result. Thanks for all your help, it clearly has made a difference."

"Thanks very much for your help this year, and I will carry your advice with me into my History course in Exeter in September." (A-level History, grade: A)

"I got a B in history - so it went up by 2 grades from the last time so thank you so much for all the tutoring I couldn`t have done it without you!" -

"I just wanted to thank you for your amazing history tutoring. I got 99% in my Pitt to Peel re-sit without which I would not have got the grades I needed. Thank you so much."

"I GOT AN A!!! Thank you so much for all of your help, I honestly couldn`t have done it without you!"

"I`ve just got my results and they are enough for me to continue on the recruiting process into the navy. I just wanted to say thank you very much for your time and efforts this year. You were a great teacher and I cannot thank you enough for getting me through this exam."

"I`m just letting you know that I ended with 75 UMS in politics which considering I was incredibly ill on the day of the exam is a great achievement and as a result I got into my first choice university! I`d just like to thank you so much for all your help throughout the year as I couldn`t have achieved this without your help!"

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to one-to-one tuition tailors to the individual needs of each and every student, enabling you to build on your strengths, identify areas for improvement, and achieve that all important grade. With the knowledge and experience gained from my PGCE and over ten years of teaching, I will help you successfully develop your independence, resilience, and skills as a student so that you can take on the challenge of exams with confidence, whilst also preparing you to take on new challenges beyond the classroom.

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Personal Description:
Hello! My name is Avishan, I am a data engineer/physics graduate and I am passionate about teaching Mathematics and the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics). I teach levels KS3/GCSE/iGCSE, am familiar with all major exam boards.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or if you'd like to book lessons.

Teaching Experience:
Prior to starting my physics degree at university, I worked as a teaching assistant/tutor at a secondary school during my gap year, and continued tutoring during and after university as I genuinely admire teaching maths, amongst other subjects, and I love having the opportunity to show students how exciting learning can really be. During my time teaching at a school, in addition to teaching students on an individual basis, I took on the responsibility of teaching small classes myself, and I was also a mentor to a group of Year 11 pupils, having helped them with GCSE revision every week. I also have SEN teaching experience, having worked with SEN pupils from Years 7 to 11. I have a total of 9 years experience in teaching, both in a school setting and on a private tuition basis.

Tutoring Approach:
I usually tend to approach lessons by going through the background of the topic in focus and a few worked examples before giving students questions to answer themselves and going through worked solutions. Independent practice is a key part of becoming stronger in a subject, and the more a student practices, the better they will get, and this is a truly rewarding feeling. Throughout lessons, I work with a highly friendly, approachable and patient approach to tutoring, as it is vital to ensure that my students feel comfortable to ask questions on whatever topic they may have difficulties with.
Furthermore, I aim to be as concise in my explanations as possible and I like to break down problems into manageable chunks. For example, I encourage students to underline keywords in questions and, particularly in maths and science, to draw diagrams to help them visualise problems. When it comes to exam technique I teach students precisely how to answer certain styles of question to score full marks and show as much working wherever possible. This is not only a very important skill to have to get good grades, but it will help them develop more of an understanding of the problems they are solving.

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Personal Description:
I am a scholar with experience in scientific writing, critical thinking, research and communication. As a researcher, my personal motto is that all of your academic writing ought to be the layman version of your work. This because a scholar - in my case, a philosopher - who cannot ground his reasoning in ordinary intuitions (or at least some intuitions the reader/hearer can grasp) is doomed to produce meaningless contributions to the debate. In addition, putting yourself into the perspective of a non-expert is a good technique for analyzing your own thoughts and spot the potential flaws. Thus, being able to communicate concepts to non-expert is a skill which for me is instrumental towards my own research goals, and one which I took great care in developing.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring students since the time I was going to high-school. I have also some teaching-assistant experience as a doctoral student. Furthermore, I am currently working on a teaching and orienteering project alongside some teacher of my former high-school.

Tutoring Approach:
First and foremost, I run some quick tests in order to assess the general skills of the pupil within the relevant field, taking notes on his/her flaws. Once I have identified the area where the pupil has difficulty, I employ a goal-structured teaching strategy: first of all I verify whether the pupil has understood which is the application goal (or one of the goals) of the skill he is trying to (and currently has difficulty to) develop. In case he/she has not understood, I try to explain to him/her, i.e., I frame the relevant skill (for instance, derivative calculus) with reference to a general or specific application goal (for instance, the framing of the relationship between speed and acceleration). I find that often pupils lack cognitive incentive because they have not been presented with the practical application of the knowledge they are trying to acquire.
Regarding language learning, I first try to understand which communicative faculty the individual is more inclined towards to (speaking, listening, reading, vocabulary memorizing, etc.). Then I try to create a bedrock by developing his proficiency in that area, while at the same time encouraging him/her to go out of the comfort zone towards communicative areas where he/she is not confident. On that regard I apply a learning process based on increasing levels of contextual stress (for example, in the case of learning to listening a foreign language, I suggest to start from a situation where the hearer is speaking slowly and then I encourage the pupil to build up his confidence step by step by adding elements like a noisy environment, increased talking speed, lack of background context for the conversation, etc.) This because I believe emotional factors like self-confidence and stress-control are key in catalyzing the cognitive process of acquiring proficiency in a new language.

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Personal Description:
I hold a master's degree in Arabic language from Saudi Arabia,

Teaching Experience:
I have an excellent command of grammar, and have 10 years of experience in editing and writing in Arabic.
I also have 4 years of experience teaching Arabic.

Tutoring Approach:
I teach face-to-face and online.
I use PowerPoint presentations, a variety of books on teaching the language to non-native speakers, and videos of dialogues in a variety of ways. Engage students in each lesson through practice, in-class exercises, and homework assignments.

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