Boncath Tutors and Boncath Tuition

Personal Description:
MA-Qualified Mandarin Tutor | Certified Higher Education Teacher | 10+ Years' Experience | GCSE, IB, HSK, A Level & University | Adults & Young | Proven Excellent Results from Beginner to Advanced

• Enjoy a FREE 1-Hour Trial Lesson

I am a qualified and certified language teacher with over ten years of teaching experience. I specialise in teaching AQA GCSE, Cambridge IGCSE, HSK, HSKK, and IB Chinese qualifications, as well as providing Chinese tuition for adults and children, including business Chinese and travel Chinese.

With strong academic qualifications, extensive teaching experience, and a personalised teaching approach, I help students achieve their highest potential, whether they are preparing for examinations, developing practical communication skills, or pursuing personal language goals.

I am originally from Xi'an, China, and began my teaching career at university level, where I taught English as a Second Language to undergraduate students. My passion for education, commitment to student success, and dedication to teaching excellence earned me the recognition of Excellent Teacher.

Over the past ten years, I have continued to develop my professional skills beyond the classroom. During this time, I took a short break from teaching to work as a translator and Chinese Business Development Manager for a UK-based international company.

In this role, I supported the company's expansion into the Chinese market by establishing a Beijing office, developing brand strategies, negotiating with Chinese partners, and advising staff on Chinese business culture.

I offer comprehensive tuition for students of all ages and proficiency levels. Courses currently available include:
• HSK (Levels 1-9)
• HSKK (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced)
• GCSE Chinese
• Chinese for children and primary school students
• Chinese for adults
• A-Level Chinese
• Chinese for university undergraduates
• Travel Chinese
• Business Chinese

Examples of my courses
BEGINNER'S MASTERY COURSE (20 hours)
Develop an excellent command of Chinese pronunciation, including challenging tones; learn 300-400 commonly used words and master 10 essential everyday conversational scenarios.

GCSE ELEVATION COURSE (tailored to the shortest feasible or required timeframe)
Support students in improving from failing grades or a standard pass (Grade 4) to top Grades 8-9.

A-LEVEL EXCELLENCE COURSE (tailored to the shortest feasible or required timeframe)
Support students in achieving top A-Level grades, helping them progress to their desired university degree programmes.

BUSINESS SPEEDY COURSE (20 hours)
Develop the fundamental communication skills needed to interact effectively with Chinese business partners, build strong working relationships, and project a professional corporate image.

INTENSIVE COURSE (2 hours per session; not recommended for children)
Designed for students with limited time, particularly exam candidates. This course helps students learn 40-50 Chinese words in a single two-hour session through my specially developed teaching methodology.

Teaching Experience:
Below are some testimonials from my students -

"If it wasn't for Ning and her constant support and patience, I would have probably given up on learning Chinese at university!
 
I have gone from not being able to string a Chinese sentence together to achieving a 2:1 on my final exam, all in the space of 6 months.
 
Ning goes above and beyond to ensure that learning material is tailored to individual needs of the student, suiting all abilities. Her supporting and encouraging nature makes learning much more enjoyable and I highly recommend her to anyone."

- Aishia


"Our daughter is studying Chinese at degree level and we were concerned about how unhappy she felt, her confidence had been battered and she was on the brink of leaving the course and dismayed at the thought of sitting her January exams.

I found a selection of 4 tutors who were available to support our daughter and her learning via Skype, Ning immediately stood out by her interested and enthusiastic approach to my enquiry, she was the only tutor that researched the particular University course, the modules and the learning requirements.
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It was immediately apparent how Ning goes above and beyond as she is genuinely passionate about her students and their learning.

Ning was originally asked to support our daughter through her revision period to her exams (5 weeks) however the change in my daughter and her thoughts about learning Chinese was incredible.

I could see that Ning's approach was patient, restoring some of her confidence, helping her understand what she was learning and helping her achieve the grades she was happy with.
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Over the last 6 months I have seen that Ning is very flexible, committed, reliable and ensures that all lessons are specific to our daughter and her stage and style of learning.

She spends time preparing work in between lessons and sets work that is relevant and applicable to the direct course. Ning is quick and efficient in reviewing work, sets homework and learning materials, she provides accurate, supportive and encouraging feedback and even increases her time with my daughter around her exams (even when she is on holiday!).
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Because of Ning and her support she made our daughter believe she could do it and her end of year exams were graded as a 2:1. She is looking forward to moving to Taiwan for her year study in August, Ning continues to provide lessons helping her to prepare to move and further increase her confidence to face her new course and life in Taiwan.

As parents I am extremely grateful to Ning, impressed by her commitment and enthusiasm and would highly recommend her to support students at any level and look forward to her continuing to support our daughter through the rest of her degree. Thank you Ning!"

- Mr & Mrs Diment (Aishia's parents)


"Ning rekindled my love of learning Chinese and she was friendly and really easy to chat to, and I really enjoyed my lessons with her.

She never made me feel stupid if I found something difficult. She was always really well prepared for my lessons and told me what I needed to do and to bring, and she always had everything that she needed.

She had loads of good ideas to help me learn. She worked really hard to help me do well.
​
I got an A in my GCSE Chinese after I'd been learning with Ning for only six months; a year later I got 266/300 in HSK3 and 77/100 in HSKK."

- Delilah


"Ning has been brilliant at taking my daughter through GCSE Mandarin.
 
She made a careful plan to take my daughter through the syllabus, taught her really well and thoroughly, and is very supportive and encouraging. I could trust her completely.
 
My daughter so much enjoyed learning Mandarin with Ning that she has decided to continue lessons with her to take a higher qualification in Mandarin."

- Kate (Delilah's Mum)


"I got an A* on my reading and listening, an A on my writing and a B on my speaking. So overall, I got an A!!! Thank you so much for your time and patience, Ning. I'm over the moon with my results!"

- Caitlin


"When arriving into the UK from Hong Kong, our daughter took the decision to progress her Mandarin studies through to GCSE level. She had not been on a GCSE curriculum in Hong Kong, so this was a difficult task for her.

The school was unable to provide a Mandarin tutor for the two year programme. We located and contacted Ning, who provided one hour, one-to-one tutelage per week over the two years. She struck a good relationship with our daughter right from the start, being very patient though also setting challenging but realistic tasks for completion between lessons.

Ning also helped with the arrangements for sitting the GCSE, as the school needed some reminding in this area.

Throughout the two years, Ning did not miss a single appointment. She always arrived on time, but often stayed longer.

Our daughter gained A grade overall in GCSE Chinese. She would not have been able to do this without Ning.

Thanks Ning!!"

- Andy (Dad of Caitlin)


"Ning, I got an A!! Thank you so much for all that you helped me with (it was more than just Chinese in the end). I really couldn't have done it without you."

- Niamh
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"You are an absolute super-star tutor, Ning - thank you so much. You have helped Niamh more than we could have imagined in (GCSE) Chinese, her confidence and learning in general."

- Bonnie (Mum of Niamh)


"Ning is an exceptional tutor, I have made more progress in a few months than I had in years before she took me under her tutorage. She is methodical, yet flexible in her approach providing me with exactly what I need. There is always additional effort prior and after the lesson to produce specific materials and focus on areas of weakness which results in tangible, and speedy improvement which excels any expectations I had going in. Add to this the fact Ning is very friendly and (importantly in my case) patient I am finding my lessons an absolute delight!"

- Christopher


"Of all the mandarin tutors our children have had, they believe that Ning has been by far the best.
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Ning is a friendly, supportive and responsible tutor. She engages well and creates an excellent relationship with both our 6 & 11 year olds.
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She customises work according to their needs and standard. She makes learning fun, particularly with our younger child, whilst ensuring an intellectual direction for our eldest.
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She has led our eldest to achieve an excellent standard in his first ever mandarin test (YCT). Helping him achieve an excellent 180/200 after only 1 year of lessons, Ning has shown significant effort in preparing for everything relating to the test.
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The children learn many new words in each session; Ning records their speech and sends it to us. This also allows us to share with family and friends abroad; leading to compliments on how well they are doing. It is great to keep everyone updated. We feel proud of them, following the excellent feedback.

Our children show obvious improvement each week. It is clear that they understand more, using more complicated mandarin words and sentence structures. This helps to show us what an amazing job she has done.
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Our children have clearly become more confident and understanding in their mandarin over our first year with Ning. We look forward to further improvement moving forward.
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We are delighted to have found Ning and most importantly, that our kids are enjoying their time learning with her.
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We couldn't be more satisfied with her professionalism, teaching skill and overall service provided. We truly couldn't have asked for a better tutor!"
​
- Niki (Mum of Ethan & Violet)

"Ning has been, not only an absolutely extraordinary teacher, but an incredible mentor. To nurture an environment where one can practice Chinese in comfort and without feeling judged takes tremendous skill - and Ning achieves it with effortless ease. From the first lesson, her dedication and commitment were apparent. She creates a plethora of extra resources outside of lessons to aid the individual's needs. The well of experience and knowledge she brings to the table are unmatched, and that coupled with her mastery of English has formed a very rich and diverse environment for learning. She is a true linguist and her passion for language-learning is infectious.

It is fair to say I arrived to her lessons not knowing an ounce of Chinese, not even that 'nǐ hǎo' meant 'hello'. Ning somehow took that and fostered an environment for learning that resulted in my achieving a 100% in my first HSK examination. However, It is safe to say that Ning's lessons go beyond HSK. She teaches you true Mandarin. Her in-depth explanation of grammar structures and idioms will provide you an understanding of Chinese so rich that confidence in speech will be the natural result. If it is real understanding and professional teaching you seek, then Ning is the absolute best choice of tutor. I could sing her praises until I am red in the face!!! I am very thankful for all that she has done to help me."

- Eli


"I began studying with Ning in January 2019 with no prior knowledge of Chinese. Three weeks later I took a Chinese proficiency test and placed at mid-novice level (the test was aimed at people who had 120+ hours learning time, I had eight hours under my belt). She was focused on making sure I got as many marks as possible for that test, emphasizing vocabulary and listening comprehension. I wanted to do well for myself, but I also wanted her to be proud of me.

Ning has been instrumental at helping me understand grammar and syntax through everyday scenarios I am likely to encounter overseas, while at the same time increasing my vocabulary.

Her classes are tailored and goal-specific. Ning puts a lot of thought into her teaching materials, so much consideration that I don't want to disappoint her with my homework. She is patient; my accent is really bad and she gives me language and reading drills to improve my pronunciation, as well as lots of opportunities to revise what I have learned in previous classes through exercises.

I would recommend her to anyone who wants to study Chinese, whether they are starting from scratch or building on what they already know. She is a great teacher."

- Riazat


"I have been studying mandarin with Ning for the past year. I am an advanced mandarin speaker having studied since in 2007 - both in China and in the UK. I rate Ning's teaching extremely highly and would be delighted to recommend her to other fellow students. Here are some of the reasons...

1. Her professionalism is fantastic. She arrives at my house every week with a prepared lesson and materials. She puts so much thought into my learning needs and really pushes me to improve.​

2. Her understanding of the English language is superb and really helps when it comes to trying to communicate one's meaning. She is able to understand and interpret what I am trying to say, thereby helping me learn how to communicate the same meaning in a very different language and culture.

3. She is a great teacher. It's not something one can learn, it's innate...and she has it. She's flexible. She does her utmost to accommodate her students and is always amenable.​

As I've said before, I've had approximately 10 mandarin tutors since I started learning mandarin and I rank Ning as one of the very best. If you're looking to learn about the Chinese language and culture, then you couldn't go far wrong."

- Eleanor


"Holding the attention of my eight-year-old son for any length of time is a feat of Herculean proportion.
 
How Ning manages to keep him focused for an hour is astonishing and highlights her remarkable gift for teaching. 
 
The lessons strike the perfect balance between being factual and fun, meaning my son happily sits down for his weekly session. I would highly recommend Ning."

​- Lucia (Anthony's Mum)


"From a parent's point of view, our son looks forward to his lessons with Ning and is totally engaged during them.

Ning has given him the confidence to communicate with Chinese speakers, when the opportunity arises.

We are so proud of him, due to the fact that in a short period of time, Joe has been able to hold brief conversations in Chinese."

- Brennan & Beatriz (Joe's Parents)


"I've been having lessons with Ning to prepare myself for moving to China for a job. As a complete beginner I felt totally overwhelmed by the prospect of beginning to learn such a notorious language! However, Ning's lessons have helped me to feel comfortable (and even enjoy) tackling pronunciation as well as basic vocabulary and sentence structuring.

Ning is friendly and helpful in her teaching style which makes for a comfortable learning environment. It is clear that she is aware of my individual progression as lessons are individually tailored to my learning preferences, difficulties and interests.

From my experience, I would 100% recommend Ning as a Chinese tutor for anyone looking for helpful and professional tuition."

- Chris

Tutoring Approach:
I Use a Variety of Teaching Skills and Techniques to Meet Individual Needs

Every learner is unique and acquires knowledge in different ways. Therefore, I adapt my teaching strategies and techniques to suit each student's individual needs.

To illustrate my approach, I broadly categorise learners into two groups: children and adults.

Children generally have shorter attention spans but are naturally attracted to games, stories, songs, and rhymes. Therefore, I incorporate a wide range of interactive activities into my lessons. This enables vocabulary and sentence patterns to be acquired more easily and naturally while keeping children fully focused and engaged. Colourful flashcards are both enjoyable and highly effective learning tools. After providing guidance and demonstrations, I encourage young learners to create their own phrases and simple sentences creatively. They thoroughly enjoy this process and often achieve excellent results.

To keep adult learners motivated and inspired, I encourage them to take an active role in the learning process. Once they have understood the key concepts and language points, I engage them in a variety of thinking and communication activities. I also deliberately guide students to use the target language in everyday situations and familiar contexts, turning daily life into a valuable language-learning resource. This approach stimulates curiosity and encourages learners to construct sentences that reflect real-life situations and communicate with greater confidence.

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Personal Description:
About Me. I'm now taking on a small number of private students, as my university commitments have settled. I currently lecture at the University of Salford and have over 28 years of teaching experience. I'm a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Visiting Lecturer at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and also teach in São Paulo, Brazil. I've worked extensively in higher education, including as an assessor for university teaching qualifications and an external examiner for several universities. Over the years, I've been nominated by my students for "Best Teacher" and "Best Postgraduate Supervisor" on multiple occasions - something I'm incredibly proud of. I completed my PhD in Rheumatology in 2009 and began private tutoring in 2008. I offer individual tuition in Biology, Science, PE, Study Skills, and other health and medical-related topics. I also love teaching science to children and helping students build confidence in their learning. Before moving into education, I worked as a Chartered Physiotherapist in the NHS for 13 years, including three years as Physiotherapist for the England Women's Football Team. It was a privilege to represent my country and work with such talented athletes both at home and overseas. I'm also an internationally published author, having written and edited nine textbooks, now translated into eleven languages, covering subjects such as anatomy and academic writing.
Please note:
I cannot tutor current University of Salford students due to a conflict of interest.
While I'll do my utmost to help every learner succeed, I cannot write assignments or guarantee grades.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring privately for over a decade. I began teaching in a professional capacity whilst working in a hospital environment where I became a Clinical Educator for undergraduate Physiotherapy students from Universities in the region. This role involved teaching and training undergraduate students within hospitals. Eventually my enthusiasm for teaching overtook that of my day job and I began teaching at Salford University on a part time basis, becoming a full time member of staff within the School of Health Sciences in 1996. I am the longest serving member of staff in the department and enjoy my job, and the interaction with students, as much now as when I first began teaching. Please note that if you are a student at the University of Salford I will be unable to offer private tuition due to a conflict of interest. Also please note that if we commence tutoring that whilst I will do my absolute best to help students, I cannot write assignments for students or guarantee a specific score or grade.

Teaching at a university entails a range of teaching methods including lecturing to hundreds of students, small and large group seminar-based sessions and a mix of theory and practical skills. Since 1998 I have been the Year One tutor which involves a pastoral element as many students are having their first experience of independence away from friends and family.

As a private tutor both in my own home, I mainly focus on one-to-one tuition, which I find hugely rewarding as I am able to dedicate unwavering attention to the tutee and their chosen subjects. I have experience teaching students from diverse backgrounds and ranging in age from 14 years to 50 years.

In 2009 I won the first ever Teaching Excellence Award at Salford University, and the following year was nominated for the Times Educational Innovative Teacher Award - both nominated by my students, a fact of which I am extremely proud.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a friendly and informal approach to teaching, as I believe a relaxed environment is most conducive to learning, regardless of the subject or age. However, I am aware that private tuition is a serious commitment, and there must be a clear structure to the sessions. I am familiar with the syllabi for OCR, AQA, and Edexcel for GCSE, A-level, and degree courses. The first session will include an informal discussion with parents/tutee to gain an understanding of the tutee's requirements and to explain my role and how I can aid learning. The tutee largely dictates the structure of the sessions, including the subjects they wish to focus on and their preferred learning style, which can be discussed during the first session. As the student develops, the structure can be adapted accordingly.

Additional Information

I prefer to teach in my own home
Thanks very much for viewing my profile.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My name is Margo and I'm 44 years old. I am a high school French and Spanish teacher. I am also an avid cyclist and in 2011 fulfilled my lifelong dream of cycling round the world. My 27,000 km, New Zealand to Scotland trip took 2 years to complete and was the best experience of my life so far. As for other interests, I am a keen mountain biker and take part in the Scottish cross country championships every year.

Teaching Experience:
Before leaving the UK in 2009, I had been working as a French tutor for almost 7 years. Much of my work came from tuition agencies, with whom I taught students up to University level. I taught French to adult learners at the Glasgow College of Commerce in 2007 and pre 5's in several nursery schools around Glasgow from 2004 to 2009. I studied French and German at the University of Glasgow and finished my degree in 2001. I have lived in France for several years and worked as an English assistant in a French school. I also worked as a nanny in the French Alps for a year and ran a ski chalet, again in the French Alps.

In 2015, I returned to university to undertake the PGDE course, which would qualify me as a secondary school French teacher. I also studied a Spanish degree at the University of Strathclyde whilst working full time and finished this in 2019. I am qualified to teach Spanish but French is, by far, my main language.

For the last 8 years, I have had excellent Nat 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results in classes for which I have had sole responsibility.

Tutoring Approach:
Whether you are a parent looking to give their child a head start in foreign language learning, a Nat 5, Higher or Advanced Higher student struggling with exam practice or just an adult looking to learn a new skill, I am here to help. I am a highly skilled teacher and have helped many pupils achieve SQA exam success.

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Personal Description:
I am a Japanese national who has completed eight Japanese language beginners courses (10 weeks each) as a language instructor at colleges based in Liverpool and Manchester. In a formal course review exercise, I received excellent ratings from my college students with respect to the various teaching components of the course.

I am adept at recognising how best to target my teaching approach, particularly with respect to students who have little or no knowledge of the Japanese language using my fluency in verbal and written English and Japanese.

My teaching experience includes 18 months as a language instructor to college students in Japan, in one-to-one, and group teaching as an employee at a language school. In addition, I was employed in the Japan university sector as a translator of English to Japanese and vice versa, and as a business translator involving UK and Japanese companies. I therefore have language teaching experience acquired over several years in various settings.

My doctoral degree is sociology-based supporting the teacher-student interaction for making solid progress in learning.

Teaching Experience:
100 weeks in beginners Japanese at language colleges in Liverpool and Manchester
12 months providing English language instruction to college students in Japan
18 months English-Japanese language translator at a Japanese University
12 months in organising and translating and interpreting for two Japanese cultural exchange trips
Over 10 years in translating and interpreting various Japanese/UK business people
Online tutoring for 4 years both in groups and individuals. Full HD video camera/microphone and Zoom/Skype.
UK-Japanese business language interpreter and translator
Multiple students taught in private sessions from a wide background that includes, teachers, business professionals, university and college students, and other backgrounds.

Tutoring Approach:
I can provide personal tutoring and group tutoring as required in a large classroom specially set-up for teaching with an approachable and friendly style to engage students in fully comprehending an unfamiliar language. Tuition is provided in verbal and written Japanese using language props as an aid to understanding, with textbooks and specialist Hiragana teaching materials. I have excellent whiteboard writing skills and I am comfortable at teaching in both formal and less formal surroundings. Tuition can be arranged on a regular or irregular timetable according to the needs of the particular student(s).

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Personal Description:
Hello, I am Suzy. I was born in Shanghai and educated at Shanghai Teachers University. I have lived in the UK since 2001.

I specialise in Mandarin Chinese at GCSE and A level. Since 2012, I have taught both Edexcel and AQA exam boards pat private schools and Oxford Sixth Form College. All of my students have achieved Grade 9 at GCSE and Grade A at A level.

I have over 25 years of experience teaching Mandarin to both adults and children.

A few points you should know about me:

• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Flexible with time allocation for learners
• Able to put learners at ease and help them enjoy the learning process

I hold three enhanced DBS certificates and have completed child protection training, safeguarding adults awareness training, and a diversity in the workplace course.

Teaching Experience:
Over 25 years of experience teaching Mandarin Chinese to both children and adults.
• Teaching British diplomats
• Teaching Edexcel, AQA GCSE and A Level Chinese at private schools
• Teaching private students business Chinese from global companies on a one-to-one basis

Tutoring Approach:
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Flexible with time allocation for learners
• Able to put learners at ease and help them enjoy the learning process
• Skilled at challenging students to take responsibility, reach their potential, stay motivated, and develop knowledge, skills, and understanding
• Provides caring, dedicated, enthusiastic, and expert teaching
• Able to identify each individual's strengths, achievements, and current learning situation

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Personal Description:
Hello! I'm Sabine, a native German speaker and former university lecturer. With a Master's Degree in Translation from the University of Heidelberg and numerous teaching qualifications from the Goethe Institute, I'm here to guide you in learning German or Spanish.

Teaching Experience:
I bring over 10 years of teaching experience from the School of Management and Languages at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, the German Saturday School, and through private instruction in small groups and one-on-one settings. Recently, I have embraced online language teaching, completing additional training in online teaching software and collaborative tools and apps through the Goethe Institute, ensuring dynamic and interactive virtual learning experiences.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor each class to the unique needs of my students, adapting content, level, and teaching approach to suit individual learning style or group dynamics. My goal is to make learning enjoyable and enriching, ensuring you gain a deep understanding of the language along with cultural insights and practical skills.

My lessons provide an environment where students feel comfortable to actually speak the language and make mistakes - without pressure or judgement.

£35/hour or £50/1.5 hrs online - discount for 2 or more students of similar level.

(An additional £5 per hour is applicable for in-person lessons)

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an A level biology examiner as well as being a fully qualified science teacher with over nineteen years of experience.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught science to GCSE level and A level biology for over ten years in secondary schools. Since relocating to Stroud, I have tutored students in A level biology for the past nine years. I have taught a number of students via on-line lessons for the last three years. I am also an examiner for OCR A level biology. The experience of marking A level papers has enabled me to help my students effectively prepare for exams.

I am currently fully booked but am happy to talk about the possibility of tutoring from after the summer exams.

Tutoring Approach:
The style of tutoring needed by individual students will vary. It may start with ensuring understanding of the key concepts in biology at an appropriate level. The jump to A level from GCSE is quite considerable and even the brightest students can struggle initially. Another essential skill needed is the ability to pull together biological content taught in different parts of the syllabus. As exam time approaches, a student has to apply their knowledge and understanding to real exam questions. Practice of exam technique is often a large part of a tutorial session in the run up to A level exams. This is an even more important aspect of my tutoring approach since the A level course recently changed to being examined solely at the end of two years. Using the insights I have learnt from being an examiner I am able to give feedback on individual questions to enable a student to improve their answers.

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Personal Description:
I have cisco webex software, zoom and skype, and am also DBS cleared

I am a highly experienced, enthusiastic and very versatile optical engineering senior lecturer/researcher, who gained a PhD from the School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, London, UK in "Fibre optical temperature and strain sensors using fluorescent techniques" for measurement applications using the fluorescence generated from rare earth-doped optical fibres (e.g. Er3+, Yb3+, Tm3+ etc.). I also possess very good experience and knowledge of industry, with excellent complimentary skills gained from higher education - in particular industrial measurement, forensic analysis, quality control and statistical analysis. A BSc first degree in forensic science is combined with a further specialist MSc in engineering metrology and topped with a PhD in photonics - making for good, broad-based, multi-disciplined measurement science and analytical capabilities right across the scientific spectrum. I have a proven high degree of personal motivation, and am capable of working on my own initiative or equally as part of an effective team. In addition, I am able to communicate very well at all levels of hierarchy, with excellent skills developed in scientific report writing (journal papers, periodicals, book chapters etc.) and oral presentation (conferences, lecturing etc). I have over 50 publications to date in my field: 20 journal papers, 22 conference papers, 2 articles, 4 book chapters and other major works.

PhD thesis title:

"Fibre optic sensors based on fluorescence lifetime techniques for temperature and strain measurement"

Thesis submitted for examination for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
at
City University
School of Engineering

November 2002

Abstract

The author presents a thesis based upon the use of the fluorescent properties of rare earth doped materials. The thesis commences with a review of the current fibre sensor technology in the field, with special emphasis on those sensors designed for temperature and strain measurement. The use of the physical phenomena of fluorescence produced from rare earth doped optical fibre for temperature measurement is then introduced and explained in more detail, particularly with regard to utilisation of the fluorescence lifetime technique in such sensing, which is then compared to the other fluorescence-based methods for measuring temperature.

The recently discovered small strain sensitivity of the fluorescence lifetime is then introduced as a theoretical candidate for potential application to simultaneous temperature-strain sensing, using two different doped fibres in a single sensing element, and subsequently state-of-the-art temperature-strain discrimination techniques are then explored for the purposes of exploitation to dual measurement.

Results achieved from using the fluorescent lifetime approach for a range of rare earth materials are then presented, followed by further results obtained from combining the lifetime technique with Fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) for the first time. Also, the irreversible effects upon FBG performance after exposure to long-term high temperatures are explored.

Finally, there is a summary of the work presented in this thesis and the author's opinions on achievements made. Current trends in fluorescence lifetime-based sensing are discussed, both commercially and academically, together with projected work for the future.


DECLARATION: I certify that the above information contained in this CV is both accurate and truthful.

regards, DR DAVID.

Teaching Experience:
tutor in electronics, City University, London ≈ 4 yrs

Applied optics lecturer at University College Jubail, KSA ≈ 1 yr

undertook 1 yr PGCE Science (secondary) at Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK (taught in local secondary schools)

Lecturer in nanoelectronics on MSc Nanotechnology and MSc Innovative Technology at BITE ≈ 2 yrs

UK private tuition experience (various subjects) ≈ 20 yrs

was senior lecturer/researcher in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in both Malaysia and Thailand: I have spent the last 6 yrs teaching Fibre Optic Communication Systems, Fibre Sensors and photonics, and Optical Communication Systems to Masters level; + supervision of many undergrad, masters and PhD project students.

I was awarded a prize of £1000 from the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers (SIM), London in February 2000 to pursue my PhD research work:

Extra information:
Additionally, I can confidently programme in Sigmaplot, Excel, Tablecurve, MATLAB, Optisim, Multisim, Zemax, COMSOL, LABVIEW, Agilent Vee and all similar optical design software packages to control instruments, acquire data, analyse data, simulate and model.

Tutoring Approach:
serious,concientious,assessing continuously the students needs, receiving feedback, individual approach
setting quizes, tests, mock exams
either individual or small/large groups taken

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Personal Description:
I am 43 years old and live at home with my partner and our two boys, both aged 6 and 8.

Teaching Experience:
I have nine years teaching experience in good and outstanding secondary schools. I have taught key stage 3, GCSE/IGCSE, A Level and IB maths and further maths. I have experience of the AQA, Edexcel and CIE specifications.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a calm approach to tutoring. I try to make students feel comfortable. I use a lot of praise and encouragement and really try to improve their confidence.

Subjects

Personal Description:
As a tutor, I believe in fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment where students feel empowered to explore concepts and ask questions freely. My approach is student-centered, focusing on understanding each student's unique learning style, strengths, and areas for improvement.
I strive to make complex topics accessible by breaking them down into digestible chunks, using real-life examples, analogies, and interactive exercises to reinforce learning. I encourage active participation and critical thinking, guiding students to discover solutions rather than simply providing answers.

Teaching Experience:
I have Two years teaching experience of GCSE level and one year of A level

Tutoring Approach:
I Ask good, open-ended questions. I ask the student questions in order to evaluate a students' understanding

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Personal Description:
have extensive experience tutoring A-Level Economics and I'm passionate about helping students build confidence, deepen their understanding and achieve better results. I take a positive, supportive approach and tailor my teaching to each student's needs, with particular emphasis on diagrams, interpretation and essay technique.

Teaching Experience:
My tutoring experience has given me a strong understanding of how to support students in Economics in a clear and effective way. I focus on making complex ideas easy to understand, helping students know when to use different diagrams, and strengthening the skills they need to answer exam questions well. I also provide targeted support to help students improve their grades, develop stronger essays and make steady progress through structured, personalised lessons.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is supportive, focused and tailored to each student's needs. I aim to make Economics feel clear and manageable by breaking down difficult ideas, building confidence step by step, and making sure students understand not just the content, but how to use it effectively in the exam. I place a strong emphasis on diagrams, application and exam technique, so students learn how to think like an economist and produce stronger answers under pressure.

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Personal Description:
Hello, I'm Donald - experienced tutor. I was educated at Edinburgh University and worked in the nuclear power industry for over 30 years. In that time I have undertaken teaching activities of various types. After retiring (2010), I started part time private tuition, with good results at all levels.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor since 2010, with an average of about 10 pupils, weekly, during school term. I am happy to give tuition in-person, or online using Zoom and my own overhead camera system.

Tutoring Approach:
I mainly study past paper questions jointly with my pupils. I try to lead my pupils through the questions in an interesting and challenging way, with my pupils doing much of the work. I make sure that all the key learning points are understood before moving on.

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