Brightside Tutors and Brightside Tuition

Personal Description:
Hello! I am 47 years old, originally from Denmark and moved to the UK 20 years ago for my degree. Before teaching, I worked as a monkey veterinary technician in the US, conducted my Masters research on crop-raiding macaques in Indonesia, and helped to run a volunteer expedition in the Amazon. After a couple of years of teaching in secondary school as a Science and Spanish teacher, I heard the call of the wild again and travelled for a year through Mexico and Central America. I now feel very settled here in England and am raising two beautiful daughters, as well as a menagerie of animals, including chickens, guinea pigs, and a dog.

I have an up to date enhanced DBS.

Teaching Experience:
I completed my teaching degree in 2007 at Canterbury Christ Church University. I trained in two very different types of schools.. a private Catholic boarding school and a comprehensive high school, which gave me the experience to engage students of different abilities and backgrounds. I also received training to teach EAL and SEN students. My teaching qualification is in Science, but as a fluent Spanish speaker I also teach Spanish to both adults and children in schools and private tuition. I teach Maths, Biology, and Spanish up to GCSE level. For 8 years, I worked for a private company teaching young people in residential care, and after that at a private school for girls. I have since decided to leave mainstream, and now alongside my private tuition, I teach at a democratic learning community where yoga and meditation are taught hand-in-hand with a topic based curriculum. My teaching experiences are very diverse, and I love having had influence from a variety of styles of education, but what gives me most satisfaction is working with students 1-1.

Tutoring Approach:
Students, young and old, don't like subjects they don't think they can succeed in. My approach is to break down material, relate it to everyday life and interests, and positively reinforce all the way to build up confidence. I am stubborn (!) and I don't give up until it's mastered.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor with Honour Degree in English and Russian Philology, postgraduate Certificate in TESOL and PGCE. I am Russian but now I live in Hastings, East Sussex. I love languages and enjoy teaching. I've always got very well with all my students either children, teenagers or adults. I have an updated DBS check

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching at secondary schools, private and language schools in Moscow, at summer language courses here in England. I have tutored on one-to-one basis for more than 15 years through all my teaching career.

Tutoring Approach:
The teaching approach will be tailored to match the learning style and pace of the student.

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Personal Description:
My background is in languages and performing arts. I began studying
English at age 8, French at 13, German at 15, and have been
self-taught in Spanish since age 10. I come from a family with a
long tradition in teaching and have always been encouraged to study
and learn, while at the same time inheriting and developing a strong
capacity to explain, train, and encourage.

Teaching Experience:
Since graduating from my Master's course in 2011 I have been working
as a self-employed language tutor in and around London and have
always received more than positive feedback from my clients. My
tutees' ages range from four to seventy-four and I constantly
endeavour to improve myself and adapt my teaching method to my
clients' needs.

Some client reviews:

David
21/03/2020
5/5 Rating

"I`ve been doing Romanian with Maria for a few months now,
initially face to face and now via Skype. I enjoy my lessons
a great. Maria has excellent teaching skills, prepares well for
the class, and provides me with good feedback. Aside from that,
the lessons are fun and I look forward to them. Would definitely
recommend."

Toni
20/09/2018
5/5 Rating

"Only had 3 lessons but I`m loving the way Maria breaks everything
down and explains it. She fills me with confidence by focusing on
the positive from the lessons. Thank you for everything so far :)"

John
14/05/2018
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor, already 2 lessons in and I am picking
up the basics quickly!"

Rebecca
01/04/2018
5/5 Rating

"Prompt, organised, professional and a great teacher!"

Arshad
22/02/2018
5/5 Rating

"Very professional tutor
Highly recommended"

Otis
26/12/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor. She is very knowledgeable and her
lessons are always well structured and enjoyable. She has a genuine
passion for languages which is evident in her thorough preparation
for each lesson. I would recommend Maria."

Polly
24/10/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria has been great so far!!!"

Tracey
22/05/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor. She is very punctual and happy to be
flexible with the times we can meet. She is very patience and her
explanations are concise and clear. I would have no hesitation in
reommending her."

Mihaela
14/11/2016
5/5 Rating

"Maria is a very punctual and organised tutor and my daughter is
making good progress. She is friendly and supportive and I would
definitely recommend her."

Phillip
31/03/2016
5/5 Rating

"Absolute great tutor, who was professional, personable and patient!
Highly recommended."

Evita
05/11/2015
5/5 Rating

"Maria is teaching German to me and my 7-year old daughter both had
no previous knowledge and I can suggest her as fast progressing
learning teacher. She is strict and well prepared. It`s been a
pleasure working with her."

Luke
23/08/2015
5/5 Rating

"Amazing tutor, highly professional and well qualified! worth her
weight in gold!"

Spiros
07/08/2015
5/5 Rating

"I THE LIKE THE WAY MARIA GOES THROUGH THE LESSON, AND SHE EXPLAINS
EVERYTHING, ALSO SHE IS ALWAYS ON TIME AND FLEXIBLE WITH THE HOURS
SHE DOES.
VERY PLEASED, THANK YOU."

James
20/07/2015
5/5 Rating

"Maria is efficient, focused and hardworking. My 14 year old
daughter enjoys her lessons with Maria."

Teresa
10/02/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria tutors my daughter and me together in French. Maria is
extremely patient and we are enjoying her lessons. She is really
helping us."

Deborah
12/09/2016
5/5 Rating

"Very patient with lots of energy! Really good with my 6 and 7 year
old girls learning German."

Tutoring Approach:
Although I learned all my foreign languages through a rigorous method very much based on writing and grammar, I am happy to adapt my method to my pupil's needs. Personally, I believe that conversation is the key to becoming fluent in a language, but at the same time I do not neglect the importance of writing and reading comprehension. I therefore aim to split my lessons as evenly as possible between speaking, reading, listening comprehension, and writing assignments.

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Personal Description:
My name is Daniele and I am originally from Rome. I have more than 25 years experience as Italian language coach/teacher in the world of opera: I have also worked, amongst other institutions, at Royal Colege of Music, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Opéra de Lille, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, and the Royal Academy of Music.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced Italian language teacher, and teach private one-to-one or small group lessons either in Hackney, where I am based, or online.
I teach students of all ages, levels and aspirations.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor the lessons to meet the student's needs, ability and aspirations.
When possible I try to follow a textbook, as I think this gives a good structure to our courses. The student would be expected to do some homework between lessons, as this is hugely beneficial to learning.
The aim is to enable the student to 1) read and understand Italian, 2) speak and express oneself, 3) write and 4) understand when listening.
The atmosphere is friendly and informal.

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Personal Description:
I obtained my degree in physics and doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of Nottingham. I then spent ten years working as a physicist in various universities in Italy, New Zealand and the UK. My specialty was low temperature physics. I am fascinated by science and try to pass on my enthusiasm.

In my spare time I enjoy white-water kayaking.

Teaching Experience:
One of my responsibilities as a postdoctoral researcher was to mentor physics students. I am used to explaining difficult concepts and techniques in a clear, simple and concise way. I have been working as a maths and physics tutor since January 2016. I currently teach students from 13 to adult, up to advanced higher.

I also work as an outdoors instructor, teaching climbing, kayaking and biking. Most of my outdoors work is with children, often those who have behavioural problems and are at risk of being excluded from school.

Tutoring Approach:
I encourage the student to think for himself/herself rather than spoon-feeding the material. I ensure that the student understands the fundamental concepts behind each topic, and does not simple regurgitate methods by rote. I aim to instill a fundamental understanding of the subject, but as exams approach I go through past papers and hone exam technique.

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Personal Description:
I'm a master student from China majoring in human nutrition in Glasgow university. Before this, in my undergraduate university in China I have worked as a proofreader of dictated draft from speech records for student union. I'm good at wording and grammar. Recently I learned a little German and Arabic to experience how people speaking varies around the world and also inspired by these teachers as to how to approach to a language from 0.

Teaching Experience:
During this year I have taught a classmate mandarin from 0. He is a Scottish. However, he is keen to learn a wide variety of languages. When he found Korean and Malay easier he gave up mandarin. Such a worldwide culture vulture! Anyway, no matter you learn mandarin for culture, travel, work, yellow-face friends, curiosity, or just Chinese restaurants, you are all warmly welcome! I can teach you from the basic pronunciation which is like singing to beautiful Chinese characters which is like dancing.....

Tutoring Approach:
I'm only available from September to December 2016. I'm friendly and very patient. If you have time for homestudying I can teach more during tutorial; if not, we will practice more together to consolidate memory. Language is for communication, absolutely not for getting a high score!
Honored to be your teacher!

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Personal Description:
I am a dedicated teacher and tutor who is passionate about education and the progression of students to achieve their maximum potential. Currently Head of Economics, with 10 years experience in the classroom teaching A-Level and GCSE Business, Economics and Financial Education.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently Head of Economics in a highly successful inner London secondary school. I have taught for 10 years across various exam boards and also have experience as an A-Level examiner for AQA. I am a co-author for the most recent GCSE Economics workbook by published by Hodder Education.

My previous experience includes working as an Academic Mentor for Economics and Business Studies in a Sixth Form College. My undergraduate degree was in BSc Economics from City University London. I also completed my PGCE in Business and Economics Education at the Institute of Education, UCL.

I have worked with many A-Level and GCSE students across London to achieve different objectives, ranging from understanding key diagrams to mastering exam technique!

I have been able to witness first-hand the positive impact of tuition and love the opportunity to expand the knowledge and experiences of the students that I meet.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a student - centred approach, focusing on building confidence and equipping students to be independent learners. I use current Business and Economics news in sessions, to help students understand different theories and concepts. I use past papers and practice questions to help students develop their exam technique and exam assessment objectives.

I have had experience tutoring online using platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meets. I ensure that lessons are engaging use different methods to ensure students are still building their knowledge and understanding of the topic.

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Personal Description:
My name is Inez and I am a professional with more than 20 years of experience in teaching several age groups and managing schools and school personnel. I love to teach, learn with the process and help others achieve their goals and abilities in communicating with others using another language.
I am native Brazilian, and an American citizen with life changing experiences by residing in Gloucestershire, living and experiencing the British culture.

Teaching Experience:
During the time I lived in Brazil, where I am originally from, I taught in local Elementary and High Schools, prior to founding my own private language school.
I am extremely proud to say that most of my students have achieved high standards in their professions and careers and to some of them, I am still offering advice and support.
To continue my development and advance in my career, I moved to the USA where I also worked as a teacher and became a Headteacher/School Director.

Tutoring Approach:
I have been a teacher more than half of my life. It has been a way of living to teach and translate to all ages, to my family and friends and to those who don't speak much of the English or the Portuguese language and to become an instrument of facilitation for people in order to understand communication, living situations and experiences in their lives.
At this moment, I am prioritising by teaching through online classes only .
I focus on conversational Portuguese, unless you are taking a GCSE or another business/school like directive. Even if you have basic or no knowledge of Portuguese, within a few classes you will be starting to speak and be able to start to express yourself in the language.
Grammar is approached but only with the intent of you being able to construct your sentences and understand what takes it to fluently speak.
I can offer a free 30-minute lesson for those who would like to try my classes and discuss their expectations in relation to learning the language.

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Personal Description:
I have been tutoring on a full-time basis for over 20 years, including teaching abroad as part of my degree at Cambridge University. Over this time, I have taught pupils across the whole range of ages and abilities. I offer professional, qualified, friendly tuition in English, maths and foreign languages, always tailored to meet each individual student's needs. Travelling is not a problem, and is included within the fee quoted.

Teaching Experience:
Please see above

Tutoring Approach:
Please see above

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Personal Description:
I have a PGCE in Secondary Art and Design, and have 8 years experience of working in education. I also have a degree in Theatre Design. I worked as a Visual Merchandiser for a couple of years after graduating, and then made the move into teaching.
I now work in pastoral roles within secondary schools - but actively keep up to date with the Art GCSE and A Level specs.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked as a Secondary Art teacher up to head of department level in London. Since moving up to Yorkshire 3 years ago I have worked in pastoral roles within 2 different schools, looking after years 7 and 8 and now 6th form.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring is not just filling in the gaps. I believe a Tutor should be a person of support through the difficult exam times, as well as a teacher. I work with young people to find out what their artistic style is and then help them use that to achieve their best possible result.
Creating artwork that ticks the right exam board boxes can be tricky - there is a lot of wok to do and it can seem unattainable to get everything done in time. I can help you streamline your work into the best pieces, and help you to show the links throughout your project in the most efficient ways.

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Personal Description:
Since completing my degree, earning a First in Linguistics and Spanish from St. Catherine's College, Oxford, tutoring has become the mainstay of my work. I regularly attend Oxbridge admissions-focussed events for both schools and the general public, as an experienced mock interviewer, seminar leader, and test coach. My speciality is Spanish, though I always hope for aspiring Linguistics students! Outside of tutoring, I enjoy hiking, cooking, and snooker (even though I'm hopeless at it).

Teaching Experience:
- 7 years' tuition experience - focus on Spanish, Linguistics, and Oxbridge admissions
- Regular tutor at an intensive revisions school in Oxfordshire, with a focus on board-specific advice for Spanish examinations at all levels
- Regular seminar leader at Oxbridge-focussed events at school and public events, including:
- personal statement workshops
- admissions test advice (for essay-based subjects)
- interview preparation
- subject-specific seminars for langauges, literature, Linguistics, Classics, and ASNaC

Tutoring Approach:
When tutoring, I do not use the word "lesson"; that's a poor description of the dynamic. Students have a goal, and it is the task of both me and a student to work towards that goal. I have a very informal style in the session, but I hope to back this up with good communication and organisation behind the scenes.

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Personal Description:
¡Hola!
My name is Susana and I am originally from Madrid. I am such a passionate Spanish tutor with over 7 years of teaching experience, providing Spanish lessons to complete beginners to advanced students.

Before moving to the UK, I completed a four-year Bachelor's degree in Early Years Education in Alcalá de Henares University (Spain).

Teaching Experience:
My work experience goes from working as a nursery nurse to work as a Spanish Assistant in secondary schools assisting GCSE and A-Level Spanish students.
I have been working with completely beginners, GCSE and A/Level students and advanced students.

While in the UK I also studied for and obtained my C1 Cambridge Advanced certificate for fluency in English.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to adapt to any student requirement. Anything you want to improve; I will be happy to help you with. Don't worry if your Spanish is not great, I'm here to help you, anyone can learn a language.

As a speaker and student of various languages myself (ex Welsh student), I know that learning a new language isn't always easy and presents many challenges. For this reason, I like to share my own experience and learning tools with students to get over those hurdles!

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