Glazebury Tutors and Glazebury Tuition

Personal Description:
I am an Independent Educational Consultant specialising in Dyslexic Disorders. I have been a private tutor for many years and have tutored over 200 students. I have worked with many gifted children and those also who find education a challenge. I specialise in special needs especially dyslexia and Autism. After training as a teacher and the a medical doctor I find that my interest has remained in the education field and so am now to begin training as an Educational Psychologist with the Institute of Education, University of London.

Teaching Experience:
Over 20 years teaching experience with 18 years specialising in special needs. Over 10 years an an Independent Education Consultant specialising in Dyslexia. I am able to offer tuition to students with ADHD, ADD, and Autistic spectrum disorders. I also have a child with dyslexia and Autism so understand the domestic side to these conditions as well as the educational.

Tutoring Approach:
My general approach to teaching is to enhance individual skills by providing an individual programme for the student. This allows the student to learn independently instead of the learning associated within schools of one size fits all. Unfortunately, this does not work with many children who need a structured individualised approach. I also work within the "We find this subject a challenge, not an impossibility" field; that is to say everything is positive concerning the tuition, and everyone can learn, its just they have not been taught in a way that they personally understand. This is especially apparent with the dyslexic student.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Chinese native speaker who is fascinated by my own culture and language and have a passion to teach this great subject and keen to share the beauty of my language with others.
I hold a master's degree in International Chinese Education, and I am also a qualify teacher in UK. I have over 16 years of teaching Chinese with experience in all aspects of Chinese language teaching. I keep up to date Chinese teaching method using course book, ppt, teaching and learning materials from website, etc. I have a good understanding of the problems which students encounter, and I am committed to helping them to achieve their aims. I have taught students of different backgrounds, ages and abilities.

Teaching Experience:
My experience included:
Teaching my own children Chinese.
As a Chinese community teacher.
As a Chinese Oral Examiner (Mandarin and Cantonese) in Excel Centre
As a Chinese teacher at a local government funding adult learning center.
Employed by different language agent as a freelance Chinese tutor.
Self employed as private Chinese tutor.

Tutoring Approach:
I would stick to one or two straightforward objectives for one lesson and kept my materials as simple as possible. I would use contrasting pictures, colour word cards and self-made flashcards in order to make the lesson interesting and easy to follow. When presenting new grammar, I always try to kept it basic and simple. Moreover, I would use self-made puzzles to guided the learners to using logic, intuition and elimination to make up a character. It is also important to make learning fun and entertaining so I would try to maintain some humour when teaching. I would like to make the lessons interesting, enjoyable and memorable and students obtain the knowledge of the Chinese language through entertaining and the subconscious way. Last but not least, I would use up-to-date course books and learning material.


**PLEASE NOTE: The tuition fees show below are based in my own home and online tuition. Travelling/time fees will be added if you require me to travel to your place. Thank you!**

Subjects

Personal Description:
- PhD in English Literature from Durham University
- MA degree in English Philology
- Qualified Teacher Status
- 20 years' experience in teaching English as a Foreign Language
- 13 years' experience in teaching Polish as a foreign language
- online and F2F tuition

Teaching Experience:
- Private tutor of English and Polish since 2005
- 20 years' experience in group and individual teaching
- Tutor in English Literature at Durham University from 2011 to 2020
- experience working for language schools across both the UK and Poland
- experience in working with various nationalities
- experience in working with SEN students
- Enhanced DBS check
- experience in exam preparation, including ISE II and ISE III

Tutoring Approach:
I always try to make my lessons fun and my aim is to always tailor my method to suit the student's individual needs. In my language lessons I tend to focus on the student's oral communication skills. I start each lesson by revising earlier material (usually through a communicative activity or an interactive one) and then I move on to new material. There is always plenty of speaking and while I let the student work out the rules of the language themselves (I am in favour of the inductive method), I am always on hand to help and to explain.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I grew up in the UK and then worked in Indonesia for 10 years, teaching Indonesian scholars on pre-departure academic programs. I also taught cross-cultural and study skills courses. After Indonesia, I moved to Australia, where I worked at two universities in Brisbane, the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology. More recently I have worked on Exeter and Bath University's pre-sessional program. I'm a friendly, kind and patient person with a good sense of humour and I love teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for 20 years, mainly in the UK, Australia and Indonesia. I have experience working with English language learners at all levels and particularly at the university level. I can prepare students before their academic study or can assist them when they have already started university.
I am also very experienced in exam preparation. Most of my work has been on IELTS preparation courses (I used to be an IELTS examiner) but also on FCE preparation programs. I currently teach students in groups and one-to-one and I am available for Zoom classes.

Tutoring Approach:
I think it's important to listen to students and identify their individual needs. I try and see them as they are, without judgment and I also encourage them to see the facts about their language learning, rather than their opinions. Many students say they are 'bad students' and this does not help their learning. So I show them a different path where they can look at the specifics of what they are doing and how they can improve their skills step by step. This makes them feel better about themselves and their studies. It also gives them responsibility for their own learning.
I also bring humour into the classroom as I feel laughter is very important to the learning process. Some students have said that my classes are 'like being in a family' and I think that's a lovely compliment.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I possess a doctorate degree in stellar astrophysics from University College London.

I have always possessed a tremendous thirst for knowledge, and am passionate in my pursuit of it.

I believe there are always new fields of study to explore and ideas to engage one's imagination - I suppose one could say that I simply love learning.

Teaching Experience:
For several years I have provided private tuition in both mathematics and physics for both GCSE and A level students.

I have also assisted in mathematics and physics problem classes for 1st year undergraduates at University College London.

On top of this I have assisted in astronomy classes for further education diploma students at the University of London Observatory.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe it is of the utmost importance that the student tries to understand the mathematical ideas and/or physical concepts behind the topics they are studying - to picture the problem or situation in one's imagination often helps one appreciate what one is trying to accomplish, and gives one a much better understanding of what is involved in solving problems and achieving success.

This approach of getting inside a subject has stood me in good stead throughout my academic career, and still forms the cornerstone of my continued quest for facts to fire my imagination.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been an EFL and Italian Teacher for 20 years. I have always had a big passion for teaching languages. I have a University Degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies and I work as a private Italian Teacher and tutor online.
I am a Professional Italian/English/French Teacher and Tutor (GCSE and A Level), Medical Translator/Transcriber and Interpreter

Teaching Experience:
I have a University Degree in Modern Languages, Interpreting and Translation. I have been teaching Italian and English for 20 years. I tutor online using Skype/Zoom. My students obtain best results thanks to a communicative and flexible approach.

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring is mostly based on building the basics of the language for beginner-level students, conversation, developing conversation skills, vocabulary learning and grammar rules. My conversational approach is followed by written tasks normally to be done outside the lesson.
I base my lessons mainly on real-life Italian and conversation. I focus on vocabulary learning and grammar rules using a wide variety of catchy teaching tools according to the type of students and the language target they need to reach. I like offering customized Italian lessons preparing materials that are based on my students' interests.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am currently a student teacher at Strathclyde. I can teach S1-S3 Science, Nat 4/5 Biology, Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology.

Prices below are for online tuition. In person is additional £5 per hour.

I hold a current PVG through Disclosure Scotland.

I am NOT an essay writing service, however, I can proofread any work and offer suggestions. You need to complete your own work. I don't condone cheating.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring biology since 2018, and have experience in teaching from placements.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach in the classroom is similar to my tutoring approach: keep it simple and adapt to the leaner. I am also a lot more relaxed during tutoring and I can focus more on what you as my pupil needs help with.

I can adapt the lesson content to suit different learners and I have a variety of teaching approaches I can use to suit each pupil.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Im 20 years old.

Currently a student at uni, studying social work bsc.

I want to do this because it be a great experience, great on my CV and working with children is the key area to my career aspiration. As a bonus I get paid to study myself and for the child, that's a no brainer.

Teaching Experience:
Currently in university studying social work.
I have passed my maths, English and art at a grade C-B.
I earned triple distinction on my btec health and social level 2 and 3.

Therefore I do have a lot of knowledge on certain policies and laws, especially if your looking into health and social jobs. I can teach easy English, writing and reading.

I am special myself (autistic) so i understand how to work with special needs children.

I have worked with children at a youth club and at children's hospital based in Birmingham.

Tutoring Approach:
I don't tend believe that teaching has to be serious and strict, I believe it should be fun, so that the child would want to study not to be forced to study.

I stand by that, as it says a lot about my character, I'm friendly, open minded and always, always put the child's needs at first because how can a child succeed whilst the implements/recognition of support are not in place? Therefore I do take different approaches to studying rather than a pen and a paper.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified and highly experienced Maths teacher and tutor and have been teaching/tutoring for 30 years with exceptional results. I am enthusiastic and passionate about teaching and at the same time am approachable and friendly in my relationship with my pupils.

I enjoy working with families who are fully committed to the process and I believe that the student, tutor and parent(s) working as a team can achieve amazing progress.

I have a Masters degree in Coaching from Warwick University where I am also involved in tutoring Maths teachers in how to get the most out of the different levels of student. As a professional performance coach (who has worked in education and business) I have a unique insight into what facilitates success.

Teaching Experience:
30 Years of teaching and tutoring Maths in Primary and Secondary schools.
2 Years in International schools
Tutoring 11+ for the past ten years.
Professional coaching experience with teenagers and teachers in education who are struggling with different areas that affect performance.
Work as a Professional Coach for Warwick University for the purpose of training Maths tutors across the UK
Senior school management for 18 years.

Tutoring Approach:
I love what I do. I am a passionate educator and this is my vocation.

My approach is unique and recognises the need to align conceptual understanding with an ability to apply it in different situations. There is often a disconnect here which explains why pupils struggle in exam situations.

I am currently in the process of collaborating with Warwick University in writing a book that makes Maths more accessible and relevant to the students of today. The plan is to follow up with books at different levels which will support teachers, students and parents.

Subjects

Personal Description:
PLEASE SEE 'TUTORING EXPERIENCE' BELOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS PAGE, THE RESULTS AND FEEDBACK

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class), as well as a qualified English teacher, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2026/27
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I am currently pursuing a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, the ELAT, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech-writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, writing, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD. And I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in the exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

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A student, June 2025: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June 2025: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June 2025: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May 2025: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May 2025: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February 2025: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January 2025: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

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A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

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A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

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A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

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A student, January 2023: 'Just wanted to let you know I got an offer from Cambridge, thank you so so much for all your help.' And Kathryn: 'You were such a great help to [E.] in her preparation for the Cambridge application and interview and we were all delighted when she was offered a place this week. Thank you for all the support you gave her.'

Shaun, a parent, January 2023: '[E.] has found the sessions really very helpful (and has enjoyed them!)'

Guifang, a parent, December 2022: 'From what I hear from [S.], she really enjoys her discussions with you, it's really one of the highlights of her week.'

A student, November 2022: 'I'm extremely happy to tell you that I received an 8.3 for the literary review […] Thank you for explaining to me what a literary review is […] I remember whilst working on it I was so worried about my grade, but it appears I've survived.'

Deborah, a parent, September 2022: 'a huge thanks again to you for all your work with [S.]. I know he has been in touch to let you know that he got 9s in both English Language and Literature. He was over the moon - well beyond his best hopes, so thank you again for being instrumental in helping him attain those grades.'

Karen, a parent, August 2022: 'Both my girls really like your way of teaching and talking to them, they feel really listened to and respected for their opinions (as well as respecting yours obviously), so thank you :)'

Helen, a parent, July 2022: 'Thanks so much for all the help you gave [J.], he really benefitted from the sessions he had with you.'

Tara, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all your help and patience - I think you have been brilliant for her confidence. She found English exams really very difficult before she started talking to you and it's amazing to see how much calmer (relatively speaking!) she has been going in to her A level English papers. Whatever the result, her sessions with you have definitely helped her to enjoy English again and I'm really grateful.'

A student, June 2022: 'This is incredibly insightful and thought provoking feedback. Thank you so much.'

Mei, a parent, June 2022: 'She found your lessons very helpful and always remarked to me how much you went the extra mile for her ; looking up and sending on links to whatever you'd been discussing. Much appreciated!'

Marguerite, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all you've done for [T.] in the past year . […] you are a very talented teacher.'

Monica, a parent, June 2022: 'You have been an absolutely wonderful tutor to [L.], and how time has flown since she first met you! […] Many a time she has needed someone to talk to, not so much about AO1-5, but rather about the beauty and burden of literature and life. You have always been willing to do that, and she is richer for it.'

A student, June 2022: 'Thank you for teaching me for the last year; I have enjoyed our lessons and I feel I have grown as an English student, with thanks to your teaching.'

A student, April 2022: 'I received an 8 for my essay!! I want to thank you for your tutoring on Keats and Wordsworth- I wouldn't have gotten such a grade without it!! […] I learned tons because of you.'

Ngozi, a parent, March 2022: 'Thanks for everything that you're doing for [G.] - it has been very helpful.'

A student, February 2022: 'Really, thanks so much. Was such a good and efficient service. Your feedback looks really good and I'm going to implement it today. […] Thanks again for doing this on such short notice'.

Deborah, a parent, October 2021: '[S.] said you make it really fun - he said at school his energy goes down in English lessons and with you it goes up! So that is praise indeed from a teenage boy!'

A student, August 2021: 'I got the A grade ! I'm so pleased, thank you for all the help and the essays really paid off :).'

Monica, a parent, July 2021: 'As would be expected from his first class qualifications, Josh is extremely intelligent. However, in my opinion, he has a a very particular advantage over others of a similar academic background, namely his ability to exhibit an authentic interest in the ideas his students express. He is always kind and encouraging, but without sacrificing rigour; this approach has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter when speaking, writing and reading. Furthermore, Josh has introduced her to a range of authors, poets , films and philosophical thought, thus enriching her far beyond the school curriculum. In the future, my daughter will undoubtedly look back on her time with Josh with both fondness and gratitude. I have no hesitation in recommending Josh as a tutor'.

Guifang, a parent, July 2021: 'I have know Joshua for 2 months and He has been supporting my daughter excellently through her GCSE courses, helping her to achieve a 9 in predicted grades. From this, Joshua has always been very serious with the work, needless to say, always punctual and gives detailed homework feedback. I know him to be a wonderful tutor to my daughter.'

Susan, a parent, May 2021: '[T]hank you so much for all your help with [N.] […] [N.] found your lessons extremely helpful which enabled her to enjoy and understand English in a greater depth […] it was excellent tuition . Thank you'.

Jamal, a parent, May 2021: 'Thank you Josh for all your efforts, you have greatly assisted [S.] in better understanding English Literature as whole.'

Zahed, a parent, May 2021: 'We are grateful for all your help and support. We are in no doubt that [A.] has improved a lot in English Literature under your guidance.'

A student, May 2021: 'I just got my coursework back and got an A in it. Just thought i should let you know thanks you!'

Margaret, a parent, March 2021: 'Thanks for helping [M.] to improve her English understanding. She really enjoys her lessons and chats!'

Chris, a parent, March 2021: '[R.] is benefiting immensely from your lessons and is definitely getting more confident in expressing his thoughts in writing! Thank you.'

Amanda, a parent, December 2020: 'Josh has really helped join the dots, encouraged a depth of questioning and ways to interpret and compare ideas, extracting and bringing fresh meaning to narrative styles and creative use of language. Josh has been a great support and steered [R.]'s confidence to look more thoroughly and develop a greater understanding all round. Josh has a kind, approachable style and encouraged [R.] with debating aloud and suggestions for further reading which all continue to be an invaluable help and inspire greater confidence in approaching exams and further reading in future!'

A student, December 2020: 'He helps focus my understanding and makes sure i understand the topic we are learning before moving on. Josh will make sure to ask you questions throughout the process and is always ready for your ideas even if you think it's wrong. He will set homework but makes sure to switch it up each week to make it more interesting and gives his feedback to help me understand what i need to do to improve.'

Diana, a parent, September 2020: 'Josh worked with my daughter for her A Level in English Literature. He was outstanding with his ideas and expanding her critical thinking. He went above and beyond to develop her analytical skills and as a result helped her obtain an A*. He is an absolutely lovely, gentle but dynamic and reliable tutor who has a rare ability combine his academic achievement with a natural talent for teaching. A real gem and we cannot thank him enough.'

A parent, September 2020: 'Joshua is an excellent tutor with great communication skills . He is very patient , helpful , approachable and takes time to explain everything clearly to my daughter . Joshua has been able to breakdown and explain in full detail all aspects of the A Level content.'

A student, June 2020: 'it's been great being taught by you, I've learned so many critical thinking skills in such a short space of time.'

A parent, March 2020: 'I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done for her - you've been the best English teacher she's ever had and she has loved her time with you.'

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During my teacher training, I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools.

While at Oxford, I was part of an 'e-mentoring' scheme to help candidates from schools without a history of Oxbridge applications.

At Christ College, Brecon, I ran two series of seminars, for sixth-formers studying RS and English literature. In English we covered 'The Tempest', Gothic literature, Pat Barker's 'Regeneration', 'Jane Eyre', Wilfred Owen, and 'The Canterbury Tales'.

Tutoring Approach:
I try to combine three things that I want my students to do, which are three forms of thinking: speak about complex ideas, read high-quality material, and write essays for which they will receive detailed feedback. For obvious reasons, lessons are weighted to speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Speaking

Pedagogy's holy grail is measuring progress, which is difficult in a classroom and impossible in a lecture. Happily, the tutorial system allows this to occur continuously and efficiently via dialogue. Can a student re-express an idea they have heard or read in their own words? If the answer is yes, they have probably understood the idea. Hence the constant questions!

As well as understanding the ideas of others, speaking is essential for students to develop their own. I love the quotation from the novelist E. M. Forster, 'How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?' We improve the quality of our ideas through the process of articulating them.

For my part, quite a lot of what I say is explaining what texts mean. This might sound obvious, but great works of literature are complex, so, to understand their meaning, one's own interpretation probably needs the support of others' prior interpretations.

I sometimes like to break the question of a text's meaning into two: What's it about? And what's it really about? Answering the first question is comprehension, a necessary first step. To answer the second question is to understand. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', for example, Blanche goes to live with her sister in New Orleans. She expresses a strong dislike of her surroundings and is frequently associated with images of water. She declines mentally and is eventually taken away. So what's the play really about? Blanche is a Romantic idealist who is disappointed with her life but still tends to imagine things in their perfect form. The play is about the human soul conceiving of things being as good as they could be (as if cleansed by water), reaching for the conception, and failing to grasp it - shuttling back and forth, in other words, on the streetcar named desire.

One thing I frequently encourage is making the link between those oft-cited elements of a good essay, themes and quotations. These are not unrelated ingredients, they are the text itself viewed from different distances. A theme (the desire to be cleansed) is a wide shot, and a quotation ('the land of the sky blue water') is a close-up. So the student of English has to practise their ability to zoom in and out.

Another way I try to support my students' studies is by making connections between the texts they are reading, which in my experience doesn't happen that much at school. Particularly at A-level, there are often many fruitful connections between the half-dozen or so texts being studied: the Romantics were devoted to Shakespeare and Milton, the Gothic is an aspect of the Romantic, the Aesthetic Movement drew on particular strains of Romanticism, etc. When these connections get made with reference to particular writers, they are no longer just isms. They make the material deeper and easier to understand at the same time. Towards the end of their school careers, students of the humanities should be able to get the sense of taking part in 'the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day' (Robert M. Hutchins).

Reading

I regularly give my students PDFs of high-quality secondary material pitched at their level or just above it. Explanatory notes, commentaries, and essays can help with understanding, particularly when it comes to context. (And all exam boards have assessment objectives relating to historical context.) To know that a text was written during a particular period and what characterised that period is to have a mental scaffold that does not limit movement but frees it. In studying the humanities we are studying human culture, and no one can do that without a bit of structure. It also helps when thinking about texts in relation to each other - when writing a comparative essay, for example. I like to think of honing in from context to text, e.g. Romanticism (late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) > William Blake (1757-1827) > 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1794) > 'The Tyger'. (What's 'The Tyger' about? There's a question!)

In my experience, knowledge acquisition operates according to the Matthew principle, named after a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: 'unto every one that hath shall be given'. In other words, the more you've got, the more you'll get. Every time you learn something about Romanticism, the greater will be your understanding of the poetry of William Blake. Your internal bookshelves expand - more connections, greater understanding. Reading secondary material is obviously 'extra', but it works to enhance students' understanding of set texts rather than crowd them out. Homer Simpson said, 'every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', and we laugh because it's not true. You can't fill up a brain, so the cliché about people's (particularly young people's) limitless potential is true. Every time you learn something new, you enrich your contextual understanding of everything else you have ever learnt. '[E]very moment is a new and shocking / Valuation of all we have been', as T. S. Eliot put it in 'East Coker'.

Writing

Speaking and reading are in a concrete way preparation for writing. If you think and make notes while speaking and reading, by the time it comes to writing an essay, the question should not be about what to say, but how to arrange the things you want to say. So annotation is an important skill. It's a bit like getting 'in the zone' for a sportsperson - students must practise getting there and staying there. I model the annotation process something like this:

Read with a pencil in your hand. What makes you underline? Something fires in your brain, so that you have a response - you spot a developing theme, you're reminded of another book, you agree or disagree, there's a word you don't know and need to look up, you like the way a sentence sounds. It could be anything. Read until you've underlined twenty words or sentences. Work out the three or four connections between the things you have to say, and you've got a paragraph plan. Work out the main thing you have to say, and you have a thesis for your essay, which, as you aim your paragraphs at it, will accumulate force.

A lot of learning (and life) is about noticing connections, so getting into the habit of doing so is something like learning how to learn. If a student has developed this habit, they shouldn't really have to think 'What shall I write?' in front of a blank sheet of paper or screen. The content of the essay will be a sort of emanation of prior thinking.

When it comes to giving students feedback, I keep in mind one of the best incites I heard early in my PGCE: attend to your students' writing as you would a piece of literature. This way, the marking progress becomes analogous to the writing process. What are all the things that could make this essay better? And is there a connection between them, i.e. what's the main thing this student needs to focus on? (I usually give feedback using comments and 'track changes' in Microsoft Word.)

Why study English?

It has been said that 'If you can think, and speak, and write, you are absolutely deadly', and I think that's right. Learning how to construct and articulate good arguments is learning how to impose ideas on the world. To the extent that English is about feelings, it is about their articulation, and there is a great deal to learn about how feelings have been and can be articulated. Moreover, because English is the medium of instruction in all other subjects, command of it confers a freedom to range through the history of ideas and discriminate between reliable and unreliable, including online. Language is a prerequisite for thought - doing English properly is learning how to think better.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A patient and friendly TEFL qualified teacher with a bachelors degree in English Literature and Drama from Cardiff Metropolitan University. I have over 2 years' experience tutoring a range of students from differing ages and backgrounds. I tailor bespoke sessions to an individual's needs and I find creative and innovative solutions to learning.

I have a unique professional background living and working in London in Marketing, Publishing and TV Production. This has allowed me to bring a wealth of experience and personality to my teaching style.

I am a creative person with a love for acting, TV and Film. I enjoy all forms of storytelling and have explored my passion through music video production, radio broadcast assistance, acting and comedy.

My other passions in life are writing, reading, self-development, yoga, running and travel. I have recently returned from a 6-month travelling trip around Asia!

Teaching Experience:
I have a passion for learning! I am experienced in online tutoring both adults and children in Academic English, Business English, pronunciation, general English grammar and vocabulary, and conversational English.
I also tutor students in KS2 and KS3 English and KS3 and KS4 Drama studies and tailor a bespoke and individualised package for each student.

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring approach is kind and patient. I understand that no two people have the same learning style. This is why I tailor my teaching to the individual's needs and preferred learning style. I work with the individual to provide an enjoyable lesson that achieves the desired outcome. Whether that's confidence building in your child, gaining a higher grade in school right through to teaching children and adults mindfulness tools and techniques. I bring my unique background to my lessons to provide a memorable learning experience.

Due to our current situation, I tutor online via Zoom. I am also able to provide students with small homework tasks after each lesson which help retain what they've learned with me. I try make my lessons fun, entertaining and variable so you/your child enjoys the lesson and comes away feeling happy and stress-free!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Anum
Age 35 years

Teaching Experience:
Full time university lecturer 2017-2023

Tutoring Approach:
Interactive
Participative
Slides
Lecture material

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