Halkirk Tutors & Halkirk Tuition

Personal Description:
Alan began exhibiting his photography back in 1995 and won various awards through the Australian photography industry bodies: the A.I.P.P. and A.C.M.P. In 1997, he was awarded the 'Nikon/Panorama Showcase Photographer of the Year' for his portfolio of ten images. The judges included the late David Moore. In 2006 he received two nominations in the international Black and White Spider Awards for fine art and sport. In 2008 Alan took part in a weeks long photo workshop in London, taught by two Magnum Agency photographers. He was one of 14 chosen from 130 photographers that supplied portfolios.

Teaching Experience:
Studio and location photography at Gallery Xposure to adult classes.

Tutoring Approach:
Very much a hands on approach to photography- we get out there are take photos and use the equipment. It' the best way to learn.

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Personal Description:
Recently made the decision to take voluntary redundancy from Volvo Truck and Bus where I had been employed both in accounts and as P A to the MD for 26 years. I wish to concentrate on teaching languages which I enjoy so much.

I have a 21 year-old daughter living at home with me while studying medicine at Glasgow University.

PLEASE NOTE
Due to recent confusion, I wish to clarify that the rates quoted per hour are for tuition in my home in Barrhead. Travel to a student's home and/or additional pupils will incur extra charges.

Teaching Experience:
I have a degree in French and German and have been tutoring both children and adults for many years, although my enthusiasm has never waned.
I attended a TEFL course two years ago and am still improving those skills through an on-line course. I find this very easy and enjoyable as I come from the generation who were thoroughly taught correct English grammar and spelling.

All my pupils who take exams achieve excellent grades and I can supply references to testify to this.
Languages are fun!

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a thorough method of learning languages - not the 'phrase-book style' fashionable for some years. As much speaking practice as possible is essential.

Having so many years' experience, I have many practice papers and CD's for school exams and excellent courses for adults.

Any parents considering additional help in the lead-up to exams should try to start this as early as possible. I may be expert and dedicated but I don't have a magic wand to work miracles over the last couple of weeks before an exam!

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Personal Description:
I am very patient and tolerant but very effective in imparting right techniques in Maths. I encourage independent thinking and asking questions. I am currently teaching in a Sixth Form college and I have a good experience in teaching AS/A2 Maths, Accounting and Business Studies.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching to sixth form students for quite a long time now and have delivered excellent results. After completing my Master's in International Business, I have been working at Independent Sixth Form college in Birmingham since September 2010 teaching AS/A2 Maths, Accounting and Business Studies. Working in a sixth form college has given me immense confidence to deal with students.

Tutoring Approach:
I put a lot of emphasis on past papers and exam reports as its very important to read Examiner's Mind frame before attempting any paper. I believe that examiners understand the mind of a student through his/her written attempt, not how hard a student has worked or how impressive his subject knowledge is. In order to facilitate this, I have a vast resource of Past papers and Exam reports which prove quite conducive for my tutees.

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Personal Description:
I am an Open University graduate having completed an BA(Hons) degree. I chose my own programme of study which consisted of French,English Language Studies with GCSE/Standard grade Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. After my degree, I undertook an A-level/Higher Grade Maths course and GCSE/Standard Grade level Latin course to keep my study skills fresh and updated whilst complimenting my degree.

Prior to this, I under went a City and Guilds in Delivering Learning which taught me the vital skills required to be able to plan and construct lessons. In conjunction to this, I have also achieved my Level 1 certificate in British Sign Language.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently hired by Borders College based in Galashiels where I teach adult evening classes in Mandarin Chinese, Italian and French, which I love. Seeing my students grow and learn is one of the main reasons why I entered the tutoring and teaching profession.

In addition, I have taught French to various ages ranging from Primary right through to Adult in various capacities. Furthermore, I have taught English as a Foreign Language which was a brilliant experience as it gave me a valuable insight into how people learn not only English but languages in general.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring comprises of friendliness and patience. Having studied at home for my degree, I understand the importance of a structured and warm learning environment. My motto has always been "There is no such thing as a stupid question". If you do not know the answer then the only way to find the answer out is to ask the question, whether it is for the first or tenth time. As I am so passionate about French and English along with reading and writing skills, I feel that lessons with me will be a positive, exciting and worthwhile experience.

I have always strongly believed that education is available to everyone, regardless of past experiences. The only thing that I feel matters when it comes to learning is a want to learn, if you have that then anything is possible.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified and experienced tutor, based in Loughton and I can tutor in students' homes or online. I really enjoy tutoring as I find that my students make excellent progress which is very rewarding for me, too. Where required, I can provide references from previous students.

Teaching Experience:
I have 25 years' teaching experience (EFL/ESL, German and French) across all levels in colleges, local schools and as a private tutor.

Tutoring Approach:
My greatest strength is my ability to tailor my lessons to match students' exact linguistic needs - whether that means focussing on grammar, speaking ability, exam preparation or a combination of any of these for those who are learning for work and/or leisure purposes.

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Personal Description:
I provide private Watercolour, Acrylic, oil painting and drawing lessons for beginners to advanced students at my Kings Heath studio. I will teach you everything you need to know, landscape, Flowers painting, life painting still life, technique of painting to technicalities of drawing. I am happy with one to one session and small groups are welcome as well. Also available for workshops, demonstrations and lectures.

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 20 years teaching experience as a fine art lecturer. Many of my students are now working on senior positions. Now I am working as an art tutor independently and also working with Independent Art School Birmingham. I also have experience working with adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy working with others in their projects and I like engaging them in mine. Good team work is essential for me. I have great experience in communicating with people of different cultures and backgrounds.

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Personal Description:
I am an energetic and ambitious final year university student with five years of experience in tutoring. Italian is my first language but I am also fluent in English (IELTS level C1).
I have been an exchange student in 2016/17 in England and I obtained my AS levels. The year after I went back to Italy to complete my studies and gain the Italian Diploma di Stato, in which I scored 82/100. I was then back in England to obtain the A-level qualifications and I am now studying at University.

Teaching Experience:
I have 5 years of experience with both children and adults, both face to face and online.
My lessons are very interactive and engaging, and they are all customized based on students' needs. Tutoring is a real passion for me, so I do my very best for each student to reach his or her full potential.

Tutoring Approach:
My methodology is quite structured, but I easily adapt to students' styles and preferences.

99% of the students who come to me want to learn how to talk to people, so I am used to this request. I help them achieve this by ensuring that they know their grammar inside and out, and by supporting them with their speaking alongside it. The more we build on the grammar, the more we can build on the speaking, simultaneously. I have personally designed 4 levels of speaking, so the activities vary based on the level the student is in and build up smoothly.
For students who are interested in long-term tutoring, I often recommend a textbook to use along with my slides. I also make use of WhatsApp to send recordings if the student is struggling with pronunciation.

Most people appreciate the importance of knowing some basic grammar before they can practice speaking, and they are open to trusting me to fill in their knowledge gaps first. Once that's done (usually after 5-6 sessions if you start from zero), I introduce them to my "level 1" speaking practice, which is about describing a picture or something that they can visually see, in short, disconnected sentences. "Level 2" would be to try and get that speech to flow a little bit better by using pronouns and particles to avoid repetition. "Level 3" would be to add a bit of made-up background to that picture. For example, if they see that the table is laid but an object is missing, such as cutlery, they can try and think of why that could be (e.g. the man forgot to put the cutlery on the table). "Level 4" will involve describing procedures or things that they can partially visualize, or that are completely abstract, for example, describing every single action taken to make a cake, or talking about a past holiday. Lastly, "level 5" involves debating about current issues or picking a topic, establishing that we have two different opinions, and the student has to try to convince me of theirs.
These "levels" vary from person to person but it provides at least an idea of how the speech develops alongside the grammar, which is present in every session.

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Personal Description:
Another great year with all my tutees gaining the top grades and the university of their choice. I am very proud that my tutees achieve such excellent grades as I am able to improve essay and short answer grades, often considerably, due to my extensive experience at A level.. I am a friendly, very patient and good humoured tutor who is highly professional in my approach to tutoring whether online or one to one. I work hard for my tutees and am always prepared to go the extra mile. My commitment to my students is not just in the tutoring session as I will assess work and give help whenever my tutees ask for it. I have a very extensive understanding of Economics and Business and I keep up with all the latest developments in my subjects. I believe I have warm and friendly personality with a good sense of humour and that I am also a good listener.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified, teacher with over thirty five years experience teaching and tutoring Economics and Business. I have worked for all the major examination boards as a moderator, examiner and question setter. I have a great deal of understanding of what GCSE and A level examiners are looking for in awarding top grades. As a result I get a huge satisfaction when my students gain really improved grades, year on year, very frequently exceeding their own targets. The feedback from students, parents and carers is always extremely positive and it is this high praise that makes me want to continue teaching and making the difference.

Tutoring Approach:
I firmly believe that the majority of teachers and schools/colleges do their best to help their students. However, many students have weaknesses especially in their written work. To gain high grades students need to be able to analyse, apply and evaluate their knowledge but those skills are often not developed by their school or college. However, my experience and individually focused sessions can remedy this and as a result my students soon are making far better responses to essay questions, data response and case studies than before they started tuition. As confidence grows I work with my students to help them achieve consistent high grades and a very pleasing final grade.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor with oustanding grades over the years including Ofsted.
I am willing to travel within a radius of 10 miles.
I am happy to teach over the whole syllabus or for exam preparation with revision.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified teacher of A level Sociology.
I have taught in a range of educational sectors including Sixth Form Colleges, Schools and the Independent Sector. I am also an experienced examiner marking for 2 national exam boards (AQA & OCR) which I will be doing so again this current year. Additionally I am a former faculty head (retired) and can help with administrative issues.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is student-centred and empathetic.

I am an experienced personal tutor.
My teaching style is very much a student centered approach whilst recognising the importance of scaffolding for students. I am used to teaching small groups to prepare students for UCAS university entry.

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Personal Description:
My name is Georgios, I come from Greece and I am a passionate teacher of Classics. I have a broad experience teaching Ancient and modern Greek (my mother tongue), Latin, History and Classical Civilisation. Adapting my teaching to the level of the student I can help students of any level to excel to their exams or broaden their horizons by learning about the classical civilizations.

Teaching Experience:
I have a MA (UCL) and a BA in Philology (upper 10% of my class) with a specialisation in Classical Studies and I have a 5 years experience teaching students of all ages. I have a QTS and I have taught several students entering the university, with outstanding results. I have moved to London to pursue postgraduate studies in Classics, further enhancing my teaching skills and my knowledge on the field.

Tutoring Approach:
I can teach any type of Latin, Greek and History lessons, taking my students from the beginners level to excellence. I follow a systematic approach that will guarantee fast and steady progression to higher levels of classical knowledge guaranteeing high A-level grades and deep knowledge of the subject. My teaching is individualised based on the needs of the students with the ultimate aim of teaching people that will enjoy studying classics and learning about the civilisations that constitute the basis of our modern world.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Billy!

I've recently graduated from studying English at Exeter College, Oxford and have began teaching full time. I love reading, music, dancing and travel - mainly things that bring me closer to understanding and connecting with people. As a tutor I am firm and supportive, but can tailor my approach depending on the goals of the student.

Teaching Experience:
I've consistently been working as a tutor for over 3 years.

I've worked as a full-time teacher and activity leader for Bayswater College and LSI Cambridge.

I obtained a CELTA qualification from IH London.

Tutoring Approach:
My main aim as a tutor is to ensure students leave my lessons with greater knowledge and understanding of the subject. I believe this is best achieved through enquiry-based learning: I always encourage students to ask questions, because doing so helps stimulate critical thinking and allows them to take an active role in their learning. We can start from the basics and gradually work our way through the subject using a series of custom-made study notes, intensive revision sessions and back-and-forth conversations!

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Personal Description:
I'm Kirsty, I love teaching as I believe my passion for my subject helps ignite curiosity in young people of where we see maths in everyday life and how it affects their lives. Spotting patterns and being able to problem solve in every job and career path comes from great mathematical analytic skills!

I love when students get the 'lightbulb' moment; the understanding kicks in and we get the solution to the problem we are working on. Endorphins rushing when we feel a sense of achievement. I want to help break the barriers of 'I'm not good at maths' and change mindsets to 'I'm not good at maths, yet'. Optimism and a positive mindset can really change outcomes, both with maths questions and life in general.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teacher for the past 10 years in a secondary school in Billingham. I have taught throughout key stage 3 and 4, from year 7 through to year 11. I have designed schemes of learning and the resources to go along with that to enable students to have interactive but thoughtful, ordered maths lessons with key concepts covered and checking for understanding throughout.

Recently I completed the National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) which has enabled me to break down components of learning - for people of all ages and abilities - and ensure the best progress is made through the correct understanding and structuring of learning modules.

Since 2018 I have worked for exam boards Edexcel and OCR marking a mixture of higher and foundation papers, so I have a good understanding of how examiners apply the mark scheme and the experience to teach tips and techniques to ensure exam success. Not that exams are everything, but they are a necessity to further your academic career, so understanding how to do them well is key to showcasing your knowledge!

I have tutored privately 1:1 for the past 7 years, working with a mixture of ks3 students, as well as ks4 in examination prep at both higher and foundation level. Everyone I worked with got the required confidence or grade that they needed to move onto the next stage of their learning journey - excellent!

Tutoring Approach:
I love a mixture of tasks to break up the monotony of 'a worksheet of questions' which might be some peoples' experience of maths lessons. Maths is not boring; I want to share my love of it with people!

I like interactivity - be it using mini whiteboards, card sorts, tarsias etc. - as well as ensuring key concepts are covered with GCSE style questions so our skills match up and link to what examiners might ask.

Using physical manipulatives to introduce concepts which leads to understanding at an abstract level helps solidify knowledge and fluency of skill.

If one strategy does not work, I have a range of other ways to aid understanding - one size does not fit all with maths and there are often more ways than one to find a solution. Let's explore our reasoning together and develop a solid mathematical understanding and hopefully build your confidence at the same time!

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