Portswood Tutors & Portswood Tuition

Personal Description:
Hello and welcome :-)

I'm Craig and I have been teaching languages for almost 15 years now. I am a relaxed and patient teacher and will be well suited to anyone who needs to learn at their own pace or who needs things explained well and carefully to them.

I am also well qualified for the job with a BA Honours degree with triple distinctions in Spanish, Italian & French as well as Teacher Qualified Status and a CELTA. I have also lived, worked and studied in Spain, Italy, France and Greece.

I have studied a lot of languages myself. I've studied over 30 languages over the years. I have achieved fluency in the languages I teach, but I have also reached a fairly good standard in some other languages or have acquired a basic knowledge of many others. I will use some of the methods I have used to learn these languages to help teach you.

I will help you, step by step, to begin speaking and understanding your chosen language.

I am also DBS (previously CRB) checked for your security.



Here are a few a reviews from my customers:

I thoroughly recommend Craig to everyone as an excellent Spanish tutor. He is kind, patient and commited to his students.
My daughter, who had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) had an hour`s lesson every week for eighteen months, after her secondary school was unable to offer Spanish lessons. She achieved an A* grade in her GCSE exam (Review by Kerrie, Sittingbourne)

I thoroughly recommend Craig if you are looking to learn a foreign language. I spent my teenage years completely adamant that a second language was beyond me. German was my weakest subject and I sat at the back of the class applying my make up! I am now working towards conversational Spanish, and after just over 3 months I am able to hold a Facebook messenger conversation with my South American friends! Not only has Craig taught me enough grammar to achieve this, he also anticipates difficulties English speakers may have with certain language constructs and works through those too. I always look forward to my lessons each week, and enjoy doing the practice questions I`m given for homework. (Review by Emma, Chatham)

I am giving my Italian lessons with Craig a 5 star rating. I began my lessons as a complete novice and now feel confident enough to be going on holiday to Italy to stay in a non-English speaking village. Craig is a highly-skilled professional. I recommend him to anyone who wants to learn a language (he speaks and teaches many!) whether a beginner or with some existing knowledge, for holidays, for work or to reinforce their language learning. (Review by Amanda, Maidstone)

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching languages since 2004 and have worked as a full time language tutor since 2010.
I have also taught in language schools in the UK and abroad as well as in public schools.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very patient and will guide you step by step towards speaking your language of choice. I use a mix of my own course designed by me and materials from other sources such as course books, grammar books and realia.

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Personal Description:
I am currently studying for a Biological Sciences PhD. I have an MSc in Applied Marine Science and a first class honours BSc in Marine Biology.
I love my subject and want to share this with the next generation while helping them achieve the best that they can.

Teaching Experience:
I have experience in secondary level education in England, having completed the Student Associate Scheme at the end of my Bachelors Degree. In doing so I had experience working as a classroom assistant and running my own Biology lessons.
I have also worked as a demonstrator within the university.

Tutoring Approach:
I don't believe in giving the answers, it does not help anybody. My approach is to explore the question/problem/topic. If a question can be explored from a different angle then the answer is always reachable. Learning shouldn't be just memorising facts, but really understanding a topic. I love that moment when it just clicks!

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Personal Description:
I love teaching! This is my passion and my job. It gives me great satisfaction and fulfills my professional ambitions. I am optimistic and open-minded what makes my students more eager to enrich knowledge and expand communication. I am demanding but rewarding as my goal is to provide effective training. What is more, my international experience has developed my methodology creativity. Last but not least, organisational skills are definitely my second nature.

Teaching Experience:
I have been gaining valuable international work experience as English Teacher since 2000. I have been in intensive cooperation with leading English, Australian and Polish schools of English teaching children, teenage and adult students. I have found fulfilment in providing General and Business English courses to groups and individuals on all English levels ranging from A1 to C2. I have also conducted FCE, CAE, CPE, BEC, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and EAP courses and specialised English Training Workshops successfully. My TEFL experience is with students of different cultural background. I facilitate their different pronunciational, lexical or grammatical difficulties what proves my expertise and adaptability to students. Moreover, I was responsible for developing General English and TOEFL/IELTS curriculum and its further coordination. On a regular basis I work online and provide Grammar, Vocabulary, and Speaking classes to students. Moreover, I enjoy working as a translator of economic, financial, legal and technical texts, and as interpreter at business meeting and negotiations.

Tutoring Approach:
How do I conduct classes? I always set the goal of providing effective training. However, I alsways create a detailed lesson plan, based on recommended course books or my own materials and following both language and personal goals. Most of the time they refer to my individual approach to students and make lessons tailored to their specific needs. I believe that effective teaching must be a combination of work and fun. My priority is to make classes varied, engaging, and memorable. Varied as they cover all skills and types of activities. Engaging as I want my classes to be student-centered with the main focus on communication. And memorable as there use fun games and language equipment. I believe that not only planning, but also monitoring and reporting play a great role. To get the full picture of the learning process, I provide students with sufficient feedback and reports.

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Personal Description:
My name is Kieran and I am an enthusiastic English student currently studying at Loughborough University. I have worked in the theatre for around eight years and am therefore incredibly confident and easily approachable. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at school and always thought about the prospect of teaching or tutoring so that I could pass on my knowledge and love for English to those who perhaps need some extra help in reaching those top grades at GCSE and AS level. My age also allows me to empathise with current GCSE and A-Level students as it was not long ago that I sat those exams myself. I am therefore confident with current exam board syllabuses and the relevant texts being studied. Please feel free to contact me regarding the tutoring of English Literature.

Teaching Experience:
Supervisor and staff at Rainham School for Girls summer school 2012.
Volunteer at local theatre group teaching 7 - 18 year olds music.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a very relaxed attitude towards tutoring as I believe this is the best environment to learn. Students will bring current school work with them to the session and we will work through any problems or issues that they are struggling with. As well as this, I will prepare literary examples and worksheets if students give me notice as to what they wish to study during the coming session. I am completely dedicated to helping and supporting those who need an extra push during exams or even just wish to receive extra guidance within the field of English Literature.

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Personal Description:
I am a Japanese language teacher, a native speaker who studied for a bachelor degree in art in Portland, Oregon. I have lived in Tokyo and Osaka where I worked in the fashion industry and import/export business. I now live in England with my husband and two children.

Teaching Experience:
I have experience teaching Japanese to both adults and children one-to-one and in small groups. A typical lesson will include practice of general or topic focused conversations, related grammar study, key vocabulary usage and pronunciation. As an award winning student of calligraphy, my speciality is teaching the Japanese writing system.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a patient and friendly manner allowing students to develop at their own pace while giving lots of encouragement to make sure students achieve their goals. I am flexible as to the content of lessons and will tailor-make courses to reflect students character and interests making the learning experience as enjoyable as possible.

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Personal Description:
My name is Amandine and I am studying a Master's degree in Education and English teaching in France while being abroad for a year. I graduated from Université de Bretagne Occidentale (Brittany) and Bangor University (Wales) with a BA in English Literature, Civilisation and Linguistics.

I work as a fully DBS checked French Language Assistant in a private boarding school. I am currently working with GCSE and A level students, of all abilities, on their speaking exams.

I offer regular online lessons to help you be more confident when speaking a second language. This includes working on French grammar, general conversation and pronunciation.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any information.

Teaching Experience:
I recently passed the French competitive exam equivalent to the PGCE to be an English teacher in France.
I am currently teaching student as a language assistant and I help them with the IGCSE and A-Level.

Tutoring Approach:
I do believe in Tutoring as a way to provide some external help in the process of leaning languages.

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Personal Description:
I have a BA in philosophy with first-class honours from the University of York, and an MA from the University of Birmingham. A number of my papers have been published, and I was previously an editor of a philosophical journal.

I am a professionally trained, passionate philosopher. I believe in helping students to achieve highly whilst also imparting some of what makes philosophy a wonderful subject. Despite what some people think, you absolutely can maximise both simultaneously. Learning should be fun and rewarding, but still results driven.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for over four years. I am reliable, dedicated and professional. I have an exceptional history of helping students achieve success.

Tutoring Approach:
I have excellent communicative and interpersonal skills. Philosophy is hard, we will look at things together that some of the greatest minds of the last two and a half thousand years have struggled to grapple with, so although I can never make it easy, I can certainly make it *easier*. I want to help you appreciate the satisfaction of understanding and working with something that was originally very challenging.

In short, work with me if you want someone:

- Professional
- Reliable
- Experienced
- Results driven
- Passionate
- Knowledgeable

We will work on understanding, essay writing, and exam technique. I will also help you to think in a more critical, rigorous manner. I offer a high-quality service that will maximise your chances of success and bring you the highest intellectual return. My excellent reviews attest to this.

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Personal Description:
I am an Italian tenor and pianist. I started my vocal training with renowned bass Alfredo Mariotti and later studied with Claude Thiolas. I graduated in Piano in 2008 at the Conservatorio "Frescobaldi" in Ferrara and in Singing in 2009 at the Conservatorio "Tomadini" in Udine.
I won two editions of the Concorso Cameristico C.A.Seghizzi in Gorizia: in 2005 in the Sacred Music category, and in 2007 in Chamber Singing category (in duo with Alessandro Sica, with whom I attended a masterclass with soprano Catherine Dubosc).
As an opera singer I have performed the following roles: Alfredo (Traviata, Verdi), Count Almaviva (Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini) Ernesto (Don Pasquale, Donizetti), Nemorino (Elisir d'Amore, Donizetti), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly, Puccini), Pong (Turandot, Puccini), Jacopo Foscari (I due Foscari, Verdi), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti), Hoffmann (Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Offenbach). I took part in the Rai Italian Television productions of Rigoletto (2010) conducted by Zubin Mehta with Placido Domingo in the title-role and Cenerentola (2012), conducted by Gianluigi Gelmetti.
As a chamber music singer, I performed several times Schubert`s and Schumann`s most important Lieder cycles, besides works by composers like Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, Mahler, Strauss, Berg, Fauré, Duparc, Ravel, Poulenc, Rachmaninov, Britten, Copland… in duo with pianists Alberto Miodini, Michele Bravin, David Giovanni Leonardi, Federico Lovato and with Trio di Parma.
As a concert singer I performed the solo roles in Requiem by Mozart (with Orchestra Filarmonica della Fenice, Venice, conducted by Enrico Bronzi), Liszt (with Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Verdi, Trieste, conducted by Armando Tasso), Dvořak and Verdi, in Haydn`s Missa in Tempore Belli (conducted by Antonio Ballista), Rossini`s Petite Messe Solennelle and in Orff`s Carmina Burana in many Italian houses and halls (such as Teatro Comunale di Bologna Teatro Civico di Castello in Cagliari), in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Russia.
I recorded for Tactus records some composition for tenor and organ by Marco Enrico Bossi with organist Andrea Macinanti.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked for eleven years in Italy teaching Piano, Singing, Music Theory and Music History, preparing students also for Conservatory exams, before coming to the UK in 2017.
For three years I have directed the Choir of "Associazione Culturale Insieme per la Musica".
In 2012 and 2014 he gave two cycles of lectures open to the general public: the first one about opera history and the second about vocal chamber music history.

Tutoring Approach:
I think music is an important part of our life and I like to help people to know it better and enjoy it!
No matter your age or if you want to become a professional performer or just enjoy playing or singing under the shower, my aim is to find the best way for you to achieve your purpose.

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Personal Description:
An accomplished PhD holder with more than 10 years university teaching experience in earth sciences field, where I have gained diverse teaching experiences. Proactive and creative researcher in geosciences with partic-ular focus on geophysics and tectonics. I am able to work on my own initiative and as part of a team in both research and teaching settings. I possess good organisational skills and the ability to communicate effectively, and I have developed and applied these skills in various teaching/supervising activities.

Teaching Experience:
September 2015-June 2016 Arabic Teacher, (Libyan School in Birmingham)
• Duties- Teaching Arabic as a foreign language (on Saturdays). Assigning reasonable tasks and homework to students. Evaluating students' academic progress.

Sept 2013-July 2014 Physics and geography Teacher (Saudi Arabian School in Birmingham)
• Duties- Drafting test papers, conducting tests, evaluating answer sheets, assigning grades and providing feedback to students to make further improvements. Organising competitions and extra curriculum activities.

October1995- March 2008 Lecturer at University of Tripoli, Geophysical department
• Duties- teaching gravity and magnetic courses and supervised several BSc projects (25students), includes gravity and magnetic measurements, processing, interpretation and 2D modelling. Interpretation of 2D & 3D seismic data leading to oil prospecting.

2003-2007 Industrial lecturer for the Libyan National Oil Corporation (N.O.C):
• Duties Course title "Gravity and Magnetic in Oil Prospecting" given during summer to newly graduated students before they joining the oil sector. The course summaries the basic theory and application of gravity and aeromagnetic surveys and consists of a series of lectures, with computer-based exercises demonstrations and qualitative interpretation of mapped gravity and magnetic data to reinforce the lecture topics.

Tutoring Approach:
learning strategies:
Assigning reasonable tasks and homework to students. Evaluating students' academic progress. Drafting test papers, conducting tests, evaluating answer sheets,
During the lesson when I explain an idea I have to make sure that the student follow up by explain the idea back to me.
- Find out the best way that student prefers to learn.
-Help student to develop the skills he / she need
-Build on what he or she already knows
-connect the material to student personal experience.
-Try different approaches to add variety in order to keep sessions interesting

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Personal Description:
I am currently attending Cardiff University, where I have just finished my first year, studying Accounting. I am currently offering tutoring in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, until October.

I thoroughly enjoying helping people progress and sharing my love of learning! I pride myself on my enthusiasm and my approachable, relaxed nature.

Regarding what I am able to teach -
I currently am offering 11 plus tutoring as well as A Level Mathematics.
I offer C1, C2, C3, C4, S1 and S2 Mathematics modules, across all boards, as well as Biology A level topics, also across all boards. The exam board I took my own exams in was OCR MEI (for Mathematics) and OCR A for Biology.

I am aware the A Level syllabus has now changed from modular to linear, and have tutored a Year 12 student doing Mathematics under the new course. The content is very similar to previous years - it is just the style of the exam that has changed!

Teaching Experience:
I have taken on a number of leadership roles, both in school and in my freetime. I ran House Art, an intraschool competition, during Year 13, and held the rank of Corporal for the last few years of my time as a cadet as part of St John Ambulance.

Prior to going to university, I tutored two students in A level Mathematics (EdExcel and MEI OCR), who both achieved Bs, and one student in A level Biology (who achieved an A). While I have been in Cardiff, I have also been tutoring two students in A level Mathematics (both Edexcel).

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that a good teacher is vital for A level subjects such as Maths and Biology - otherwise it is easy to become lost in class and fall behind, which is where I hope to help! I am open to working with students in different ways depending on their requirements and how they work best, whether this involve helping with homework questions or teaching topics from scratch. I endeavor to establish a connection with students and am always contactable by text or email for help with questions or queries, over the week.

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Personal Description:
I am married, and live in Gloucestershire with our two Chocolate Labradors. Prior to teaching, I worked in advertising and then recruitment for 10 years. I have been teaching for the greater part of twenty years.
I am an avid reader, and keen amateur actor.
I speak basic - and extremely rusty! - French and German.
My other interests include tai chi and kung fu, yoga, weight lifting, and juggling.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked in education since 2003, initially in the primary sector and since 2007 in secondary. My initial experience was as a Teaching Assistant, working with children with special educational needs, including one to one teaching of pupils with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Between 2003 and 2007, in addition to working in both primary and secondary schools, I tutored English and Maths at KS2 and KS3.
I took my PGCE in English and Drama in 2007, and taught full time secondary English Language and Literature at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 for 10 years. I have been an English tutor for KS3, KS4 and KS5 - both face to face and online - since 2019, working with students aged 11-18.
In my last school, where I taught for 10 years, I started and ran the Debating Society, the Mock Trial, and was also involved in a number of educational trips abroad.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is open and relatively informal. I feel that tutoring works best when a relationship is established between myself and the student - they should feel free to ask questions, raise issues, and discuss any aspect of the work that interests them. It's very different to being taught in the classroom: in addition to individual attention, it also offers the opportunity to read and study texts not on the curriculum which can augment and strengthen the school syllabus. English is essentially a skills based subject. Although there is a lot of content to learn at both GCSE and A level, students benefit from being able to access and flexibly use the techniques needed to study and criticize. Reading, debating, and discussing a variety of texts enables the student to develop and apply these skills in lessons and exams.

Tuition is available in English Language and Literature for all secondary years, including GCSE resits. I can also tutor pupils preparing for the 11+, and scholarship entry in Year 7 or Year 9. Tutoring sessions are specifically geared to the student's individual needs, and may include functional literacy, close discussion of a set text, exam revision, and past papers. We can follow a specific syllabus, with the flexibility to focus on any particular aspect of the curriculum if so desired, or study more organically, choosing interesting and challenging texts that offer the opportunity to learn effectively while developing a strong set of English skills.

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Personal Description:
Hello, my name is Fei. I completed my Ph.D in Actuarial Maths and qualified as an actuary while working in the City. I am currently teaching GCSE maths, A Level maths, A Level further maths, AP maths, IB maths for various students going to very competitive schools in London.

I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and knowledge as a tutor, making a positive impact on the academic journey of my students. I am committed to helping them overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and develop the necessary skills to thrive academically and beyond.

Thank you for considering me as your tutor. I look forward to embarking on a rewarding learning journey together.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently teaching GCSE maths, A Level maths and A Level further maths (both in person and online). My students come from various very competitive schools in London, including Newstead Wood School, St Olave's Grammar School, Wilson's School, Eltham College, King's College School, St Paul's Girl School, Judd School, etc..

Through initial conversation and initial assessment, I will learn students' strengths and weaknesses.

While I was doing my Ph.D. in Actuarial Maths, I taught undergraduate statistics. In addition to weekly in-person meetings, I mark students' assessments in detail and provide detailed feedback and comments.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where students feel motivated and inspired to reach their full potential. I believe in tailoring my teaching methods to suit individual learning styles, ensuring that each student receives the attention and support they need to succeed.

I am dedicated to fostering a growth mindset within my students, encouraging them to develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and a lifelong love for learning. I strive to build strong relationships with both students and parents, fostering effective communication and collaboration to ensure the best possible educational experience.

Through my detailed explanation, analysis of students' answers and detailed written feedback and marking, both students and their parents are extremely satisfied with the outcomes and experience. Students show a better appreciation of learning mathematics and achieve better academic results.

I am also happy to discuss your career choices and offer you some insights into finance career if you want to pursue a finance career in the future based on my personal experience in the City.

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