Huntingdon Latin Tutors and Huntingdon Latin Tuition

Personal Description:
I have an MA in Classical Philology and Russian Studies from the University of St Petersburg and am qualified to teach Russian, French, English and Latin. Since graduating in 1978 I have worked extensively in language teaching and translation / interpreting. I have also worked in France for 3 years and attended an interpreting school in Paris (ISIT - Institut Superieur d' Interpretation et de Traduction). I also hold a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI in Law) issued by the Chartered Institute of Linguists and am a member of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) and of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIL).

I have taught schoolchildren, students and adult learners at beginners, intermediate and advanced level. I have lived in Britain since 1991 and am available for tutoring in Cambridge, Huntingdon and in the surrounding areas.

I also provide English language tutoring for Russian, French and German speakers. As a translator / interpreter I specialise in Medical / Pharmaceutical and Legal translation and interpreting for private companies and public service organisations like the National Probation Service, the Police, the Courts and the NHS.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching Latin at the Chemical Pharmaceutical Institute of St Petersburg (1978 - 1979).
Teaching English and French at the Technical University of St Petersburg (formerly the Leningrad Polytechnic) - 1981 - 1984 and 1986 - 1991.
Teaching Latin and French at the Medical Military Academy of St Petersburg (1984 - 1986)
Teaching French and German at a Russian Secondary School (1988 - 1991).
Teaching Russian at Manchester Business School, BNFL, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, University of Salford.
Private tutoring - teaching English, French, Latin and Russian (1984 - 2015).

Tutoring Approach:
I do my best to give the student a good grounding in grammar which is a key to understanding and fluency whatever the language. I encourage students to listen to radio programmes in the target language, watch newsreports on television etc as it is a great learning tool. I feel passionate about languages myself and find teaching highly enjoyable.


I hold a full up - to - date DBS Enhanced check certificate issued 13 February 2013.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I studied Classics at King's College, Cambridge, graduating in 2009. I then trained as a teacher at Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating with a PGCE in 2010. I have been a private tutor since 2009, and have now clocked up thousands of hours' tutoring experience in Latin and Ancient Greek. I tutor both languages to degree-level standard in London, Cambridge and online. I love Classics, and my main aim is to make my lessons fun and inspirational.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring Latin and Ancient Greek intensively for the past 7 years, with thousands of hours' teaching experience to date. I have taught towards all major public exams in both languages, such as Common Entrance, GCSE, AS, A2, SAT, Pre-U and even BA (i.e. University exams). I am familiar with the entrance processes for a number of independent and grammar schools, and have had a lot of experience teaching towards scholarship papers. I have tutored many students applying to Cambridge and Oxford, and can provide in-depth advice and support with choosing the right course and college, as well as getting to the necessary level for the language tests. I have also taught the languages to those who have decided to learn them purely for fun! In addition to my face-to-face teaching, I have taught extensively online (about 50% of my teaching is conducted on Skype), and have built up an array of handy techniques to get the most from the online format. I was Head of Latin at a school in Bury St Edmunds for two years (September 2011 to July 2013). Since October 2010, I have been supervising Cambridge undergraduates in Latin and Ancient Greek (colleges so far have included Pembroke, Downing, Homerton, Queens', King's, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Caius, Peterhouse, St John's, Emmanuel and Trinity). I also own and run a private tuition agency, Titanium Tutors, which I set up in 2011, managing a team of 8 staff members and over 1000 inspirational tutors.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is structured and thorough. I start every lesson with a five minute recap of the key content of the previous session, checking how much the tutee remembers. A typical lesson will then consist of a translation, in which I ask the tutee to note down each unknown word as it is encountered and to devise a memory trick which will help them to recall the word in a five minute test at the end of the lesson. Together with the tutee, I will then pick a grammar point which stood out in the translation exercise as requiring the most immediate attention. We will spend five to ten minutes working on that, with the tutee's understanding tested with some reinforcement exercises. At the end of the lesson we will recap all the new vocabulary and grammar which was covered, and I will typically set a manageable 20 - 30 minute homework for the next session based on what was covered in the lesson. Every lesson is of course different, and tailored to the tutee's requirements, but I find this approach works in the vast majority of cases. I consider grammar to be crucially important, but treat it as a means to an end and always emphasise the ways in which it can be usefully applied to translation rather than learned in isolation. I believe that any tutee can excel in Latin and Greek with a little guidance and a decent amount of independent work. Above all, I strive to make my lessons fun and enjoyable. I love my subject and want all of my tutees to love it too.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced and enthusiastic tutor with a great love of languages, both ancient and modern. I have two Latin/Ancient History degrees: a BA from the University of Bristol, and an MA from UCL.
I have a teaching diploma, with a specialism in tutoring individuals or small groups, from school age through to adult learners.
I continue to study myself as I enjoy learning, but I particularly enjoy helping others in their learning.

Teaching Experience:
- Private tutor with a wealth of experience across all age groups - my students/tutees have ranged in age from 10 to 85. I have coached for exams (CE, GCSE, A level, university exams), with excellent results for my students, and I have tutored adult learners who have come to me for a variety of reasons: some always wanted to study Latin at school but didn't have the chance, others like the idea of reading Virgil or Cicero in a small friendly group. Many of my adult learners have gone on to take Latin GCSE, with great success!
- Tutor in adult education, currently teaching Italian, Latin, Ancient Greek and Roman History in West Sussex.
- Tutor at The London Summer School in Classics.
- Tutor at UCL, taking undergraduate seminar classes.

Tutoring Approach:
The key to successful tutoring lies in tailoring the content of the classes to the student's needs and objectives. For GCSE/A level, a rigorous approach may be required to ensure that grammar and vocabulary is secure, whereas an adult learner may want a pleasant meander through the joy of learning something new and exciting, or a quick progression to adapted text. Whatever the case, I think learning or revision should be fun too, and I aim to make my lessons as enjoyable as possible, whilst keeping a close eye on exam deadlines where relevant!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Oxford graduate with more than fifteen years' experience as a private tutor and consistently excellent results in Latin, Greek, Classics and English.

Studied Classics at Oxford University and awarded an academic scholarship.

Earned a Master's Degree with Distinction in Latin literature at UCL. Awarded the Dean's Prize.

Since then, I have been working as an award-winning arts journalist alongside my work as a private tutor.

Teaching Experience:
Private tutor for fifteen years, with significant experience in private tuition of Latin, Greek and English at all levels, and excellent exam results achieved by my students.

*LATIN/GREEK*

Classroom experience as teacher of Latin at a prep school and teaching assistant for primary school Latin classes.

In-depth, up-to-date knowledge of the current syllabuses for Common Entrance, GCSE and A-level, as well as all major textbooks, including Oxford and Cambridge Latin Courses, Athenaze, Greek to GCSE, Shelmerdine, ISEB Common Entrance publications and other frequently used courses. I also have a wide range of my own resources.

*ENGLISH*

English tutor for ten years, complemented by working as an award-winning arts journalist. Through this work
I've personally interviewed several of the authors on the English syllabuses, including Margaret Atwood and Arundhati Roy. I have a particular love of bringing Shakespeare alive, and I have also extensively interviewed many actors and practitioners about Shakespeare's work, including Sir Ian McKellen; I love to feed this real-world experience into lessons, to show that learning English is not just about words on a page.

Tutoring Approach:
CONFIDENCE: I love seeing students gain confidence as they study with me, and passing on my knowledge and enthusiasm until they are as excited about a subject as I am. My main focus is finding something for them to enjoy within a given subject and building our learning around that.

TARGETED APPROACH: I find out the areas where the student will need the most help, then I plan my lessons carefully to address those areas of difficulty. I always try to build on the way the student has been taught at school, so that my tuition complements their school learning rather than clashing with it.

EXAM TECHNIQUE: I also ensure that we are always working on exam and revision techniques while learning. This includes helpful mnemonics, studying past papers and mark schemes, and ensuring we are engaging closely with the relevant syllabus to pick up as many marks as possible when it comes to exams.

TIPS AND TRICKS: I like to build routine into tuition sessions, so that the student knows what to expect in each session, which helps boost their confidence, and so that grammar which can seem strange and unfamiliar at first becomes second nature. I've got plenty of tips and tricks to help with the most difficult parts of grammar and syntax. It's useful to break things down into smaller chunks - for example, the large set texts can be daunting, but they become manageable when taken piece by piece.

Above all, my approach is to be friendly, patient and knowledgeable.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced qualified teacher (Certified Teacher-Directive 2005/36/EC) of Modern Greek language (native speaker) and Classics (Ancient Greek, Latin, Classical Civilization). My BA degree with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status, 4-year course) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UoA, Faculty of Philology), is in Greek & Classical Philology with a major in Linguistics, and my MA degree is in Educational Studies (with Distinction, The University of York). Most of my tutees are learners of Greek as a Foreign Language (Conversational Greek, Business Greek, Greek for Beginners, Intensive Greek), Greek as a Second Language, and BA /MA students at the University of Edinburgh (where I'm based) and other universities (via online tuition) who need help with Latin/Ancient Greek/Modern Greek for their undergraduate/postgraduate course. I also have significant experience in preparing tutees for GSCE in Modern Greek. In addition, I have worked on a plethora of GR-EN digital content translation/localisation projects, content creation projects and as a proofreader/checker for MA dissertations and PhD Theses.

Teaching Experience:
January 2012 - present
Freelance Tutor for Greek as a Foreign Language (Conversational Greek, Business Greek, Greek for Beginners, Intensive Greek) or Second Language, Latin, Ancient Greek.

January- June 2012
Lakeside Primary School, Clifton Moor, York, United Kingdom
Volunteer teaching assistant, York Students in Schools (YSIS)
This community volunteering scheme provided teaching opportunities that enhanced personal and professional development.

December 2009- October 2011
"Neo" Educational Organisation of Secondary Education, Athens, Greece
Middle School and High School (Gymnasium and Lyceum) full time teacher
Latin & Ancient Greek Literature and Thought, Classical Civilization, Greek and Roman History
Student-centred and interactive teaching approach
Developing and designing lesson plans according to the Greek National Curriculum.
Monitoring student progress (summative and formative assessment)

2007-2008
Teaching practice - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

"Varvakeio", Experimental Lyceum, Athens
"First (1st) Experimental Unified Lyceum of Athens"
"Gennadio", Athens
"Anavryta" Experimental Lyceum, Athens,
"Agion Anargyron" Experimental Gymnasium, Athens
Arranging and developing lesson plans for middle school and high school grades.
Practice on teaching methods and strategies
Classroom management
Observing lessons
Teaching under observation

2004 -present
Self-employment- Private tutor
Greek as a Foreign Language (GFL), Greek as a Second Language, Ancient Greek, Ancient Greek Language, Latin, Ancient and Modern Greek literature, Philosophy, Writing/Study skills

Tutoring Approach:
Student-centred and interactive teaching approach.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I left Hampton School in 2009 with 9 A*s and A's at GCSE and 4 A's at A-Level (this was before the A* grade was introduced). While a pupil there I combined my studies with the Philosophy Circle, made a short film raising awareness of human rights abuses in Burma, and took medals at numerous rowing events, including National Schools Head and National Schools Regatta

I left St Hugh's College, Oxford, in 2016 after seven years reading Classics. I focused on literature - Homer, Virgil, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Juvenal among the more prominent names - but took in history, philosophy, art and archaeology as well. I got studied for an MPhil in Classics at Trinity College Dublin and received a Distinction for my thesis on Homer's Iliad.

While the Latin and Greek languages, inculcated by my grandmother's reading me myths in the nursery, remain my first love, I am as passionate about English. I've always thrilled at a meet, original turn of phrase; I've read for pleasure as far back as I can remember; and I learn a new poem by heart each Sunday. It is this enjoyment and relish of learning that informs my teaching and which I aim to pass on to my pupils.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching since before I can recall. My family could tell you that I'm never happier than when imparting some new fact to them. Formally, I began in the Sixth Form, assisting my teachers with their 11-13 year-old classes. There I learned quick, efficient and discreet one-to-one tuition. Since September 2012 I have been tutoring students aged 11 to adult in Latin, Greek, English Literature and English as a foreign language. My tutees have included pupils who had fallen behind, pupils who transferred late into unfamiliar subjects, and a new arrival from Shanghai who could only slightly speak English. He passed his English GCSEs nine months later.

Aside from tutoring, I taught all three classical subjects and special education at the very academically strong Bancroft's School in Essex.

Selected students:

Sameer, 12, Ancient Greek and English as a foreign language:
In five months' residential teaching in Moscow, Sameer went from a novice Greek student to passing the entrance exam for St Paul's, one of London's most prestigious schools. Outside book-study, we boated down the Volga, camped and cooked out, with me as his companion and friend as well as tutor.

Anne, 23, Ancient Greek as part of an MA in Critical Theory:
With no prior experience of Greek, Anne went on to achieve a 1st in her Greek paper. On the strength of that Master's, she went on to read for a DPhil. at Worcester College, Oxford.

Siwei, 16, GCSE English Language and English Literature, English as a foreign language:
Siwei arrived in Britain from Shanghai with very little spoken English. He got two Bs at GCSE nine months later.

Daniel, 15, GCSE Latin:
In six months, Daniel went from a first-year's understanding of Latin to an A* at GCSE.

Tutoring Approach:
I aim to teach you the Oxford way: begin with a read aloud of a text, or ask for a brief summary of the topic studied for homework, and then discussion. My aim is to impart not only factual knowledge (the what) as understanding (the why). But if your son or daughter understands the blunt fact of Shakespeare's iambic pentameter or Virgil's dactylic hexameter, then specific examples of its effective use will come to them and *remain with them* all the easier. I'm particularly good at teaching the 'prescriptive' stuff, like metre and grammar, rigorously without being boring. Many years a student myself, I value patience, kindness and humour in my teachers, and I set these at the core of my teaching.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been teaching Latin, Greek, and Classical Civilisation since 1992. I currently teach at a Central London college and am an examiner in Latin and History for both OCR and Cambridge International A-Level. I hold a BA from the University of York and a PhD from Middlesex University.

I am the author of over forty books and a respected senior member of staff at my institution. My work spans school-level teaching, university-level instruction, and public writing on classical and educational topics.

Teaching Experience:
I teach both beginners and advanced students in Latin and Greek, and have helped many succeed in Common Entrance, GCSE, A-Level, and beyond. I have particular expertise in preparing students for scholarship exams, including the King's Scholarship at Eton, the Westminster Challenge, and the Harrow Entrance Examination.

My students have gone on to top independent schools and Russell Group universities. I have taught learners from a wide range of backgrounds, including international students and adult learners returning to the classics.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching combines clarity, structure, and exam-focused preparation. I use past papers, model answers, and close reading, always with strong attention to grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.

Latin and Greek are rule-based languages. I help students internalise these rules through translation into and out of the classical languages, using adapted and original texts. This builds both exam readiness and lasting confidence in reading and interpreting ancient sources.

Where appropriate, I encourage students to explore the historical and cultural background of what they read - because the more they understand, the more they enjoy, and the more they retain.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A graduate of Cambridge University and a father of two children, I have been teaching Economics, Business and Mathematics in a secondary school.I have also been tutoring Economics and Mathematics and have a keen interest in how children have different methods of mastering subjects, using their own skills to progress, improve and attain examination goals.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Economics, Business Studies and Mathematics for the past 6 years at an independent school where I was based in the Sixth Form department.

Tutoring Approach:
The key to success is to understand where the student is starting from. By cementing what they already know, I then encourage them to gradually extend their knowledge so that they feel themselves to be making progress and they are then inspired by their own confidence.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic student of classics and ancient history, very passionate about teaching. I have learned Greek and Latin in university, and enjoyed learning them very much. I want to share my enthusiasm for the topic and teach Greek and Latin to others. I have an MA in ancient history from Durham University, and have finished my PhD in the same topic at UCL.

Besides Greek, Latin, classics and ancient history, I am also familiar with Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Aramaic, Old Persian and Modern Persian (Farsi), all of which I can tutor as well.

Teaching Experience:
Taught for Greek and Latin at UCL from 2018-2021.
UCL arts and humanities outreach presenter
Tutored Modern Persian, classical Greek and Latin since 2016.

Tutoring Approach:
I always thought that languages are easy marks when I was at school. This remains true: languages are the easiest place for the student to get guaranteed marks in their studies - the problem is that people learn languages in different ways and this is where I can help. Through the years I have worked with many different students and know both the material and different teaching styles inside out.

My goal is to make the language not only an easy way to easy marks, but also a very enjoyable prossess. I see them as gateways into fascinating cultures and literature, and my students tend to agree.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have an academic background in law and criminology, and more than ten years' experience working in the legal profession. I also have a full command of French, Spanish and Russian. I hold the Chartered Institute of Linguists' Level 7 Diploma in Translation, Russian to English (equivalent to a master's degree) and the Level 6 Certificate in Translation, Spanish to English ( equivalent to a bachelor's degree).

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English to Russian and Turkish speakers over Skype for seven years. I also have considerable experience of teaching French and Spanish one-to-one, both children and adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I greatly enjoy tutoring and find seeing my students improve hugely rewarding. My approach is gentle and encouraging, with an emphasis on setting a thorough basic structure in place.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have tutored a wide range of subjects, most frequently Latin and Maths; I have wide-ranging knowledge but I am a rare specialist in Classical Greek GCSE. Perfect exam grade record - in my mixture of reformed and unreformed GCSEs I achieved 5 9s, 6 A*s and and A^(A**) in Further Maths. A* in EPQ. Centre assessed 3 A*s in Maths, Further Maths and Economics A Levels (Calculated grades were 2 A* and A in Further Maths). I am studying Economics at Durham University from September 2021.

Teaching Experience:
100% 9-7 GCSE Record for Tutees

Tutoring 12 students in wide-ranging topic and subject areas.

I have tutored GCSE Latin, GCSE Greek, and year 9 Maths.

Feedback from Faye and Iona Green (Grade 7 in Latin GCSE) (February 2020):

'My daughter has been having 1 to 1 sessions on a weekly basis since summer 2019, she wanted to do GCSE Latin in 1 year.

We cannot speak highly enough of William, he has taught her everything she needs to know in a way that is easy to understand, full of enthusiasm and always willing to help outside of the taught lesson. He sets homework when needed and marks this.

My daughter is feeling confident about the forthcoming exams because of the excellent tuition that has been provided.

I would not think twice about using William again for tuition in the future and would highly recommend him to anyone else.

Thank you William for all you have done.'

Feedback from Katie Lester (Passed GCSE Maths Equivalency Test for PGCE) (September 2020):
'Just wanted to let you know I passed the test! Thank you so much for all of your help, you are a fantastic tutor!'

Feedback from Magdalena and Thomas Kurek (November 2020):
'Hi William. I had a parents evening recently and Tom's teacher said he is doing very well in math. Tom told me he feels more confident at school too. Thank you for your work with him.'

Feedback from Vivian and Cassidy Madziyire (February 2021):
'Your input so far has made a huge difference.'

Tutoring Approach:
Friendly, supportive, motivating, specification based work and focus on improvement through guiding through past papers.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Welcome! A freelance tutor and singer, I give "Personal tuition in the right key". I can help you get the highest grades in exams, and study in the "key" that best suits you. Like the right song choices, I often inspire my students to succeed.

- Which subject(s) do you teach?

French, Spanish, Latin, Ancient Greek, English as a Foreign Language, Creative Writing, Singing, Oxbridge Interview preparation.

- Tell me about your qualifications.

Master of Studies in European Literature (Spanish) from Exeter College, Oxford University;
Master of Arts in Classics and Modern Languages (French) from New College, Oxford University;
PostGraduate Certificate in Education and Qualified Teacher Status from the Department of Education, Oxford University;
Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Spanish Diploma) from Salamanca University, Spain;
Advanced Certificate in Careers Education and Guidance from Canterbury Christ Church College;
Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Level 5, CELTA equivalent, 140 hours) from EDI and i-to-i Volunteering.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts ("Working for 21st century Enlightenment")

- Where do you teach?

I teach online via FaceTime and/or Skype from my home and at students' homes. I live in Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, in the UK, and am prepared to drive up to c30 miles from home if online lessons are not possible, to include nearby towns such as Oxford, Wantage, Bicester, Henley, Reading, Newbury, Thame, Wallingford, Marlow ... I teach pupils online anywhere in the world, latterly in UK towns such as Northampton, Cheltenham etc. and abroad in Hong Kong, Russia, Kazakhstan ...

- Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.

I use Skype or Apple FaceTime. The video feed can be switched off at my student's request, or if it degrades the sound quality. Tests and exercises are sent to the student and returned to me for marking by email.

Teaching Experience:
- What kind of experience do you have?

Two years teaching Scholarship Latin and Greek in a local prep school (Cothill House);
Previously spent 25 years in the classroom in independent and state schools in the UK, France and Peru, teaching all ages;
Sometime Head of three academic departments (one of which I founded at Abingdon School);
c10 years one-to-one private tuition to all ages, latterly often online or through local agencies.

- Do you have an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly CRB) Certificate?

Yes - fully listed on the DBS update site.

- Where and with whom did you train?

University of Oxford, New College and Exeter College;
University of Oxford Department of Education;
Salamanca University;
Christ Church College Canterbury;

- Do you belong to any professional organisations?

I am a member of the General Teaching Council, the Association for Language Learning, sometime Chair of the Oxford Education Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Academy of St Cecilia.

Tutoring Approach:
"David has been tutoring our son via Skype for the last year, since his Spanish teacher said she did not want to put him in for GCSE Spanish as she thought he would fail. David has been marvellous with coaxing and coaching him and giving him confidence. Just the one to one attention has been hugely beneficial, and the bonus that "tech"� was involved, and that there was no time lost in driving to and from lessons has been a real godsend too. David is incredibly supportive and encouraging without being at all patronising, and really strikes the right balance to get the best out of his students. Can recommend unreservedly."
Mrs F, Gloucestershire,

"Our son has flourished under David's tutelage; the balance and content of homework and classwork has been very carefully gauged and enabled our son to progress rapidly, with great enthusiasm for his studies. The weekly reports David submits have been of immense value to us as parents trying to support our son's learning, as has the clear structuring, marking and regular review of work." Dr M. and Mr E.

"David has provided my daughter with an excellent grounding in Spanish prior to her starting the subject at school. He has guided her through the basics in a clear, thoughtful and well-informed way and has formed a very good relationship in which she has felt engaged, supported and motivated." Mrs W.

"My two children (ages 9 and 10) have progressed rapidly in their French learning with David. His lessons with them are focused and thorough, and his approach is patient and clear. He has great enthusiasm for languages and significant experience in teaching them, which show through in his lessons. My children both very much enjoy their lessons and are even happy to do the homework! David is also very helpful in working with us to find the best ways to support their learning between lessons. " Jenny T

"Dear David, Thank you so much for all your help and guidance when I applied for the Chaplaincy. It was good, too, to see you there when I went for interview" Revd. Michael P"

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an articulate and enthusiastic who has a desire to help others get on in my field and contribute to its growth. I am a graduate from the University of Liverpool and curreny studying for my Masters in Greek and Roman History at the University of Oxford.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored individuals on a casual basis and provided proof-reading services to friends and peers on a volunatarily basis.

Tutoring Approach:
I will work to see what is at the root of any difficulty which my student has, since, in my experience, a misunderstanding of some basic and fundamental issues can cause greater issued further down the line. I will tailor lessons to the student's particular needs, utilising materials which the student themselves have had experience with using.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over thirty years experience of teaching Latin, English, French and essay-writing skills, both in schools and as a private tutor. I specialise in helping students write their Personal Statements when applying to university or to postgraduate courses.

I am the mother of five grown up children, three of whom went to Cambridge, one to KCL and one to Oxford, and I have also guided many other students into achieving offers from top universities, including many to Oxbridge.

After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in English and Classics, I taught for 2 years before going to Drama school, then moved to Granada TV as a researcher and presenter. The next 14 years were spent working for various TV companies, while also writing for national newspapers and magazines.

In 1992, I moved with my family to Salisbury and went back to teaching, first in a college of Further Education, then at a prep school, and subsequently in independent schools: nine years at St Mary's Calne from which I retired in 2015. I was then invited to , come out of retirement to teach at St Swithun's in Winchester and The Oratory School Oxford.

I no longer teach in the classroom, but continue to offer tutoring in Latin, English, French and Writing Skills. A particular speciality is Personal Statements - helping students with their applications to university. I have helped very many students (both pre-university and postgraduates) write successful personal statements for their chosen courses.

As well as the academic subjects mentioned above, I help with any writing task from an A level or IB essay (especially Theory of Knowledge) to university theses and dissertations. I specialise in Oxbridge help, including suggestions for reading, preparation for entrance tests and interview practice. So far I have helped over 20 students gain places at Oxbridge.

Teaching Experience:
Personal statements

I have helped very many students write their personal statements for application to university - both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This does NOT mean writing the statement for the student - I do not have the breadth of knowledge to write about Astrophysics or Zoology, but it does mean helping the student clarify his or her thoughts, explain what has prompted the interest in the subject, how he or she has developed this interest, what extra-curricular choices have been made, and why, and how current A levels (or degree subjects) have prepared the student for this application.
For many students, the Personal Statement is the first time they have have to talk about themselves, and for many, it is bewildering knowing how to approach it and what to include and what to leave out.

I help the student by asking him/her to fill in a preliminary questionnaire, (Why this subject? What sparked the interest? Why it's important for the student and for society etc). Next, I ask for a first draft - it doesn't matter how bad or poorly expressed this is. Then, I work with the student - either at home or by Skype/Zoom, talking through the first draft and suggesting adjustments, improvements etc. Next the student writes a second draft, and the process continues until the students is totally happy that the statement says exactly what was intended, and show the student at his/her best.
I have many testimonials from happy students (including over twenty five to Oxbridge) which I would be happy to share on request.

Latin
I teach Latin at Latin Common Entrance, GCSE, A level, and university level. The great majority of my students achieve 9s at GCSE, and As and A*s at A level. Many have gone on to read Classics at university.

English
I teach English literature and language - both critical analysis of texts and and writing skills - from GCSE to university level and beyond. Many students whom I have helped with A level essays have come back to me for help with their university dissertations, applications for Masters, or covering letters for postgraduate job applications.

Essay writing
As well as helping with A level essays in all the humanities (RS, Philosophy, Psychology, History etc) I am an experienced tutor for IB Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essays. I have also advised and guided many students with their EPQs.

French
I teach French to A level and

I teach Classical Greek to GCSE.

Tutoring Approach:
1. My first priority is to let the student know that they are not alone - I am here to help. Just being told this can be immediately reassuring, especially if the student has been worrying for about a subject or project for a long time.

2. The next step is to establish exactly how much the student already knows. Nothing surprises or shocks me, but I have come across students seeking help who haven't got a copy of the relevant book or haven't read beyond the title page. I understand this - life is busy.So I am never critical or judgmental, I am always on the student's side. If necessary, I will provide a copy (years of teaching and a large family mean I usually have several).

3. The next step is to encourage the student into thinking of the subject as interesting. This may mean overcoming any resistance, by chatting, discovering how much they already know (always more than they think - another source of encouragement) and relating it to other areas of interest. One ideas have started to flow the student will begin to realise that not only might this subject/essay not be as bad as feared, it's possible they might find something enjoyable about it.

4. Now we look at the project and ways of approaching it. The key here is structure. Quite often the student's lack of confidence has led to panic and accompanying lack of organisation. So I help sort out files, help put notes in order, and encourage the student recognise which bits of paper are/aren't relevant to their work. This is mental housekeeping - and once order has been established, the student is in a better frame of mind for doing the work.

5. The next step varies according the to the subject.

LATIN.
I ask the student translate until he meets a problem. I then explain the topic- taking care to base it only on what the student already knows and feels confident about. If there are big gaps in knowledge, I start filling them, teaching vocabulary, grammar and syntax in an orderly way and asking the student to record what we have covered in his own written file.We then continue the translation, making sure the student has understood everything we have covered so far. This process is designed to lift the fog and give the student the tools needed to translate confidently

WRITING.
If it's an essay, I encourage the student to look at the title and think about (a) what is it really asking and (b) what ideas can he or she think of in response? These can be written down in any order - at this stage it's a question of getting the thought processes going.
We then discuss how to organise the student's thoughts into a coherent whole. This can be painstaking process - it involves teaching essay structure, and and sometimes even working backwards - going from conclusion back to introduction - but we always finish by knowing exactly what direction the essay is taking.
The final step is to ask the student to write something for next time. It doesn't matter if it's short or badly-expressed, and I always make it relevant to school work. The reason I ask for a piece of writing is
a) the act of writing enables a student to know what he/she wants to say
(b) seeing a student's writing shows me how to approach the next lesson. I can see what element of the writing need work, and plan my lesson accordingly.

OTHER IDEAS FOR READING ETC
I often recommend extra-curricular ideas to make the subject more engaging - films, YouTube extracts, magazines, even books - the student doesn't have to read a whole book - even dipping in and out is helpful and there is nothing more deadening to the love of books than being told you HAVE to read them.

STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
. I do not only help academic high-flyers. I am also offer warm and sympathetic help to students who - for whatever reason - find academic study challenging. I help develop study skills, suggest organisational strategies (for student and parent) and above all, restore lost confidence by showing the student that he really can tackle - and overcome - any problem - just by taking it slowly and making sure he or she understands each step before going on to the next.

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE.
, I'm a great believer in the comforting powers of a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, as well as the presence of my 2 cats (who, despite being to every lesson I've given, are still rubbish at Latin). For allergic pupils, however, the cats are banished to the garden.

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Personal Description:
Ciao! I'm Esmond. I'm a writer, composer, director and artist, and prizewinning History finalist at the University of Oxford, with experience of a broad range of learning environments and teaching styles, and substantial industry experience in music and the creative arts. Deeply passionate about my subjects, I'm dedicated to each of my students and enthusiastic about sharing the joy of learning with them. I tutor History, Music, History of Art and Latin to A-Level, IB and equivalent, and English, Design and Technology (Graphic Design route) and Maths to GCSE/IGCSE. I also provide mentoring, including guidance on personal statements, submitted work, admissions tests and interviews, for students applying to study History and related subjects at both Oxbridge and other universities. More broadly, I work with students at all levels to develop essay writing, research, problem-solving and study skills.

Currently a final-year historian at the University of Oxford, I hold both academic and music scholarships. I attained a Distinction in the First Public Examination, ranking equal fourth across the University. Besides history, my degree has also involved considerable interdisciplinary work in the visual arts, literature, music and folklore, and substantial language work in Latin, French, Italian and Middle English, in which I have research-level proficiency. I have A-Levels in Music, Latin and History (all above 90%), an AS-Level in Maths (A), and 11 A*s at IGCSE and GCSE. I have extensive knowledge of a broad range of history, music, art and literature, with particular expertise in the medieval, Renaissance and early Modern periods, the eighteenth century, the European folk revival, and - in music - post-tonal and contemporary composition, although I also teach more broadly, including on modern topics. I share details of and blog about medieval and Renaissance Italian art, drawing on my own photography and travels in Italy, at Treasures of Renaissance Italy.

My teaching in Music and Design and Technology is further underpinned by extensive industry experience in music (as a composer, director, producer and singer), graphic design and the creative arts more broadly. I produced and artistically directed my first opera production, Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, in 2016, with an international cast of singers from several leading British and European conservatoires, and I'm currently Artistic Director and co-Musical Director of the semi-professional early music and early opera ensemble, Theatron Oneiron, which I founded as a first-year undergraduate. As a freelance composer, my compositions have won competitions at a national level and been performed by such artists as the BBC Singers. I'm also a classically trained, semi-professional singer, currently a Choral Exhibitioner in the Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford, and formerly a Choral Scholar at Guildford Cathedral and Exeter College, Oxford, and member of the Iken Scholars among many other ensembles; and I frequently perform as a recitalist and as a soloist in oratorios and opera productions. I previously studied both piano and violin. In art and design, my experience encompasses both artistic and technical drawing, product design, poster design, and production design for the stage, and my work includes an award-winning scaled model and card model kit of Guildford Cathedral.

Teaching Experience:
I have substantial experience of a range of learning environments and teaching styles, including home education, project- and inquiry-based learning, the Oxbridge tutorial format, and classroom-style teaching in both the private and the state sectors.

I worked as a Teaching Assistant at Chelsea Academy, London, in 2013-14, as part of RGS Guildford's Outreach Scheme there. I have led and assisted classes for year groups and ability levels from Year 7 to GCSE and top to bottom sets, and previously provided mentoring to Oxbridge applicants. More recently, my experience includes one-to-one tutoring in humanities subjects, English as a Second Language, and Music Theory. I have further developed creative and effective coaching and teaching methods in the course of work as both a musical director and stage director, and clear and engaging communication of content and ideas through seminar talks and presentations in the course of my own studies.

Tutoring Approach:
My own teaching style is greatly influenced by my own fruitful experiences of home education (to age eleven) and the Oxbridge tutorial format. I prioritise the greater scope for intellectual flexibility and curiosity, intrinsically-motivated learning, and heightened freedom to range across subjects and pursue individual topics in greater depth according to each student's interests characteristic of both of these learning environments. I combine these foci with rigorous, comprehensive attention to exam syllabi to ensure that teaching and learning remain carefully targeted towards my students' desired grades in any traditional summative assessments such as school entrance exams, GCSEs or A-Levels.

All my tutoring is student-centred, guiding and facilitating my students in their own learning, in contrast to traditional teacher-centred instruction. I work with each student to tailor lessons to their individual learning style and priorities (whether understanding subject material, exam content, or honing particular skills such as analysis or argument). I place particular emphasis on developing a deep-seated passion for learning in my students and on encouraging them to think independently, critically and originally. I am, moreover, dedicated to seeing tangible improvement in each and every one of my students and will always put in extra effort to achieve this end.

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Personal Description:
I am a Masters student at Swansea university. I did my undergraduate in Classics achieving a 2:1, I also won the Alfred Moorhouse award for most proficient at Latin and Ancient Greek in the year. In my spare time I love to exercise and play video games and spend time outdoors!

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored online before with a student from Hong Kong in Ancient Greek. Also I taught kids in Tanzania about their rights and sanitation for 10 weeks.

Tutoring Approach:
When it comes to learning languages repetition is key, but this can also be fun. I aim to help you learn through repetition and practice, the benefit of this is the more you retain the more it makes sense causing learning to become fun rather than troublesome.

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Personal Description:
Hi all, my name is Jack and I am currently a finalist undergraduate at Oriel College, University of Oxford studying for a BA in Literae Humaniores (Oxford's name for Classics) hoping to help people stay on top of their education during a time in which education has been incredibly unstable for many.
I have 3 A stars in my A levels in History, English Literature and History, a mark of 100% in my Extended Qualification Project and 12 a stars in my GCSEs
I have an offer for postgraduate study at Newcastle University starting in September 2023.

Teaching Experience:
Having tutored for four years, I specialise in teaching students of all ages and abilities in Latin, Ancient Greek and wider Classical studies. I have also extensive experience in tutoring History and English to a GCSE standard. Beyond pure academics, I am a successful Oxbridge application tutor, specialising in personal statements and interview preparations for most humanities degrees.

I have tutored all of the UK examination boards (WJEC, AQA, OCR and Pearson), as well as Cambridge Pre-Us. I also am experienced in both GCSE and iGCSEs.

I also have a tailored adult learning programme which is flexible to both students ability but also the part of the Classical World in which they are most interested.

Tutoring Approach:
With my years of tutoring experience, combined with the skills I have developed at Oxford, I am confident in helping my students acquire an in depth understanding of their subjects. I use a range of interactive approaches to tutoring, providing personalised guidance to my students to allow them to reach their full potential. Through a combination of wider language work and a focus on examined content, I believe any student is able to access classical languages. With good, personalised tutoring, I believe these so called "dead" languages can be brought back to life, inspiring students to great success no matter their aims.

With adult learners in mind, my approach tuition is to get to grips with some original texts as soon as possible, since this is why we learn Latin and Greek! Language is the key to unlocking the ancient world and too often classical language teaching misses this, deep in its lexicons and grammar primers. I aim to correct that, by teaching grammar and language skills alongside getting to grips with some of the biggest names of the classical world.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified solicitor in Greece, having completed my Bachelor and Master Degrees in UK. I am currently working on my PHD thesis on the philosophy of UK Criminal law. I am really enthusiastic to pass the knowledge I have acquired all these years studying and practicing law to aspiring new students and at the same time, learn from them, their ideas and enquiries.

Teaching Experience:
I have given private tutorials, online or in person since 2014 and 9 of my students are studying law in Universities in UK, all of them achieving at least 1:2. My specialization is to work mainly with Greek and Cypriot students who want to study law, either graduate or post-graduate, in UK.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is to be as straightforward as possible, believing that law is a quite straightforward matter if you can have a deep and thorough understanding of it. I love philosophy and try to follow Socrates' and Plato's way of teaching, through dialogue and permanent questioning.

I believe that studying law is the most exciting thing there is, the philosophy of law is the foundation that every social science is build upon and I feel glad that I can pass this passion for learning to my students.

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