Retford Latin Tutors and Retford Latin Tuition

Personal Description:
I am an Italian citizen living in London since 1996 ; I came to London as a research student, sent by Rome University, to study and work for Westminster University.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a tutor for 24 years (I still teach Spanish/Italian to private students. I was a teacher in Italy (Spanish/English) and a bilingual assistant from 1996 to present in London (Pimlico School/North Westminster/Churchill Gardens/St. Vincent de Pau); I have a PGCE in MFL (Spanish/Italian/French) KS 3 and 4 and a Master in translation (English vs Italian and vice versa).

Tutoring Approach:
I do see each student/pupil as an individual and while teaching/tutoring I take into account their personality/skills/interests as well as age/sex/religion.

Subjects

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 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'm an experienced stage and television actor with a degree in English (2.i) from Trinity Hall, Cambridge and a 2-year post-grad qualification from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. I live in central London (Westminster) and enjoy balancing out the right brain activities of acting with the rather more left brain activities of teaching - especially Latin, which I studied through A-Level to degree, taking a Latin translation and literary criticism paper in Part 1 of my Cambridge Tripos.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught both privately and at a range of different schools and colleges for many years. My private client base has principally been in teaching Latin for Common Entrance and GCSE. In terms of classroom experience, I have worked as a supply Latin teacher at Eaton House Schools and as an A-Level English Tutor at Collingham Tutors. The majority of my work is as a private tutor travelling to people's homes and offering additional support to 10-16 year olds who are struggling with their Latin. I have a huge success rate in terms of results, regularly turning C-grade students into A-graders.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is both pragmatic and personal. Every child is different and therefore every child requires a subtly different approach. In terms of teaching English Literature my principle objective is to inspire. In terms of teaching Latin my key concerns are rigour and attention to detail. With the right approach it is often very easy to turn a child who hates Latin at school into one that (even if it is secretly) both loves it and does very well.

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 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 am an experienced teacher of both classics and modern languages, and have taught in a variety of secondary schools. I have stopped classroom teaching now because of the demands of a young family but I am keen to carry on teaching in a different capacity. I am passionate about languages, words and communication and love to share this with others. I have lived abroad for prolonged periods in France and Italy, and travel to see friends there whenever possible.

Teaching Experience:
Since completing my PGCE in 1992 I have taught Latin, Greek, French and Italian, from beginners to A level and Oxbridge, in secondary schools, both private and state. More recently I have been giving private lessons to both adults and teenagers.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT I TEACH ANCIENT GREEK, NOT MODERN! The UK tutors website does not give Ancient Greek as an option in the drop down list. I am not able to teach modern Greek.

Tutoring Approach:
Successful language teaching should combine a fun approach using oral practice including song lyrics and games with a more structured approach to grammar; this gives the student confidence that they really understand the language used. The advantage of private lessons is that I can focus on what the individual learner wants, which might be lots of oral practice to become more proficient at speaking, or to pass a specific exam. I do like to set homework from week to week as this is an important part of progress; but it is not compulsory!

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Personal Description:
I'm an enthusiastic driven person. I take pride in my work and I'd like to do it well. In my spare time I like to be active and go sailing, diving or wake boarding.

Teaching Experience:
I taught for 7 months in a Belgian secondary school. I taught 11-14 year old children Latin there. I've also taught Life Science and Art History to 14-16 year olds. My appointment was temporary and so I went on doing something else. From time to time I have been asked to do some tutoring. I hope this way I can help educate the new generation that is willing to learn.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe anyone can learn anything though depending on our skills some people just have to put in extra effort to get the same results. I therefore try to help in easing and structuring this extra effort. Finding the bottle necks in the way of studying, offering a new vision on subjects, providing a different background and helping to make personal schedules to keep up with work is my way of tutoring. As far as Latin goes next to this it just takes practice.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Contact me TODAY for a FAST reply! Currently offering ONLINE tutoring throughout the UK in Maths and Latin.

I am 37 years old and I am a qualified teacher with eight years experience teaching in the field and I have taught as a private tutor since 2016. I have won awards for teaching innovation.

I teach Mathematics up to Key Stage 3 and Latin up to Key Stage 4.

I have taught in all sectors of education from state run mainstream schools to the high end private, independent schools plus special needs education. I have taught every age range and enjoy working with young people of all abilities, helping them with their learning and moving them forward.

Spaces are limited so please do contact me to see if I can meet your needs. All lessons are 60 minutes long and the first lesson will be an assessment lesson where I produce an action plan that I agree with you going forwards on a weekly basis. Homework can also be provided on request.

I am very much a spontaneous teacher, adapting quickly to the needs of my pupils and am quite flexible in that way. I am meticulous with my lesson planning and work hard to ensure positive outcomes.

I truly believe that children learn more when their lessons are fun; meaningful; in context and relevant and this is something I strive to achieve. I have some long term students who have shown incredible academic progress over the weeks, months and indeed years.

Book now, book today.

Teaching Experience:
"Your lessons are like magic" - the moment a Year 3 child at the end of our Latin lesson said this is a moment etched in time firmly within my mind. Knowing that I was and continue to have a positive impact on someone's life and education is mind-blowing and it is from this where I gain true satisfaction from teaching and the desire to keep going; to keep helping and to keep being that rolemodel for future generations of children.

I have had teaching experience in the state sector as well as the private sector. Primarily, my teaching has been focused in the Early Years. I have also taught in Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and a little bit of Key Stage 3. I am quite fluent in all Primary subjects with a specialism in English; Phonics and Latin which I have taught to Year 3, Year 7 and Year 9.

Tutoring Approach:
I like my lessons to be FUN.

I know if my lessons truly engage the learner, I know I am going to succeed even before the lesson has started.

I like to take time to really get to know my students to encourage deeper learning. I like to challenge; motivate; inspire and really go for gold. My expectations are high and I expect the very best.

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 am a 25-year-old London-based Oxford graduate looking to help secondary school students with the study of Latin and/or French. My working hours are highly flexible and I would be willing to approach the subjects from whichever angle one prefers; whether a student wants to practise his/her spoken French, learn Latin grammar only or simply needs help understanding the syllabus.

Teaching Experience:
During my secondary school and university years I tutored younger students in both Latin and French. I have also contributed to teaching elementary Russian to children, being a fluent Russian speaker.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very happy to tailor my sessions according to every student's personal needs - whether this means focussing on an aspect of grammar, a particular book, an essay, conversational French or pure translation. This also applies to the question of homework: I will set it according to whether or not the student and/or parent guardian wants it.

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:
I have wide and successful teaching experience, high expectations of myself and of all my students and a deep love of language, stories and teaching. I have kept up to date with educational research and can therefore offer the best evidence-informed practice to make a real difference to the children I teach. I believe passionately in the power of reading for pleasure as a lever for improving academic success and have converted hundreds of children into confident, independent readers.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught for over 20 years, in state and independent schools and in every year group from Year 1 to Year 13. I have also tutored children 1:1 and in small groups to prepare them for 11+ exams, senior school scholarship exams and to help them keep up if they are falling behind. I have even assisted university students with their dissertations. I am therefore as confident with students of A level Greek as I am helping young children who are struggling with phonics. My students have a track record of success in exams but also learn to love learning.

Tutoring Approach:
Experience has taught me how to adapt teaching to a student's individual needs, experiences and interests. Tutoring is powerful because it is tailored, so I offer personalised lessons which will support, engage, encourage and challenge my students. For English, I generally write my own tuition resources which are adapted specifically to suit the needs of an individual child. For 11+ preparation, I use some published resources to assess where children's strengths and weaknesses lie but then provide my own materials for teaching. For Latin or Greek, I would use courses to structure language learning but, again, supplement this with my own materials.

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:
A hugely enthusiastic and thoroughly hard-working teacher with 18 years of professional experience and a specialism in modern languages (German, French and Spanish), currently having a Master Degree and already holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Demonstrating an ability to secure positive outcomes for students through creating solid rapport with students and fostering a spirit of mutual respect. Genuinely passionate about teaching German to the very highest standard, I am now seeking new appointment and am certain to quickly become recognised as an asset within a teaching team.

Teaching Experience:
I have 18 years of teaching experience and have also an approach that is based on each individual's needs.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a teacher that has a constructivist approach and structure my lesson according to my pupils needs. I am promoting independent learning and have had excellent results so far.

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Personal Description:
As a tutor proficient in Greek, Maths, Latin, History, and Geography, my approach is tailored to foster a deep understanding and appreciation of each subject. I emphasise a balanced methodology, combining traditional techniques with modern educational tools. For languages like Greek and Latin, I focus on immersive learning through reading, translation, and conversation, enhancing linguistic and cultural comprehension. In Maths, I prioritise conceptual clarity and problem-solving skills, ensuring students grasp fundamental principles before progressing to complex topics. History and Geography lessons are interactive and analytical, encouraging students to explore historical events and geographical phenomena through discussions, maps and multimedia resources. My tutoring style is adaptive, student-centered, and aimed at cultivating critical thinking, curiosity, and a lifelong love for learning.

Teaching Experience:
With five years of experience in teaching History, Geography, Latin, Maths and Greek, my educational approach is both comprehensive and dynamic, designated to cater to diverse learning styles. I integrate a variety of teaching methods, from traditional lectures to interactive activities, to engage students and foster a deeper understanding of each subject. in History and Geography, I encourage critical analysis and contextual thinking, using maps, primary sources, and multimedia to bring the past and the world to life. For Latin and Greek, I emphasise immersive language practice, including reading classical texts and conversational exercises, to build linguistic proficiency and cultural insight. In Maths, I focus on developing strong foundational skills through problem-solving and logical reasoning, esnuring students are well-prepared for advanced concepts. My goal is to create an inclusive and stimulating learning environment where students are motivated to explore, question, and connect the dots across disciplines.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is centered around creating a personalised and engaging learning experience for each student. I believe in understanding the unique needs, strengths, and challenges of my students, which allows me to tailor my teaching methods accordingly. I use a variety of instructional strategies, including hands-on activities, real-word applications, and multimedia resources, to make learning both relevant and enjoyable. By fostering a supportive and interactive environment , I encourage students to ask questions, think critically, and develop a deeper understanding of the material. My goal is not only to help students excel academically but also to instill a lifelong love for learning and curiosity about the world around them.

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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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