Treorchy Latin Tutors and Treorchy Latin Tuition

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 a Cambridge graduate currently teaching at a secondary school in Birmingham. I offer private tuition in English and Latin as well as Oxbridge application advice.

I specialise in coaching students through GCSE/A Level. However, I am happy to help all students from 11+ and even adult learners. I am proud of my strong track-record in helping students to achieve excellent results in their exams.

A little about my academic background: I graduated with a degree in English from the University of Cambridge (Girton College) in 2008 and in 2010 completed a Masters in Medieval Literature and History at the University of York. In 2019 I completed my PGCE at the University of Warwick and have since taught in a local secondary school.

Teaching Experience:
I am experienced teacher currently employed at a Birmingham secondary school, where I teach across Key Stages 3,4 and 5.

I have several years of experience in private tuition and and have tutored students preparing for GCSEs and A Levels in Latin, English (both language and literature), and Politics & Government. I've had great success in helping students of a range of abilities improve subject confidence and achieve exceptional results (including many A*s and Grade 9s).

Tutoring Approach:
Latin:

Puzzled by perfect participles?
Confused by conjugations?
...and what on earth is a gerundive?

Let's face it, studying Latin can be difficult, but it is the challenge which makes it such a rewarding subject.

My approach to teaching Latin is to develop translation skills whilst reinforcing the key building blocks of grammar. I endeavour to work at the student's own pace and tailor my sessions to complement school work.

English:

As a qualified teacher of English, I understand how to get the best out of students. I have an intimate knowledge of most GCSE and A Level set texts and can advise students on revision strategies and exam technique.

I am comfortable working at different paces and levels to support the individual needs of a student.

It is difficult to offer a single "approach to tutoring" as I believe the right teaching method depends entirely on the interests, level, and personality of the individual student.


Interviews:

I am also available to tutor students preparing for university entrance interviews (in particular Oxbridge). Having experienced the process first-hand, I feel I am well positioned to offer meaningful advice on how a candidate can impress during the application and interview process. I am willing to conduct mock interviews.

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 Oxford Classics graduate with experience of teaching children and adults.

Teaching Experience:
I have seven years experience of teaching a range of ages up to 18, both private tutoring and school teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring programme designed according to the student's needs and aims,

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:
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:
Personal Description:
I am a Senior Deputy Head at a grammar school in SW London.I have been a Deputy Head for 16 years and have had oversight of teaching and learning in both schools in which I have held the role. I have taught French to GCSE, Italian to A Level, Latin to GCSE / Common Entrance / Scholarship, and English to GCSE. I have worked as a Lead Practitioner for the Specialist Schools Trust, and I have run training for them and for exam boards on a regional level. I am a Cambridge graduate with a degree in Italian and French, and an MPhil in European Cinema.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching Experience:
I taught Italian to A level for 12 years. I have taught Latin to GCSE for 18 years. I have also taught French to AS Level.I have worked as a tutor for French, Italian and Latin for the last 8 or so years. I can create resources to support your learning and also help you with tasks set at your school.

Tutoring Approach:
I have had experience of tutoring pupils in my own school on a one to one basis, and have also previously worked as a tutor for pupils learning English. I have been tutoring via UKtutors for the last 8 or 9 years. I have also worked at revision schools in the Easter holidays for a commercial company. I will establish the areas on which you wish to focus, then prepare thorough resources. I will also support with tasks which are set by your school.

Subjects

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:
I am a Classicist with degrees from Cambridge (BA) and Durham (MA, PhD) universities and have been tutoring for over 10 years. My current work focuses heavily on Latin literature, as I am preparing to publish a commentary on Martial's twelfth book of epigrams, although I am equally able to offer assistance to students of classical Greek literature.

I am passionate about Classics and communicate this enthusiasm with my students, whilst helping them to achieve their goals - whether that be passing examinations or securing a place at the school or university of their choice. I hold an excellent track record for successful admissions and exam results.

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience in tutoring Latin and Greek at all levels: ranging from complete beginners to advanced university level students. I am very familiar with assisting students prepare effectively for GCSE and A-level examinations in Latin, Greek, and Classical Civilisation. I develop a set of papers targeted at the exam texts every year.

I also have a wide-ranging experience in providing tuition for the entrance and scholarship examinations for many major English Public schools. I have previously worked as a Head of Classics at a local public school and have a track record of students securing scholarships at leading schools, such as Eton, Westminster, etc.

For tertiary education, I have helped students prepare for their undergraduate examinations or university entry exams (both BA and MPhil). I have already had several students achieve their goals of getting to Oxbridge colleges. Beyond Classics, I have prior experience helping students with medical Latin, Mediaeval Latin and Koine Greek religious texts.

As well as helping students on specific courses, I have also had the pleasure of teaching Latin and Greek for individuals pursuing these subjects as a private interest.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tuition will of course largely be dependent upon the needs and ability of the respective tutee. For GCSE or A-level students, however, I believe that it would always be best to begin each lesson with a quick test on a point of grammar and vocabulary, and a literary stylistic feature (e.g. identifying a chiasmus etc.), since these formal aspects essentially underlie the series of unseen exams from GCSE - A-level. After this test, each lesson should focus on a text, ideally alternating each lesson with a text that is prescribed as one of the set texts for the respective exams with an unseen passage. This approach tends to produce the best results since the unseen passages give a true indication of the student's strengths and weaknesses and help the tutor to understand more easily what aspects need to be prioritised.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I work in tutoring, teaching and PhD proof-reading. I am currently working in local colleges as an English GCSE teacher. I am currently tutoring students in English GCSE and A-Level.

I am also tutoring younger students in their creative writing. I am interested in drama, poetry and art. I have performed spoken-word poetry in Manchester and headlined a couple of nights.

I have 12 years' experience teaching A-Level and GCSE English, as well as tutoring and teaching Latin. I also have experience of teaching English to other language speakers. I have also worked with adults taking the written elements of practical exams, such as massage and nail-tech.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked for six years as a tutor to students aged 10 and over, helping with English, Maths, Latin and Creative Writing.

For the past ten summers I have taught university entrance and study-skills at Southampton University, helping students to improve their essay-writing and critical reading.

I am also confident in being able to explain English grammar and writing structure in a fun and interesting way and I can also help students prepare for university courses and to study A-Levels and Access courses.

I have also taught Latin, Study Skills and GCSE Maths. I have designed and run a Latin evening course, as well as several programmes of creative writing for children.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to make lessons interesting and encourage students to work creatively. We can work together to discuss an upcoming or recent exam and look at the strategy. We can also look at the syllabus and decide which aspects to focus on. Often it helps to work on structure and on managing time effectively in exams.

I believe that learning can combine fun and practical skills, such as self-editing, lateral thinking and creativity. These skills will help students pass formal exams through overall writing confidence.

Students need to enjoy the subject in order to understand it fully. When they approach questions from a position of confidence and relaxation, they can answer them more effectively. This sometimes involves discussion of the topics involved, especially when studying literature.

A tutor works best when they are providing an alternative to school-based education and a good tutor will enable their student to explore around a topic and to discuss any particular issues and concerns.

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:
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 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 am a teacher, novelist, and musician from Scotland. I have tutored for many years and taught at preparatory schools. I have also taught English abroad (Italy & Brazil).

I enjoy helping students to overcome their difficulties and find ways to enjoy the language and culture.

Lessons at my house or yours.
Online tutoring is a great way to work on your language (rates negotiable).

Teaching Experience:
12 years with First Tutors, from beginners, through Common Entrance, GCSE and A-level to university.
6 years with Greater London Tutorial Agency/Top Tutors
Latin, Ancient Greek & English:
6 years Classics, Mayville High School, Southsea
12 years Classics, Hall Grove, Bagshot.
1 year at Academy School, Hampstead.

Creative Writing: 7 years University of Portsmouth
2 years Islington Summer University.

English as Foreign Language:
1 year St Giles, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
2 years English Academy, Molfetta, Italy, including PET, CAE, CPE, IELTS, TOEFL.

I also teach guitar, bass, piano and Italian.

Tutoring Approach:
Most pupils who come to me have simply lost track or lost confidence.
With careful guidance, it usually doesn't take long to put them back on the right track.

I can help with the building blocks of grammar, presenting it as a puzzle or a game; I can suggest ways to improve vocabulary; and I can point the way through the complexities of translation and syntax. Even working on exam technique can ease anxiety quickly.

I also enjoy enthusing students about classical mythology and literature.

I am happy to teach online as well as in person: with a committed tutee, this can work as well as tuition in person.

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

Teaching Experience:
I have an MA (UCL) and a BA in Classics from University of Crete (upper 10% of my class) with specialisation in Classical Studies and I have a 9 years experience teaching students of all ages. I have a QTS and I have taught several students entering the university, with outstanding results. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of tutoring numerous students in those captivating subjects. Guiding students through the realms of ancient civilizations, literature, and languages has been incredibly rewarding.

Tutoring Approach:
I can teach any type of Latin, Greek and History lessons, taking my students from the beginners level to excellence. I follow a systematic approach that will guarantee fast and steady progression to higher levels of classical knowledge guaranteeing high GCSE, A-level grades and deep knowledge of the subject. My teaching is individualised based on the needs of the students with the ultimate aim of teaching people that will enjoy studying Classics and learning about the civilisations that constitute the basis of our modern world. Last but not least, my approach is patient, encouraging, and focused on building a strong foundation of knowledge while fostering critical thinking skills. Also, I am specialized in exams being an examiner of Edexcel,Pearson (Greek), OCR (Classical Greek) and AQA (Italian) and I have 9 years experience teaching students of all ages.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I graduated with first class honours in Linguistics and am now studying the historical development of the Latin language for my MRes (Masters of Research). Having studied both English and Latin language I have an in depth knowledge of grammar and syntax in both languages. I also have a myriad of tips and tricks to help make grammar learning a little less daunting!

I can also tutor undergraduate Linguistics (listed under English). I am specialising in Historical Syntax but am able to offer support for a range of other first and second year modules including but no limited to: Sytnax, Semantics, Phonology, Historical Englishes, and English Grammar. I am open to enquiries about modules not listed here.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 3 years of teaching experience with students from year 1 in primary school all the way to first year of undergraduate. Through teaching a broad range of students I have developed a flexible approach to teaching can easily adapt to the needs of a student. My tutoring supplements school lessons by helping the student to develop their problem solving skills so that they are able to tackle those surprising exam questions calmly.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to take an active approach to learning. In my first lesson with a student we focus on past paper questions to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This allows us to formulate a comprehensive plan going forward in order to maximise their revision time. I will work with the student to fill the gaps in their knowledge by working systematically through the syllabus for that topic. For content based material I will get the student to ask questions and tell me what they do not understand, I will then explain the material in simple terms. For mathematical or grammatical (depending on the subject) material I will explain how to do the calculation then run through examples with the student until they feel confident to do it alone. To conclude the lessons I ask students to tell me what they now know about the topic so that they can see just how much they have learnt!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Former Assoc. Prof. at Durham | Experienced teacher | Published novelist

I'm a full-time, professional tutor with a unique breadth of experience across a two-decade career:

• Associate Professor at Durham University
• Teacher at a top London independent school ("Excellent" rated)
• Published novelist of Roman historical fiction
• Archaeologist and active academic researcher

I love combining the joy of one-on-one tutoring, seeing students grow and learn, with my life-long passions for history, politics and literature.

For me, tutoring does not stop with passing exams, vital as that is. Just as important is learning how to push intellectual boundaries, encourage creative thinking, and expand the imagination. I want my tutees not just to realise their full potential at school, but to be ready for the challenges that await them beyond.

I take on a limited number of tutees so that I can tailor my approach to each tutee's specific needs, with concrete targets and an approach that will engage, challenge and inspire. I prepare bespoke resources carefully prior to lessons as well as detailed feedback on written work (this is all included in my fee - I will never charge for anything outside contact time). Please get in touch to ask me about my availability.

One of the great things about my varied career track has been the chance to live and work in other countries, with all the mind-expanding experiences that brings. Before my doctorate I also worked as a professional archaeologist. Over the years I have pursued historical and archaeological research in the USA, Mexico, Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland.

TESTIMONIALS

"My child went from a predicted D to achieving an A in one year. John gave her confidence, a much better understanding of core concepts and an enthusiasm for the subject. All delivered in a clearly structured digestible way with kindness and patience. I would highly recommend his tutoring skills." - Parent of A Level Politics student

"John was the perfect tutor, helping my son to reengage with English after he lost some confidence based on feedback from his school teachers. My son managed to improve his GCSE grade from 6s at the begginng of the year to 7s in his mock exams to 9s in the final exam. To say we are over the moon is an understatement." - Parent of IGCSE English student

"Thank you so so much - I'm thrilled that I came so far in history - from a C to an A*!! It's such a relief I'm getting into where I want to go on my own merit and I'm so so grateful to you again." - A Level History student

"John has tutored my daughter during the Sixth Form and helped her success in gaining an offer to study PPE at Oxford University. In Politics, particularly, he has boosted her confidence and provided invaluable coaching on exam technique. Because he was so knowledgeable and great at explaining, he also engaged her in discussions on topics which she had otherwise struggled to embrace and understand. Also his manner and kindness helped her to enjoy and flourish from his teaching. He is an excellent tutor, and we are very grateful for all his teaching and expertise." - Parent of A Level Politics student

"John's enthusiasm for the Ancient World is very clear but his ability to understand the needs of his student is what sets him apart from others. John delivers clear and memorable lessons. He takes the time to engage and check M's understanding of the topic in a way which makes him feel more confident about his own abilities. […] John genuinely wants M to succeed. Towards the end of the summer, they will visit the British Museum together and this is an example of John's commitment to his student." - Parent of GCSE Ancient History and Latin student

"I recently got my GCSE results, and I got a 9 in history. I wanted to thank you as your tutoring helped me so much and there is no way I could have achieved this result without your help." - GCSE History student

Teaching Experience:
PROFESSIONAL FULL-TIME TUTOR, 2022-present

I have successfully tutored students of various abilities at GCSE and A Level across a range of subjects and exam boards:

• Classical Civilisation and Ancient History (OCR)
• Latin (OCR)
• History (OCR/AQA/Edexcel)
• Politics (Edexcel)
• English (AQA/Edexcel)

I have expertise in UCAS applications, Oxford HAT and Cambridge HAA and interview technique; since 2022 six of my students have received Oxbridge offers, with many others going to top Russell Group universities

HISTORY AND POLITICS TEACHER, 2020-2023

• ISI "Excellent"-rated independent school
• Taught History at KS3, GCSE and A Level
• Taught Politics at A Level
• Sixth Form tutor (particular strength in UCAS applications and personal statements)
• Detailed understanding of the specifications and marking criteria for English, History and Politics at GCSE and A Level

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, Durham University, 2010-2020

• Taught History lectures, seminars and supervisions at every level (undergraduate to PhD)
• Taught Creative Writing lectures and tutorials at MA level
• Pastoral officer for 1st year undergraduates
• Departmental admissions officer (responsible for accepting/rejecting UCAS applications)
• Multiple academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals, as well as papers at international conferences
• Visiting fellowships at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna (2009-2010) and Institute for Research in the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015-2016)
• Interviewed as an expert in my field on several BBC documentaries and podcasts, and as a guest speaker at the BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival
• I remain an Honorary Research Fellow of Durham and an active researcher in my field

Tutoring Approach:
TUTORING

My approach is based on empathy, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Often students have great potential in a subject, but for whatever reason lack the confidence to realise it. Other times a student has the confidence, but haven't quite learned the skills they need to reach that elusive target grade.

Wherever they are coming from, as a tutor my first goal is to understand my students and see things from their perspective. Then I provide the structure and support they need to achieve their goal. This might be through weekly essay writing and feedback, talking through tricky concepts, providing curated resources to help their development - in fact, whatever they need to succeed.

PERSONAL STATEMENT ASSISTANCE

My career path has given me unique experience of teaching before, during, and after A Levels. This means I understand the student experience from all perspectives. I have seen the pressures and demands of GCSE and A Level study, and as Sixth Form tutor have guided dozens of students through the UCAS process, including multiple successful Oxbridge applications.

My experience as a Durham University admissions officer taught me that, when it comes to the most competitive universities, the personal statement is very often the deciding factor. My experience as a published author means that I can help my tutees sculpt their perfect application, one that showcases academic skill while bringing out their uniqueness and passion.

Just as important, I understand the transition from school to university, and all the challenges it brings. During my time at Durham University I also served as pastoral officer to first-year undergraduates, which involved helping students make the (often difficult) jump to a new level of independence and academic demands. For tutees about to take their A Levels, part of my approach is therefore to help them prepare mentally and practically for that transition.

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