St John's Wood Study Skills Tutors and St John's Wood Study Skills Tuition

Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor and have been tutoring for the past 20 years. I am friendly and supportive and tailor learning according to the pupil's individual needs. My specialism is 19th & 20th century history and I am especially knowledgeable about British and American history. I teach pupils essential research and study skills including effective exam techniques. I have also tutored English language at secondary and GCSE level with good results. I aim to inspire confidence in my pupils and promote enthusiasm for learning in a supportive environment.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a tutor for over 20 years. I have also helped out in primary schools on a voluntary basis and I have part completed a PGCE in Upper Primary (1999). I am have completed a PGDE at Bury College so I am qualified to teach in further and higher education.

Tutoring Approach:
I am supportive and caring and I encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own learning. I aim to inspire confidence by teaching them essential study skills and exam techniques. I teach pupils to break down learning into manageable chunks and teach them to analyse and revise their work. I make my lessons interesting and I am warm and friendly which puts pupils at ease. I also have a good sense of humour and aim to build up a strong rapport with pupils. I ask pupils to contact me between sessions if there are any concerns and I fully update parents on their child's progress.

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Personal Description:
For over a decade now I have worked with a diverse range of students, engendering a passion for learning as well as producing tangible results. I prefer a flexible and dynamic approach crafted from an understanding that we are each upon a unique learning pathway according to our particular styles, aspirations, aptitudes and needs.

"Thank you very much for the great work you did with my daughter Sophie. She progressed from a 'C' grade to an 'A' grade in the space of 6 months and I would have no hesitation in recommending you to friends." - Billy, Bangor

Teaching Experience:
"The learning exercises were always set around my interest areas, making tuition both fun and effective. Following my sessions with Andrew, I have developed a more concise way of communicating. My writing now has more flow, which helps me say what I need to say." - Neil , Newtownabbey

I'm passionate about nurturing the potential of each student with whom I have the privilege to work. With over 8 years experience as a Learning Coach with countless individuals and groups, Diploma in Life Coaching as well as a successful university graduate (1st class hons in Philosophy) and additional Masters research degree in Developmental Psychology, I previously taught at Secondary school and most recently trained nursing professionals to pass their IELTS exams.

I am also a regular public speaker and workshop leader in the private health sector, delivering courses in areas from stress-management and communication skills, to self-care and personal development.

Tutoring Approach:
"Andrew was very professional in his approach to tutoring. My daughter gained confidence in her ability to understand her subject and to recall information using association techniques which proved very useful in her examinations."
Grainne, Randalstown

This coaching-based approach I take has proven highly successful. I approach each student and the sessions with an open mind to learn what I need to be of support.

Combining motivational coaching techniques, I offer a uniquely engaging, personally attuned service. The first lesson typically consists of a complimentary educational assessment (usually 30 minutes) to help identify key areas for improvement . All results can be shared with the parent/guardian. Based on this initial assessment, a 100% individual and tailored programme of learning is created. While encouraging the student to adopt high yet realistically achievable targets for their own education, I am also sensitive to the level of each student and what he or she is ready to adopt.

3 EXAMPLES OF HOW I HELP FOR LITERATURE-BASED TASKS:

1. Working from the question to the answer: appreciating and understanding key requirements of a question, and any relevant marking criteria.

2. How best to structure and qualify sentences so that the answer is complete and accurate.

3. Most effective study / revision / exam techniques such as mind-mapping, worked answers, memorising.


AREAS COVERED / WHAT TO EXPECT

My specialist subjects at all most levels are literature-based and the human sciences particularly philosophy, religion and ethics. Alongside these, I also specialise in 'study skills', offering a very personalised, tailored approach that incorporates motivational coaching on exam and essay skills, ensuring maximum value for investment of your time, money and effort.

**Upon request I am also able to provide emotional literacy around life skills such as: motivation, communication, self belief and concentration.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for tutoring Philip this year; he adapted well with you as his new tutor and enjoyed your approach to teaching.
"I would have no hesitation in recommending Andrew as a tutor. I found him to be polite, courteous, reliable, and accommodating."
- Doreen, Ballyclare

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher with Cambridge MA, PGCE & DELTA, with 30 years' experience of teaching in a variety of contexts including general secondary school English and Drama, GCSE, A Level, IB, and tuition at university and postgraduate level, including assistance with theses and similar.
I have considerable experience of TEFL/TOEFL and a successful record in teaching Cambridge FCE, CPE, etc as well as Business English classes for non-native professionals.
I recently returned to the UK from Spain for family reasons and I am new to the York area. I'm taking time out for a while to write that elusive million-seller or sitcom! Meanwhile I am a member of SfEP and work part time as a professional proofreader and copy editor. I am very happy to help groups or individuals with their academic needs.

Teaching Experience:
15 years in all key stages of secondary school education in England.
5 years Adult Education, TEFL and private tuition in the UK.
10 years teaching a British curriculum in an international secondary school in Spain at all key stages incl. GCSE, A Level and IB.
Group and individual EFL classes for children and adults, including Business English for professionals and TOEFL in an American-affiliated college.
I have an excellent record of success in preparing students for English and Drama exams - GCSE, A Level, International Baccalaureat and beyond - as well as for Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency in English.
Amongst other notables, I was employed as personal tutor to the actress Rebecca Hall as a child and also to one of Tony Blair's sons!

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a supportive approach and a friendly relationship, but without forgetting it's work: you're paying me because I can improve your (or your children's) future prospects.

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Personal Description:
I am a mature lady (60yo) with a 1st Class Electrical/Electronic Engineering Degree (B.Sc) and a Postgraduate Management qualification from Cambridge University. My own 'A' Levels were Biology, Maths and Physics with a particular focus on electronics. At University I studied Maths at degree level.

After working as an Engineer I changed career in my late 20s and moved into the world of Therapy and Healing. I trained in hypnotherapy and craniosacral therapy as well as Human Design. I have worked with young people utilising various modalities to help them gain confidence and choose careers/subjects that bring out the best in them. I studied for a time in a Rudolph Steiner environment so I appreciate the value of alternative approaches and Artistic therapies to educating young people. I was also a member of the Steiner Academy Appeals panel for some time in Hereford.

From 2009 to 2012 I worked in an Admin capacity for OFSTED travelling around Schools and Colleges up and down the SW of England. My particular area of responsibility was the safeguarding and protection of children.

In 2011 I attended an Introduction to Autism training with the HANDLE organisation as I increasingly meet young people struggling on the Autism spectrum so this topic is of particular interest to me. I would be able to help refer any child who needed more specialised care. Related to this I have also been studying Human Design which is an invaluable tool for understanding how unique we all are.

I have a non-verbal family member who I am very close to and have devoted much of the last decade to working with her and bringing out her latent ability to communicate in novel ways.

I am friendly, empathic and good with younger people. I listen and watch and adapt to each situation I meet. I endeavour to help bring out the best in people on all levels. I am offering a broad ranging expertise. I would say the help I really bring is an encouragement for the person to express who they uniquely are and to feel empowered to meet life in new ways.

I can travel to people's homes but I am allergic to cats and dogs so it may work better to hire 3rd party premises.

Teaching Experience:
I have successfully tutored Maths and Physics to High School students whilst living abroad in Canada and in the UK.

I work with a variety of ages and people from all walks of life and my skills are oriented to sensitive listening and increasing a person's confidence in themselves.

I CAN tutor Maths and Physics and Electronics but its not my forte these days to focus on this as I have not kept up with the GCSE requirements......

Tutoring Approach:
I work outside of my home in non-pet and non-smoker environments only at this time.
I ask the student to bring all relevant texts with them for the lesson.
If you also have past exam papers please also bring those..

I have recently reduced my rates in recognition of the economic climate. I am negotiable to an extent in cases of hardship so please feel free to enquire.

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Personal Description:
My passion is to help develop confidence in young people both academically and their emotional wellbeing. As well as a qualified teacher I am an Accredited Practitioner Coach and work 1-1 with students to build confidence, self-esteem and reduce anxiety. I use these skills to support students in managing exam pressure and work load as well as helping them stay organised to reduce the overwhelm that comes with exams.

I love teaching and watching my students grow. I can create a comfortable and positive learning environment quickly so that the student feels at ease and ready to learn. My role as a teacher and a coach allows me the opportunity to inspire and empower students of all abilities to enjoy education and achieve their full potential.

Teaching Experience:
I have twenty years experience in education with outstanding success in adding value to students. I specialise in teaching Business Studies and ICT I have also ran my own business, so I can offer my students real-life examples of how businesses are run. I plan my lessons to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding. Once these gaps have been filled I move onto to building the students confidence in exam skills. I have taught all major exam boards.

Experienced in supporting students with the following courses -

Btec Business Level 2 and 3
Edexcel and AQA GCSE Business
Cambridge iGCSE in Business
Oxford AQA International GCSE
Edexcel International A Level in Business
Edexcel, AQA, Wjec and Eduqas A Level Business

Tutoring Approach:
I am a friendly and inspiring tutor. My philosophy is to make learning a pleasurable experience for the student. I teach with passion and authority. My friendly and approachable teaching style combines tried and tested teaching techniques and learning strategies.

I believe that education is the key to success for students of any age. As a tutor, I hope to motivate students in ascertaining their inner strength and abilities and discovering what truly inspires them. I aim to provide a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to trust their own opinions, while fostering confidence in order for students to realise their full potential.

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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,

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Personal Description:
I first became interested in teaching through working as a private tutor with GCSE students, something I am doing since I finished my graduation, training to become a leader in the process. This made me realise I enjoyed working with the people in their learning process, and college experience confirmed tutoring/teaching as a career choice. My subsequent one year PGCE has served further to fire my enthusiasm and prepared me effectively to take responsibility for learners.

I have completed PGCE , a Masters and a BSc in Economics, level 5 Mathematics in Mechanics, numeracy level 1 & 2, Diploma in Computer Science & Application and I am a Certified Internet Webmaster Associate.

Teaching Experience:
I am teaching for last 5 years. In addition, I worked as a Teaching Assistant over two years.I have been privately tutoring primary and secondary maths, A level maths and Economics on one-to-one basis since 2003. My academic education and teaching practices have given me a good understanding of the curriculum and of what makes effective teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
I make a conscious effort to ensure I am not just catering for visual learners like myself, but try to see lessons through other learners' eyes. For example, to introduce pictograms to numeracy entry level class, I got the learners to create 'human pictograms' arranged by name length, pets, eye colour, etc. and then transferred that information as pictograms to the board. Kinaesthetic learners were thereby catered for in the physical movement and manipulation, visual learners in the pictograms created on the board and audio learners as we discussed and interpreted the graphs.

I have in particular come to understand the value of sharing learning objectives and success criteria with students. Knowing exactly what is expected and how they can achieve allow learners to focus more clearly on tasks.

I feel it is important to make learning interesting and creative, and one way to achieve this is using real life example; this allows learners to explore and understand situations and express feelings, thoughts and emotions. An example of how I have successfully used real life situation was with a GCSE class, working out the area of the classroom to decide the correct amount of carpet needed for the classroom. I gave the students measuring tape to measure the length and width of the classroom. They were incredibly enthusiastic and threw themselves into the task. They found this a fun, enjoyable and worthwhile learning experience, which enabled them to better understand the situation and empathise with those concerned.

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Personal Description:
I am a long-time teacher, lecturer, examiner and professional tutor with a patient and supportive approach.

I passed my PhD in English at the University of Leicester. I also hold a Masters with Distinction from Oxford Brookes University and a First Class undergraduate degree from Loughborough University.

Teaching Experience:
I have successfully taught at over ten schools, four major universities and tutored several hundred private students.

In addition to weekly supplementary tutoring, I also offer a homeschool tutoring programme and am happy to take full responsibility for the independent delivery of the curriculum.

I hold qualifications in educational psychology and in supporting adult dyslexia.

At home, I live in Oxfordshire with my wife Kate and two stepsons. I enjoy music festivals, running and long walks with our dog Maple.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is friendly, gentle and supportive but extremely professional. I aim to combine creative and emotionally engaging teaching with expert subject knowledge.

At the heart of my tutoring is how important it is that a student believes in their own ability to learn and to progress. If there is one word I hear my students kindly use to describe my qualities it would be 'patience'. Yet I never feel like my patience is tested - I love the challenge of finding new, innovative ways to help them understand their subject.

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Personal Description:
A very warm hello!

I am experienced and reliable, knowledgeable and empathetic, organised and conscientious, creative and passionate, and, patient and down-to-earth. I have over 10 years of classroom teaching experience as a fully qualified teacher and over 8 years of extensive tutoring experience.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught both KS1 and KS2 in a variety of locations around the UK (Durham, Essex, Norwich, Bradford and Halifax) and have taught all National Curriculum subjects. I completed an undergraduate degree at the University of East Anglia, a Primary PGCE at Durham University followed by a Masters of Education at Durham University too.

I offer private tuition all over Calderdale at a location of your choice (including from my house in Ripponden) at a time of your convenience. Please note, I do not charge an initial joining fee.

Tutoring Approach:
Every pupil is an individual and every pupil develops their knowledge and learning differently. I begin by building a rapport with each pupil, getting to know how they learn best. I start with the knowledge they already possess and build upon these. I try to make my teaching varied and fun and ensure that pupils experience success quickly, no matter how small the steps are. I believe that private tuition is the first step in facilitating future success in life. I work efficiently and professionally to ensure your investment in private tuition meets and exceeds your expectations.

I am passionate about teaching and love to see pupils do well and achieve their potential. My teaching style centres around personalised learning: tailoring my lessons to the individual learning styles of my pupils. I have the ability and patience to work well with a range of pupils and have had a lot of success motivating those who struggle. I get an invaluable sense of satisfaction from seeing pupils experience 'light bulb' moments.

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Personal Description:
PLEASE SEE 'TUTORING EXPERIENCE' BELOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS PAGE, THE RESULTS AND FEEDBACK

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class), as well as a qualified English teacher, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2026/27
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I am currently pursuing a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, the ELAT, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech-writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, writing, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD. And I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in the exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

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A student, June 2025: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June 2025: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June 2025: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May 2025: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May 2025: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February 2025: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January 2025: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

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A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

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A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

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A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

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A student, January 2023: 'Just wanted to let you know I got an offer from Cambridge, thank you so so much for all your help.' And Kathryn: 'You were such a great help to [E.] in her preparation for the Cambridge application and interview and we were all delighted when she was offered a place this week. Thank you for all the support you gave her.'

Shaun, a parent, January 2023: '[E.] has found the sessions really very helpful (and has enjoyed them!)'

Guifang, a parent, December 2022: 'From what I hear from [S.], she really enjoys her discussions with you, it's really one of the highlights of her week.'

A student, November 2022: 'I'm extremely happy to tell you that I received an 8.3 for the literary review […] Thank you for explaining to me what a literary review is […] I remember whilst working on it I was so worried about my grade, but it appears I've survived.'

Deborah, a parent, September 2022: 'a huge thanks again to you for all your work with [S.]. I know he has been in touch to let you know that he got 9s in both English Language and Literature. He was over the moon - well beyond his best hopes, so thank you again for being instrumental in helping him attain those grades.'

Karen, a parent, August 2022: 'Both my girls really like your way of teaching and talking to them, they feel really listened to and respected for their opinions (as well as respecting yours obviously), so thank you :)'

Helen, a parent, July 2022: 'Thanks so much for all the help you gave [J.], he really benefitted from the sessions he had with you.'

Tara, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all your help and patience - I think you have been brilliant for her confidence. She found English exams really very difficult before she started talking to you and it's amazing to see how much calmer (relatively speaking!) she has been going in to her A level English papers. Whatever the result, her sessions with you have definitely helped her to enjoy English again and I'm really grateful.'

A student, June 2022: 'This is incredibly insightful and thought provoking feedback. Thank you so much.'

Mei, a parent, June 2022: 'She found your lessons very helpful and always remarked to me how much you went the extra mile for her ; looking up and sending on links to whatever you'd been discussing. Much appreciated!'

Marguerite, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all you've done for [T.] in the past year . […] you are a very talented teacher.'

Monica, a parent, June 2022: 'You have been an absolutely wonderful tutor to [L.], and how time has flown since she first met you! […] Many a time she has needed someone to talk to, not so much about AO1-5, but rather about the beauty and burden of literature and life. You have always been willing to do that, and she is richer for it.'

A student, June 2022: 'Thank you for teaching me for the last year; I have enjoyed our lessons and I feel I have grown as an English student, with thanks to your teaching.'

A student, April 2022: 'I received an 8 for my essay!! I want to thank you for your tutoring on Keats and Wordsworth- I wouldn't have gotten such a grade without it!! […] I learned tons because of you.'

Ngozi, a parent, March 2022: 'Thanks for everything that you're doing for [G.] - it has been very helpful.'

A student, February 2022: 'Really, thanks so much. Was such a good and efficient service. Your feedback looks really good and I'm going to implement it today. […] Thanks again for doing this on such short notice'.

Deborah, a parent, October 2021: '[S.] said you make it really fun - he said at school his energy goes down in English lessons and with you it goes up! So that is praise indeed from a teenage boy!'

A student, August 2021: 'I got the A grade ! I'm so pleased, thank you for all the help and the essays really paid off :).'

Monica, a parent, July 2021: 'As would be expected from his first class qualifications, Josh is extremely intelligent. However, in my opinion, he has a a very particular advantage over others of a similar academic background, namely his ability to exhibit an authentic interest in the ideas his students express. He is always kind and encouraging, but without sacrificing rigour; this approach has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter when speaking, writing and reading. Furthermore, Josh has introduced her to a range of authors, poets , films and philosophical thought, thus enriching her far beyond the school curriculum. In the future, my daughter will undoubtedly look back on her time with Josh with both fondness and gratitude. I have no hesitation in recommending Josh as a tutor'.

Guifang, a parent, July 2021: 'I have know Joshua for 2 months and He has been supporting my daughter excellently through her GCSE courses, helping her to achieve a 9 in predicted grades. From this, Joshua has always been very serious with the work, needless to say, always punctual and gives detailed homework feedback. I know him to be a wonderful tutor to my daughter.'

Susan, a parent, May 2021: '[T]hank you so much for all your help with [N.] […] [N.] found your lessons extremely helpful which enabled her to enjoy and understand English in a greater depth […] it was excellent tuition . Thank you'.

Jamal, a parent, May 2021: 'Thank you Josh for all your efforts, you have greatly assisted [S.] in better understanding English Literature as whole.'

Zahed, a parent, May 2021: 'We are grateful for all your help and support. We are in no doubt that [A.] has improved a lot in English Literature under your guidance.'

A student, May 2021: 'I just got my coursework back and got an A in it. Just thought i should let you know thanks you!'

Margaret, a parent, March 2021: 'Thanks for helping [M.] to improve her English understanding. She really enjoys her lessons and chats!'

Chris, a parent, March 2021: '[R.] is benefiting immensely from your lessons and is definitely getting more confident in expressing his thoughts in writing! Thank you.'

Amanda, a parent, December 2020: 'Josh has really helped join the dots, encouraged a depth of questioning and ways to interpret and compare ideas, extracting and bringing fresh meaning to narrative styles and creative use of language. Josh has been a great support and steered [R.]'s confidence to look more thoroughly and develop a greater understanding all round. Josh has a kind, approachable style and encouraged [R.] with debating aloud and suggestions for further reading which all continue to be an invaluable help and inspire greater confidence in approaching exams and further reading in future!'

A student, December 2020: 'He helps focus my understanding and makes sure i understand the topic we are learning before moving on. Josh will make sure to ask you questions throughout the process and is always ready for your ideas even if you think it's wrong. He will set homework but makes sure to switch it up each week to make it more interesting and gives his feedback to help me understand what i need to do to improve.'

Diana, a parent, September 2020: 'Josh worked with my daughter for her A Level in English Literature. He was outstanding with his ideas and expanding her critical thinking. He went above and beyond to develop her analytical skills and as a result helped her obtain an A*. He is an absolutely lovely, gentle but dynamic and reliable tutor who has a rare ability combine his academic achievement with a natural talent for teaching. A real gem and we cannot thank him enough.'

A parent, September 2020: 'Joshua is an excellent tutor with great communication skills . He is very patient , helpful , approachable and takes time to explain everything clearly to my daughter . Joshua has been able to breakdown and explain in full detail all aspects of the A Level content.'

A student, June 2020: 'it's been great being taught by you, I've learned so many critical thinking skills in such a short space of time.'

A parent, March 2020: 'I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done for her - you've been the best English teacher she's ever had and she has loved her time with you.'

*

During my teacher training, I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools.

While at Oxford, I was part of an 'e-mentoring' scheme to help candidates from schools without a history of Oxbridge applications.

At Christ College, Brecon, I ran two series of seminars, for sixth-formers studying RS and English literature. In English we covered 'The Tempest', Gothic literature, Pat Barker's 'Regeneration', 'Jane Eyre', Wilfred Owen, and 'The Canterbury Tales'.

Tutoring Approach:
I try to combine three things that I want my students to do, which are three forms of thinking: speak about complex ideas, read high-quality material, and write essays for which they will receive detailed feedback. For obvious reasons, lessons are weighted to speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Speaking

Pedagogy's holy grail is measuring progress, which is difficult in a classroom and impossible in a lecture. Happily, the tutorial system allows this to occur continuously and efficiently via dialogue. Can a student re-express an idea they have heard or read in their own words? If the answer is yes, they have probably understood the idea. Hence the constant questions!

As well as understanding the ideas of others, speaking is essential for students to develop their own. I love the quotation from the novelist E. M. Forster, 'How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?' We improve the quality of our ideas through the process of articulating them.

For my part, quite a lot of what I say is explaining what texts mean. This might sound obvious, but great works of literature are complex, so, to understand their meaning, one's own interpretation probably needs the support of others' prior interpretations.

I sometimes like to break the question of a text's meaning into two: What's it about? And what's it really about? Answering the first question is comprehension, a necessary first step. To answer the second question is to understand. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', for example, Blanche goes to live with her sister in New Orleans. She expresses a strong dislike of her surroundings and is frequently associated with images of water. She declines mentally and is eventually taken away. So what's the play really about? Blanche is a Romantic idealist who is disappointed with her life but still tends to imagine things in their perfect form. The play is about the human soul conceiving of things being as good as they could be (as if cleansed by water), reaching for the conception, and failing to grasp it - shuttling back and forth, in other words, on the streetcar named desire.

One thing I frequently encourage is making the link between those oft-cited elements of a good essay, themes and quotations. These are not unrelated ingredients, they are the text itself viewed from different distances. A theme (the desire to be cleansed) is a wide shot, and a quotation ('the land of the sky blue water') is a close-up. So the student of English has to practise their ability to zoom in and out.

Another way I try to support my students' studies is by making connections between the texts they are reading, which in my experience doesn't happen that much at school. Particularly at A-level, there are often many fruitful connections between the half-dozen or so texts being studied: the Romantics were devoted to Shakespeare and Milton, the Gothic is an aspect of the Romantic, the Aesthetic Movement drew on particular strains of Romanticism, etc. When these connections get made with reference to particular writers, they are no longer just isms. They make the material deeper and easier to understand at the same time. Towards the end of their school careers, students of the humanities should be able to get the sense of taking part in 'the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day' (Robert M. Hutchins).

Reading

I regularly give my students PDFs of high-quality secondary material pitched at their level or just above it. Explanatory notes, commentaries, and essays can help with understanding, particularly when it comes to context. (And all exam boards have assessment objectives relating to historical context.) To know that a text was written during a particular period and what characterised that period is to have a mental scaffold that does not limit movement but frees it. In studying the humanities we are studying human culture, and no one can do that without a bit of structure. It also helps when thinking about texts in relation to each other - when writing a comparative essay, for example. I like to think of honing in from context to text, e.g. Romanticism (late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) > William Blake (1757-1827) > 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1794) > 'The Tyger'. (What's 'The Tyger' about? There's a question!)

In my experience, knowledge acquisition operates according to the Matthew principle, named after a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: 'unto every one that hath shall be given'. In other words, the more you've got, the more you'll get. Every time you learn something about Romanticism, the greater will be your understanding of the poetry of William Blake. Your internal bookshelves expand - more connections, greater understanding. Reading secondary material is obviously 'extra', but it works to enhance students' understanding of set texts rather than crowd them out. Homer Simpson said, 'every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', and we laugh because it's not true. You can't fill up a brain, so the cliché about people's (particularly young people's) limitless potential is true. Every time you learn something new, you enrich your contextual understanding of everything else you have ever learnt. '[E]very moment is a new and shocking / Valuation of all we have been', as T. S. Eliot put it in 'East Coker'.

Writing

Speaking and reading are in a concrete way preparation for writing. If you think and make notes while speaking and reading, by the time it comes to writing an essay, the question should not be about what to say, but how to arrange the things you want to say. So annotation is an important skill. It's a bit like getting 'in the zone' for a sportsperson - students must practise getting there and staying there. I model the annotation process something like this:

Read with a pencil in your hand. What makes you underline? Something fires in your brain, so that you have a response - you spot a developing theme, you're reminded of another book, you agree or disagree, there's a word you don't know and need to look up, you like the way a sentence sounds. It could be anything. Read until you've underlined twenty words or sentences. Work out the three or four connections between the things you have to say, and you've got a paragraph plan. Work out the main thing you have to say, and you have a thesis for your essay, which, as you aim your paragraphs at it, will accumulate force.

A lot of learning (and life) is about noticing connections, so getting into the habit of doing so is something like learning how to learn. If a student has developed this habit, they shouldn't really have to think 'What shall I write?' in front of a blank sheet of paper or screen. The content of the essay will be a sort of emanation of prior thinking.

When it comes to giving students feedback, I keep in mind one of the best incites I heard early in my PGCE: attend to your students' writing as you would a piece of literature. This way, the marking progress becomes analogous to the writing process. What are all the things that could make this essay better? And is there a connection between them, i.e. what's the main thing this student needs to focus on? (I usually give feedback using comments and 'track changes' in Microsoft Word.)

Why study English?

It has been said that 'If you can think, and speak, and write, you are absolutely deadly', and I think that's right. Learning how to construct and articulate good arguments is learning how to impose ideas on the world. To the extent that English is about feelings, it is about their articulation, and there is a great deal to learn about how feelings have been and can be articulated. Moreover, because English is the medium of instruction in all other subjects, command of it confers a freedom to range through the history of ideas and discriminate between reliable and unreliable, including online. Language is a prerequisite for thought - doing English properly is learning how to think better.

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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 half Chinese, half Thai. I grew up from a mixed-cultural background, having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, and currently London.

Having gone through the GCSE and IB system myself, I offer students specialised support in subjects including Biology, Chemistry and Physics. I am also familiar with the A-level system as I have been teaching students in London over the last 7 years.

I am a good listener, and a patient tutor. I always seek to build a trusting relationship with the tutees, whose learning progress and comfort is a top priority.

Aside from academics and tuition, I am also a freelance artist, specialized in oil painting, charcoal sketches and watercolours.

Teaching Experience:
2014 - Present: Private tutor, London, UK
• Math (KS1-KS3, GCSE/IGCSE)
• Biology (KS1-KS3, GCSE/IGCSE, A-level, IB, University)
• Chemistry (KS1-KS3, GCSE/IGCSE, A-level, IB)
• Physics (KS1-KS3, GCSE/IGCSE)

2011- 2016: Academic mentor, Exscitec - Higher Education Industry, London, UK
• Utilised communication and teaching skills to convey scientific ideas (stem cell biology, medical science strands) to classes of 15-20 high school students from different backgrounds.
• Became a positive and motivational role model for young students.

Oct-Dec 2013: Private tutor for A-level and GCSE Biology and 11+ Math, Bangkok, Thailand
• Provided support for regular school works.
• Successfully prepared the students for their unit tests
• Taught exam preparation techniques for GCSE and A-level.

I have worked with students doing the 11+, 13+ entrance exams for the following schools:

1) Queen's gate
2) St. James Senior Girls School
3) Godolphin and Latymer
4) Whitgift
5) Harrow
6) St Edward's
7) Charterhouse

Tutoring Approach:
My lesson structure is adaptable and typically includes:

1) Specific topic review in line with the syllabus
2) Revision schedule planning
3) Guidance in revision note making
4) Past exam paper practices
5) Exam techniques
6) Homework assistance

I have all the past exam papers and teaching material on hand across all exam boards.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Billy!

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

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

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

I obtained a CELTA qualification from IH London.

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

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Personal Description:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to read my profile. My name is Mairead (pronounced ma-raid, an Irish name meaning Margaret). I am a 26 year old living in Feltham, I work full time as a Disability Advisor and Autism Specialist Mentor supporting higher education students to access reasonable adjustments, provide pastoral support and advice. I also co-run workshops and events for the university I work for. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, baking, spending time with my family, going to the gym, long walks and nature trails, swimming and arts and crafts. I am also a big fan of the cinema and watching the new films out. I graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2018, with a first class honours degree in Criminology and Sociology BSc. After graduation I became a support worker supporting those with mental health issues before my current role. I have recently completed a specialist mentoring qualification. I am content working full time currently, but may do a Masters or further study in future.

Please be aware for KS1 and younger tutoring my rates are £15 per session rather than per hour, to reflect that younger children may benefit from shorter sessions, but that their sessions will still need planning and admin work.

Teaching Experience:
I have created and delivered workshops for classes of up to 90 pupils from primary school aged to university level on a range of creative and academic topics. I also have experience tutoring 1-to-1 for primary school aged students who have disabilities/ special educational needs.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is thoughtful and considered, I am a disciplined teacher who will set expectations for her students, but am also fair. I enjoy utilising technology for tutoring sessions as organisational tools and will set weekly goals that will be reviewed. in our first session, I find it is important to discuss learning outcomes and to monitor progress as we go through our tutoring journey.

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Personal Description:
Join me for engaging online tutoring sessions on weekends and evenings, where I employ dynamic teaching techniques, including interactive PowerPoint presentations and more. As a cancer researcher at the University of Cambridge, I offer tailored lessons in cancer biology and neuroscience. I am an expert in molecular biology and genomics techniques and would be happy to share the knowledge to budding researchers

Teaching Experience:
I have robust experience in applying a wide variety of teaching and assessment methodologies and
contributing to the design and development of curriculum and teaching material. During my academic
and research careers so far, I have
• Led a staff collaboration to update old protocols and methodologies for undergraduate research
students
• Increased average writing and reading comprehension of early research students by 21% in 3
months' time
UK Tutors' teaching philosophy of nurturing individual growth and curiosity greatly appeals to me and I am very excited to be an invaluable part of the same.

Tutoring Approach:
Lesson Format:

I customize each session to suit your learning goals.
We can connect online, making it convenient for your weekend and evening schedules.
My teaching approach incorporates multimedia elements, making complex topics easy to understand.
You're encouraged to actively participate, ask questions, and seek clarification during our virtual sessions.
I provide homework assignments and practice materials to reinforce your learning between sessions.

Content and Approach:

We'll start with foundational concepts and progress to more advanced topics.
Whether you're a beginner or looking for in-depth knowledge, I adapt the lessons to your level.
I emphasize critical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques, preparing you to tackle complex subjects.

Experience:

With my background as a cancer researcher, I bring expertise and a passion for teaching to every session.
I've successfully mentored students across different academic levels, helping them excel in their studies and research projects.
My goal is to make cancer biology and neuroscience accessible and exciting in our online sessions.
Let's explore these fascinating fields together and pave the way for your academic and research success during your weekends and evenings."

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Personal Description:
Hi!

I am a second year Cambridge Medical Student with a history of achieving strong academic results, having secured a First Class in my most recent examinations.

Over the years I have been able to hone the skills necessary to perform well in exams, targeting my responses to what examiners are looking for and I am looking forward to being able to share these essential tools to my tutees.

I enjoy playing the piano and clarinet and I am an avid runner. I also enjoy a bit of rugby from time to time!

I look forward to working with you :)

Teaching Experience:
I have over 7 years of tutoring experience with excellent results. I have seen significant improvement in the confidence and ability of my tutees to perform well under exam pressures. Many of my students have gone on to achieve A's and A*s in their public examinations - a testament to the effectiveness of my tutoring approach.

Tutoring Approach:
I am strong believer that education should be personalised to each individual. As a result I start all my tutoring sessions with understanding what you want to gain from this. Do you want to go over difficult concepts? Or would you rather have an outline of the techniques used to get those 7/8/9/A/A*. Through this I am able to tailor our sessions to ensure that you are getting the most out of our time. I often set short tasks to be completed outside of the sessions so that we are able to identify weak points and document the progress that is being made. All resources from tutoring sessions are kept in a shared notebook so you have access to them whenever you need them.

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Personal Description:
My name is Salvia and I am a native English speaker with a deep committment to teaching. Languages are my special interest - I enjoy learning them as much as I enjoy teaching them! I have an enthusiastic and playful approach to teaching, with a focus on facilitating your growth and improving your confidence.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 15 years of experience teaching and tutoring in a variety of situations - in primary and secondary schools, universities, after school programs, and online. I have held many different positions with the schools and educational companies I have worked for, including head of department, senior teacher trainer, private personal tutor, and classroom teacher. I have taught all ages and ability levels. I am experienced in ESOL and well as teaching native speakers.

My students get consistently high results on their exams: GCSE, A-level, IELTS, TOEFL, and more.

I have taught and tutored several languages as well as music, although my speciality and focus nowadays is English language and literature, reading and writing skills, and helping students learn how to study effectively.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is entirely student centred. Our first session is a FREE 20 minute meeting in which I explore your linguistic needs and determine how best to support you. I will then develop a personalised, adaptable curriculum, just for you. Each student is different and has different needs and best ways of learning. I will meet you where you are and create a programme personally designed to support you in your language goals.

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Personal Description:
Hi, Here you will find results and receive guidance to achieve your study goals. You will be supported to pace yourself and manage the learning process smoothly and efficiently. I am organised, patient, friendly, supportive, resourceful and flexible. I have experience with distance learning and a deep understanding of the requirements of teaching online with ease and efficiency. Prior to pursuing studies in Psychology (BSc and MSc), I completed an 'MA in Applied Linguistics and Translation' and a 'BA in English Language and Literature'. I am qualified and experienced in teaching English/Arabic as a foreign language (Postgraduate Diploma in TEFL and RSA C.O.T.E.). I am fluent in Arabic and English.

- There's still time to catch up!
= Discounts for block-bookings and a sliding scale available.

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience in teaching: taught languages (both English and Arabic as foreign languages) and translation at university level, school level and for occasional adult learners (both formally and privately). I have taught many age groups in the past ranging from Primary stage to University level and adult occasional learners. I have consistently received positive feedback on my tutoring skills and interpersonal communication skills. Previous to becoming freelance, I taught various subjects at the University of London and the University of Westminster; in addition to various freelance teaching and translation positions abroad during my years living abroad. I am a member of the British Psychological Society: MBPsS (Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society).

- "If at first you don't succeed, try again."

Tutoring Approach:
Learner centred: focused on the learner's expressed needs, expressed requirements and set of desired outcomes. A confidence building approach supports autonomous learning in the long term. I help students find a manageable structure to their studies and in setting realistically achievable goals. I help students to prepare well, expand their learning strategies and smoothly move forward towards success!

There are no secrets to success. SUCCESS is the result of preparation, consistency, efficient study skills, and learning from failure. You can do this!

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