Dumfries Tutors and Dumfries Tuition

Personal Description:
B.Sc.(Hons) Geography with Geology and Economics at Swansea University
Ph.D in Geomatic Science at University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Married with 2 daughters

Teaching Experience:
Tutoring of friends' children to GCSE during past 10 years
Private tutoring for 20 years

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is to reinforce teaching of topics that are simultaneously being covered at school, and to overcome difficulties hghlighted by the students themselves in a more relaxed but studious environment; this may be in their own home or mine.

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Personal Description:
My name is Manuela and I am a native teacher of Spanish language and literature by the University of Córdoba(Spain) where I obtained my teaching qualification (BA in Spanish Studies), I hold QTS and also have a valid DBS.

I enjoy teaching Spanish at various levels, which gives me the opportunity to develop my teaching approach as well as getting to know different people, their views and understanding of the Spanish language.

I consider myself to be a confident and experienced teacher, committed, reliable, punctual and patient.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor for the past twenty years. I have also worked as a Spanish lecturer and as a freelance interpreter and translator.

Tutoring Approach:
The classes are tailored to the learner's needs. They cover writing, speaking, listening and reading. I provide all the material needed.

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Personal Description:
Hello!
I am a 60-year-old woman, native speaker, from Germany. I love the theatre and worked as an actress, author, and director. Furthermore, I also worked as a secretary and was responsible for the complete correspondence. The work with and via the German language is so exciting and leads you to an entirely new world that I would love to share this experience with people who are keen to learn German.
Lessons are available online only.

Teaching Experience:
I am not a teacher in the classic sense but as a native speaker with a lot of experiences in teaching theater items. I am able to help you practicing your new language - no matter if you need it for school, your job or just for fun!

Tutoring Approach:
It is my firm conviction you never learn better, quicker and more sustainable than in simply practicing a language.
Of course, it might be necessary to build a base first - that depends on your individual knowledge.
But no matter if you are a beginner or if you do already speak German - soon we will reach a level where we will talk only in German.
We won't learn vocabularies and grammar stubbornly by the book but we will practice the new language right from the beginning on everyday items.

I am no teacher in the classic sense - but I am a native speaker and I can help you with learning and practicing the German language.

So do not hesitate - just do it!

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified economics and business teacher with 20 years' experience in secondary schools, and now as a full-time tutor. I've provided over 9,000 hours of private tuition to 400+ UK and overseas students. I have an economics degree from Liverpool University. Prior to teaching I worked in advertising for 10 years. I also own two online businesses. I live in Bristol, am married with 3 teenage children, and I am passionate about helping young people achieve their potential.

Teaching Experience:
I taught economics in secondary schools for over 10 years, but I am now a full-time tutor. I typically tutor 40 to 50 students across an academic year, and they consistently perform above expectations; for example the majority of my 2024 students achieved at least a grade B, with several gaining an A*. However, my main focus is adding value, and all my previous students have improved at least one grade since I began working with them. Indeed many have improved by 3 or more grades. I teach all the major exam boards (International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International, Edexcel, Edexcel International, AQA, Eduqas, OCR and WJEC) and am an experienced economics examiner. I also have a current CRB.

Tutoring Approach:
I will always begin by discussing my tutee's individual requirements and areas of the syllabus they would like to focus on. Students may ask to recap concepts and theories that aren't fully understood, however in my experience most require help with exam technique, and how to translate their knowledge into a high grade answer. I therefore place a great emphasis on guiding students through the process of answering past paper questions, across all topic areas. In our sessions I will help with essay structure, illustrate how to use higher order analytical and evaluation skills, and crucially, how to apply an answer to information in a case study, or how to bring in real world examples.

Over the years I have taught an increasing proportion of students online, so that currently about 90% of my tutoring is done this way. I use Skype/Google Meet/Zoom and Google Docs, which students can also access. This makes the sessions as interactive as meeting face to face, and it also means I can tutor students from anywhere in the world (I have taught people in South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Spain, France, Serbia, Russia, Montenegro and Bermuda). I always encourage students to provide feedback so that they receive maximum benefit from their teaching.

Below are some testimonials from past students (many more can be seen in the reviews section):

"Ian tutored my daughter prior to her A Level exams in the summer of 2024. She had been predicted a B grade, but needed an A for her university offer. Ian covered content as well as exam technique with her, they also worked through past papers together and Ian on request would mark some of her written work. My daughter achieved an A☆ in economics… This was beyond her expectations, and we are extremely grateful for Ians tutoring and guidance." - Mrs De Simone - Cambridge

"My son initially struggled with the subject gaining an E grade in his mock exams but with Ian's help he managed a grade B in his AS level and attained an A grade in both A level papers. This was a huge improvement over the two years and I doubt it would have been possible without Ian's help, both with weekly tutoring and the all important pre-exam revision days. Ian's approach was personalised and intensive and my son's needs we're concentrated upon fully. Ian was always punctual and organised and struck up a good relationship with the whole family. I would happily recommend him." Mrs W - Redland, Bristol

"Matt only got an E grade in his February A2 mock exam and the school predicted he would get a C grade at A2. With the significant assistance from Ian, Matt achieved an A* at A2. In his other two A levels, Matt achieved Bs (he also had tutors for these). There are several reasons why Ian made the difference: 1.Being taught on Skype. Matt was initially very apprehensive about being taught on Skype rather than in person. But Skype proved really beneficial. Firstly it enabled Matt to fit in tuition at times that would just not have been possible if travel had been involved. Secondly it enabled Matt to have additional lessons when he had spare time. 2.Focussing on how to structure essay answers. The school just didn't put anywhere near enough emphasis on this crucial area. 3. Essay marking. A key aspect of A2 is exam practice. We paid Ian for essay marking which meant that Matt was effectively maximising his time with Ian. 4. Not accepting mediocrity. The school said that Matt should not retake his AS exams as he had a good B grade. Ian said he should retake as he could do better. 5. Providing positive encouragement. Matt has always lacked belief in himself and Ian gave Matt the confidence that he could achieve a good result.
We would strongly recommend Ian as an Economics tutor" Mr P - South Gloucestershire

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced teacher currently teaching A level physics in sixth form after 10 years teaching 11-18 Physics in a high achieving grammar school in the North West.
I have tutoring experience both in person and online with excellent results for both males and females, with tutees achieving top grades in A level and GCSE.

Teaching Experience:
I've been teaching for over 15 years and am a GCSE and A Level examiner so know the syllabus and tips and tricks for success.

Tutees cannot be guaranteed top grades, but with hard work and practice I can help them reach their true potential.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring can take place face to face or online and i have also done group online tuition to reduce costs. Exam preparation covered as well as reviewing topics and teaching topics where necessary.
Depending upon the specific circumstances; course material can be finished/taught, or crash courses close to the exam can be completed
I provide resources and I have a good insight into exam marking and examiners reports.

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Personal Description:
I have many years experience of running companies (my own and those belonging to others), and this knowledge is extremely helpful for students seeking Business English lessons, especially in respect of business meetings, introductions and writing letters. Although born just South of London, I have spent many years in other countries (16 years in Russia).

In addition to teaching I provide a proof-reading service, write promotional articles, and frequently write News articles that have been read by millions of people (I have also written three books)

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 8 years teaching experience and hold an International TEFL Teacher Training certificate. I currently teach English as a second language in the UK and previously provided this service to students in Moscow (Russia). My students have been varied (unemployed up to company directors) and their levels have ranged from Elementary to Advanced (individuals and groups).

Tutoring Approach:
No two students are the same and I adapt my teaching techniques to take this into account, often using my own unique methods to help students with pronunciation etc. Learning a new language is never easy, but I provide lessons in a relaxed style (with some humour) to make the process more enjoyable. Most importantly, I obtain results.

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Personal Description:
I live in South Wales with my daughter and our pet cat. Besides study and work, I enjoy walking, keeping fit and photography. I have also recently volunteered at a local primary school working on numeracy/literacy interventions and I recently worked part time at in the Learning Support department of a local Comprehensive school. In the summer I mark GCSE exam papers (Maths and Biology) for a major UK examination board.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring, mostly maths and science, on and off for over 8 years now, both online and traditional face to face tuition. I have worked in local primary schools and high schools assisting with activities, such as numeracy and reading, as well as assisting with detailed individual learning plans and support. I have detailed knowledge of all the major UK exam boards syllabus and exam technique for Maths, Geography and Economics.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor tuition to suit the needs of the individual student as each student learns differently and will better attain desired goals via their own learning style. I structure full lessons, sometimes with presentations, as well as exam practice papers with questions, and I will set homework, if deemed appropriate.

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Personal Description:
I am a native Arabic language tutor with over 25 years' experience teaching Arabic from absolute beginners to university level in UK . I teach adults and children online only

I teach Arabic (Modern / Classical) from complete beginners level, all the way to an advanced level, for both adults and children. Students learn all aspects of the language: reading, writing and speaking (general communication). I apply modern teaching techniques, which make the learning process appealing and enjoyable at each lesson. Recently I did different training with British council and Edexcel training online for New GCSE Arabic language.
First lesson is free.

Teaching Experience:
I have a huge wealth of experience in teaching Arabic to Adults and Children in the UK over a period of nearly 25 years. I started teaching Arabic to children privately (individually and in small groups) in the UK since 1992. I then extended my offering, by teaching adults in one of the Adult Community Colleges in the North of England. I then moved to London, and taught two courses of Arabic at Brent Adult Education Services from 1999 to 2001. During that period, I also completed my basic teaching training at Stanmore College in1999.
I then moved to Sussex and restarted in 2008 my Arabic teaching at Sussex Adult Education Services. I continue to teach there until March 2017 as I was the only Arabic Language Tutor at college. Besides that, I kept my private teaching to adults and children, either in person or through Skype, Zoom and Team.
My wealth of experience in teaching Arabic is manifested by the following:
1) I use a wide range and varied teaching materials: books; dialogues; MP3 sound files; card games; CDs; computer games; videos; and worksheets. All of these are at different levels - from absolute beginners to advanced learners. I have created and developed some of these materials, while I have carefully selected the others to suit my teaching at different levels.
2) I plan and develop suitable materials to teach individual students, according to their abilities and understanding. I don't just follow one or two text books, or a computer program to teach the language. I create a session plan for each individual lesson, and when I teach a small group of students, I use suitable differentiation methods to cover the different needs of the students. For example, I currently teach two young children (brothers) at different ages and one of them has a disability, so my teaching materials are different to suit each of them, in order to keep both of them enjoy and benefit from the lessons.
3) Teaching students with different abilities and backgrounds, as well as disabled students. For example, I taught a partially blind adult student, as part of a large group, and then individually. She enjoyed the lessons and continued learning Arabic. My students are at different ages; different professions; different backgrounds; and with different objectives to learn Arabic. I currently teach teenagers at GCSE level; several male and female adults (different professions); and a retired people.
4) I also teach at different levels. For beginners, I teach them the Arabic letters (pronunciation and writing) and communication skills in different day-to-day topics such as buying food and asking for directions. For the more advanced adult learners, I prepare them to be able to read, listen and understand the news in Arabic as well as reading stories, and debating topics. This gives them a good foundation if they want to work in Arabic speaking countries; work with NGOs where Arabic is required; and conducting business in the Arab world.
5) As a College Tutor, I have gone through several inspections / observations of my teaching. I used the feedback from these inspections to improve my teaching methods, style and materials. The feedback from my last observation session (in October 2016) was excellent, and I got the highest grade for a teaching session. The inspection report was full of positive feedback statements, such as:

"The tutor has a very high level of subject knowledge and communicated this in a calm and reassuring manner throughout. There was good rapport between the tutor and students which created a very supportive environment";

"Delivery methods were varied and included tutor presentation, use of sound files, handouts, speaking practice with the tutor, pair-work and some students using ICT resources. Tutor spoke clearly and utilised facial expression to good effect to demonstrate subtle differences in long and short vowel sounds. The pace appeared to be appropriate to all and differentiated learning activities enabled students to progress at their own pace. There were frequent opportunities for repetition. Handouts were either dual language (English / Arabic) .

"A range of assessment methods were in evidence including Q&A, quiz sheets and individual conversation between student and tutor in target language. Positive verbal feedback was given by the tutor throughout the session.
The tutor was well aware of the differing starting points of the students and the tutor had devised an excellent range of individual activities concerning Arabic to meet the needs of each learner. (One had matching cards, 2 played snakes and ladders, one had activity on iPad and one an activity on the computer.)";

"All learners were confident to speak in target language during Q and A sessions";

"Very clear differentiation was evident as the range of students was quite wide including absolute beginners alongside at least one student who had some previous knowledge to the extent that he could read/recognise written Arabic".

Tutoring Approach:
I teach online only, and have a good experience with this method (I taught last year an IGCSE student in the Middle East, and currently teach GCSE to 5 young persons, all online). I usually offer a free trial lesson for assessment purposes and to make sure the student is happy with teaching online.

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Personal Description:
My Name is Rachel and I have finished my final year at the University of Glasgow, where I studied a Bachelor of Music with Honours. I am a very positive, hardworking person. I am a singer and also have many years of experience working with the Kodaly method of music education. I have achieved ABRSM Grade 5 Theory, The National Youth Choir of Scotland's Go For Gold Certificate (which is accredited to Grade 5 Theory) and have also achieved Grade 8 in Voice and Grade 7 in Oboe through the ABRSM. I am a first study singer, and have several years teaching and assisting in teaching theory.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked with the National Youth Choir of Scotland for 2 years and have been doing music workshops in schools with Primary 3 and 4. I also teach in one of NYCoS's Area Choirs teaching young people from the age of 8-18. Before I became an employee of NYCoS I had volunteered with them as an assistent music instructor. I have the Go For Bronze/Silver/Gold teaching qualifications, with Go For Gold now being accredited to ABRSM Grade 5 Theory.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a very patient teacher and try my best to find a way which makes learning fun and easy for each individual.
I was taught using a course designed by NYCoS that is based on the work of the Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly. He believed that music education should be fun and inclusive and this is something I strive to bring to my lessons.

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Personal Description:
I have a BSc and an MSc in science and a PhD in engineering and have a theoretical and practical knowledge of maths and science. As well as that I have a lot of experience in industry and working around the world. I follow my family tradition in tutoring maths and science in my spare time, helping students, in particular those needing extra help and confidence in their studies. My husband and I have two children aged 17 and 13, we have a cat named Peter and have lived near Hereford for over 12 years. I volunteer at Marden Primary Academy as a classroom assistant and thoroughly enjoy helping out.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring maths, physics, biology, piano and theory of music for 2.5 years and have done home-schooling.

Tutoring Approach:
A patient approach, finding where a student is and then leading them on to a secure standard, with a feeling that it wasn't so difficult after all. Visual learning techniques are employed where possible in addition to learning by muscle memory, coordinating with any school work and homework so that there is no confusion with approach. I really enjoy tutoring and have fun which I think enables the students to ask questions which perhaps they were less able to do in a classroom environment.

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Personal Description:
My name is Toufic, I'm 32 years old originally from Lebanon. I have an Engineering Degree in Software Development from the University of Burgundy (France), and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction from Bradford University (UK). I am currently working as the Web Development Manager in a company in Bradford.

Teaching Experience:
I enjoy teaching, and love sharing my knowledge with different types of people, either young beginners or adults.
I helped many young students who had difficulties in their academic studies. But I also taught adults and professionals various skills in the IT sector.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring is all about caring and patience. I'm a very calm person who enjoys talking to people and knows how to teach in a fun and relaxed way.
First introduction hour is given for free for us to discuss your needs and the approach we'll take for teaching!
Special discounts given for students wishing to learn Arabic!

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Personal Description:
I have a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. While studying in my Bachelor's program in Russia and the Master's program at Cambridge I have developed a deep appreciation of the beauty of Mathematics and decided to specialize in the area. This eventually led to creating a new mathematical theory and defending my thesis.

As much as I like pondering on math problems on my own, it is especially important in maths to be able to explain the area to others, be they your colleagues, undergraduate and high school students or interested adults. Moreover, I found teaching really exciting and always feel extremely happy to see my students succeed.

Teaching Experience:
I have a lot of tutoring experience at various levels from 10-year-old kids to high-schoolers, university students and adults. Having started by helping my classmates in high school, I never stopped developing as a teacher. I worked for various tutoring companies as well as found students on my own gaining invaluable experience. I have prepared numerous students to A-levels and GSCE and overall know a lot about the UK education system. I have also prepared many students for the SAT Math Subject Test and various mathematical tournaments.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a few basic principles when working with students although my approach varies considerably from one student to another. As a first priority, I teach students the skills they need to solve problems effectively and efficiently, which helps them both in short-term goals (exam or competition) and overall increases their mathematical ability. Although A-level and GSCE scores can increase considerably by direct memorization of methods, I mostly focus on the underlying concepts which proves to be more beneficial to my students. That is, I teach all my students to think and understand and not just to memorize!

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Personal Description:
Hello! I am a teacher of Design and Technology- main area is Product Design/ Graphic Technology but I also deliver Resistant Materials and Engineering. I have good (with outstanding features) teaching skills and subject knowledge. I have worked in the education sector for 10 years and have been teaching in schools since 2013.I have an in-depth understanding of my subject specifications and have a history of achieving good results.

Teaching Experience:
Prior to teaching I studied Graphic communication and then Graphic Design and Illustration at university. My journey into education started as a behavior and academic mentor helping those with barriers to their learning. I later developed my passion and skill to become a qualified teacher of Design and Technology at secondary level.

I have also taught KS3 Math (lower ability groups), GCSE Media studies and GCSE Engineering.

I have also worked with Engineering Development Trust and directed many students to apprenticeships post school education. I have strong knowledge and understanding of the forth industrial revolution and skill sets that will benefit the next generation in the working world that they will enter.

I currently work as a Design and Technology Teacher, specialising in Technical drawing. I am very familiar with AQA, Edexcel and OCR syllabuses. I also mark GCSE coursework and exams for the AQA exam board.

Tutoring Approach:
Learning is a personal journey. I am strong at scaffolding and differentiation of work. I like to work with students who want to build on their knowledge through a style which works best for them. Sometimes I could do mock papers, sometimes it could be activity based learning, other times it could be going over and improving what has been done at work (for example, coursework improvements).

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Personal Description:
10 years of teaching experience. (Italian History, Geography Culture and Tourism)
25 publications ( Italian Military History)
IWM London volunteer
Partnerships:
Italian Army and Navy
British Archaeological Reports
After The Battle
Accademy of St. Marciano
Italian Sociery of Military HIstory
National Geographic Channel ( Series Nazi Megastructures)

Teaching Experience:
10 years of teaching experience. (Italian History, Geography Culture and Tourism). High schools, academies, training schools

Tutoring Approach:
professional approach by means of slides, books and notes.
Modern and effective teaching methods

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Harry, a dedicated and experienced tutor with a passion for helping students unlock their full academic potential. I specialize in Maths and Science at the GCSE level and have a proven track record of supporting students to build confidence, improve their understanding, and achieve their target grades. Whether you're looking for help with exam preparation or ongoing support with schoolwork, I'm here to provide clear explanations, tailored lessons, and encouragement every step of the way.

Teaching Experience:
I began tutoring during my A-Levels, assisting GCSE students with their understanding of Chemistry. Helping students develop towards a deeper understanding of the subject is what inspired me to start tutoring more. I continued tutoring during my time at university, whilst also participating in a mentor programme where I would assist younger students with coursework, practical and theory questions.

My teaching approach centres on tailoring material to each individual student, as there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to learning. Each student has their own strengths and weaknesses, which mY lessons would be built around. From there, I can prioritise tackling problems that they might be having with certain skills and aim to further improve their strengths, whilst maintaining an appropriate level of challenge across skills.

Before the lessons, I like to establish with each student what goals they want to reach. It's a useful icebreaker, but also allows me to determine what they want to get out of the teaching, whether this is boosting their confidence or excelling at exams. This way we can identify what the focus point is, and plan the lessons around that.

Tutoring Approach:
Making sure the lessons are interactive is another of my top priorities, as I believe that mixing the content up to keep the student engaged helps them to learn a lot faster. Once a student is confident with the subject, I get them started on past papers, as applying the knowledge in this way is better reflective of actual exam conditions.

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Personal Description:
I work mostly as a software developer and have been doing this, self employed, for over 20 years. Maths tuition makes up a significant part of my work, but it is no more than half. Previous work has included engineering, as a draughtsman and CAD operator. I retrained as a teacher in the 1990s during a period of unemployment, but apart from some part time work in further education I have not worked as a teacher until recently starting with tuition.

Teaching Experience:
I have degree in Mathematical Education with Qualified Teacher Status and this included teaching in secondary school. I have also taught a Materials Science module in further education at the same time that I was training as a teacher. This was between 1993 and 1995.
I worked for an online tuition provider from November 2021 to December 2022, teaching maths to students between years 7 and 11, including GCSE revision. I taught around 400 lessons in that time.
At the time of writing this I am still providing online tuition but have a much reduced timetable while I try to acquire some more students.

Tutoring Approach:
For online tuition I use Zoom for the connection and a virtual whiteboard that allows me to share images and documents, and write and draw on them. My approach varies depending on the age and ability of the student. For older students looking to improve their exam grades it is usually a mixture of working through past papers, looking at specific questions, or demonstrating a particular topic. At the younger end We may be going over a topic that has been done in school recently and there will be more emphasis on the student answering some questions as we work through exercises.
I do have some practical experiences of using maths throughout my employment and will try to find real examples of maths in action where this is possible.

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Personal Description:
I am a semi-retired teacher and am a very passionate and experienced teacher. I am a keen sportswoman and musician. I have three adult children.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 25 years of teaching in Secondary schools and since 2019 I have been teaching adults and GCSE and A level French and German. My group of GCSE German students and my A level German students achieved outstanding results in 2023.I also teach private students at highly regarded English independent schools.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is always student-centred and I use innovative methods of teaching to promote and support learning. I encourage students to be active participants in their own learning and support with developing transferable skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and reflective thinking. I have also worked with several students who have needed extra help and reassurance due to having anxiety issues and with my support, my students are able to take control of their learning and achieve the success they deserve.

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Personal Description:
Hi! I'm Rayyan- a second year architecture student at Cardiff University. As I did my A Levels and GCSEs in different schools, I am familiar with AQA and Edexcel exam boards. I am passionate when it comes to teaching as it is something I believe is rewarding to both the student and the tutor. It has instilled patience and communication within me among other qualities necessary for the role and I am looking forward to passing knowledge onwards!

Teaching Experience:
I used to tutor GCSE and A Level students at my college to prepare them for their maths assessments from which they benefitted a lot in the lead-up to their examinations.

I also used to be a liaison for 2 years working with year 8-9 kids in a classroom environment. My job was to guide and teach them, on a collective and individual scale, revision techniques, exam preparation and carry out weekly activities with the class in order to provoke thoughts for their futures and improve their teamwork, communication and academic skills.

Tutoring Approach:
Teaching method (open to be altered according to the student, however my default teaching method is as follows):
- Short walkthrough of the module topic with QnA throughout to ensure the topic is understood
- Exploring and answering example questions together
- Exam questions for the student to attempt and walk through the answer together (we go through questions until the student is comfortable with the topic and is able to move on)

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