Gillingham Tutors and Gillingham Tuition

Personal Description:
I have Special Needs University qualifications and counseling skills, which enables me to tutor students that may encounter emotional difficulties in their learning. I believe that motivation is the key factor to tutoring, as it needs to be addressed continuously in the process of learning.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor for the past 14 years preparing students for +11, +13 exams in English and Maths. I also teach Maths up to AS level.

I am a certified therapist in PhonoGraphix method for addressing spelling and reading difficulties both for children and adults.

I could also help with learning computers (ECDL syllabus including usage of Word, PowerPoint, Internet, Excel).

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor, I encourage my students to reflect upon their mistakes and to understand how to tackle the next step of their learning, without having a negative response.

I usually have the first lesson together with the parents so that the student feels comfortable and parents can observe my teaching; I present a folder containing the CRB form, qualifications, QTS certificate and letters of recommendations from parents. I teach from home in a calm and stimulating environment.

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Personal Description:
I have master in Pharmacy from Kent University Greenwich and currently studying Medicine.
I provide excellent online tuition. I use a special program to present you with a whiteboard so I am able to incorporate diagrams and animation in my tuition. You can have a free trial to find out about the quality of my tuition.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for the past 10 years teaching nurses, medical students, pharmacy students at all levels.

Tutoring Approach:
Online tuition
I use diagrams and animation in most of my lessons.

Subjects

Personal Description:
"Neelam helped me choose the right statistical test for my dissertation and provided me with additional feedback on my essay. Thank you" - S.A (BSc student)

"Neelam helped me with my A level revision for Psychology. She asked me lots of questions and also made it fun!" - (A Level student)

I am a Qualified Forensic Psychologist, chartered with the British Psychological Society (HCPC registere)

I am friendly, enthusiastic with various relevant experiences to not only support an understanding of Psychology, but also can provide support in relevent assignments and essay writing. I can also provide an insight into the ins and outs of Psychology in practice and support future goals as relevant given my career.

I can support you in revision for exams and help you optimise different learning styles to achieve your goals.

Teaching Experience:
I have relevant experience applicable to teaching. I have over 7 years experience working with complex children aged 15-18, facilitating psychological interventions on a 121 and group basis. I previously worked with adults, providing group interventions as well as worked with young people in the Princes Trust. I deliver training to adults on a regular basis.

I take a client-centred approach and have been trained in Motivational Interviewing. I have passed my qualification component related to training others: the skills I have developed both in facilitating and training are applicable to 121 tutoring. I have also developed a national training on Behaviour Management of children, therefore have experience and in depth knowledge of child development as well as trauma and attachments.

Through my various years as a Professional in Psychology Services, I have excellent and professional writing skills as well as oral presentations. I can therefore provide support in essay writing, scientific research and presentations.

Tutoring Approach:
I take a client-centred approach, exploring preferred learning styles and can use Motivational Interviewing to collaborate, elicit and provide autonomy to students.

By using my knowledge of Psychology, Children, child and adult learning (pedagogy and andragogy), I can apply this in the teaching environment.

I will explore learning styles however seek to teach using all styles to maximise learning (however this is flexible per client). I will aim to make learning fun, applicable and therefore rewarding. I will encourage reflections and self-assessment.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced Geography teacher, passionate about our natural world and outdoor learning. With First Class in Geography degree and Distinction in Environmental Management Master Degree, I am happy to share my tactics of success and help any students who are willing to achieve their best results. All of my tutees in the past years achieved at least an 7 and many of them achieved an 9 in their GCSE.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Geography for more than 15 years from comprehensive schools to grammar schools.

Tutoring Approach:
exam-oriented with content revision and practice of exam questions

Subjects

Personal Description:
I provide face to face and online tuition via Skype or Zoom. Most students are very comfortable with this method of learning., I also travel to student's home's within a reasonable distance.

I am a very experienced teacher, head of faculty, head of sixth form, examiner and writer. I have recently worked for one of the major examination boards on the new specifications for both G.C.S. E. and A-Level.

During my career as a teacher I have taught English, philosophy and religious studies to Advanced level and English, history, religious studies, geography, and citizenship to G.C.S.E. I also specialise in developing study skills and examination techniques in a range of subjects. I have prepared VI form students for university and UCAS application, including Oxbridge, and acted as a mentor to new entrants to the teaching profession.

I am also a freelance writer specialising in education, social, religious and moral issues. I have written and designed e-learning resources for two international educational e-learning-platform providers.

Teaching Experience:
My teaching experience at Key Stage 3 & 4, G.C.S.E. and Advanced level has been extensive. I am an examiner for two major exam boards and have diverse experience of creating original teaching resources tailored to the needs of pupils both individuals and classes.

I have spent most of my career teaching across the ability and age range in 11-18 comprehensive schools although I have also taught in a Sixth Form College and the independent sector.

I have also been a part-time on-line tutor for one of the Oxford colleges and also tutor on-line. This has included online tuition for a premiership football academy!

I have served on several school boards of governors as a foundation, teacher and parent governor. I am currently Chair of Governors at a local primary school.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that the key to success for most pupils is to develop their skills and self-confidence to enhance their ability to successfully complete their examination by developing study skills and examination techniques.

My first session with a tutee and their parents is to establish their needs and goals. Together we draw up a plan of the work which we will pursue. This plan will be reviewed regularly and a progress report compiled.

Each of the subsequent sessions comprises of:
review of any homework set
review of any problems which have occurred that week
lesson on a topic previously decided upon

My primary aim is to help my tutees overcome any difficulties which they are having with their work and to help them to achieve their goals both in the short-term and the long term. Secondly, I aim to give my tutees confidence in their own abilities and to help them develop their skills necessary to succeed in their examinations.
Relevant homework is set as a means of reinforcing the development of skills since assessment and feedback procedures largely rely on this.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an Italian engineer and professional actor living in London, and teaching has been a central part of my life for many years. I currently tutor Mathematics, Italian, and Drama, working with students of different ages and abilities.

Alongside my engineering degree, I trained as an actor at the Birmingham School of Acting, where I developed advanced communication, pronunciation, and presentation skills. I am also a certified Results Coach, and I integrate coaching tools into my teaching to help students improve confidence, organisation, and motivation, as well as academic performance.

I have studied and worked across Europe and have extensive experience supporting students from international and multicultural backgrounds. I combine analytical rigour with creativity and clear communication, and I believe that with the right guidance, structure, and encouragement, every student can improve.

I take my responsibilities very seriously and always aim to create a calm, supportive, and effective learning environment where the student's progress comes first.


EDUCATION
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August 2025 - October 2025
Results Coach - Coaches Academy 2025 (Robbins Research Int.)

March 2023 - July 2025
Mastery University Graduate, Robbins Research Int.
Leadership Mastery Graduate, Robbins Research Int.

October 2023 - September 2024
Meditation Teacher, Certified by Accademia Dhyana, Lumera Institute.

October 2020 - June 2021
Certified Gyrokinesis® Instructor.

September 2008 - May 2011 Birmingham, United Kingdom.
BA (Hons) Acting, Birmingham School of Acting.
Awarded the Sir John Gielgud Bursary 2010.

since February 10, 2010 Bologna, Italy.
Member of the Guild of Engineers of Bologna,
as Chartered Engineer, certified by the University of Bologna (December 15, 2008).

2000 - December 21, 2007 Bologna, Italy.
MS in Environmental Engineering (mining field), University of Bologna.
MS Thesis: "Experimental Study on Friction between Saline Ice and Steel" - UNIS, Norway.
Final grade: 100/100.

Spring - Fall 2007 Longyearbyen, Norway.
University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), department of Arctic Technology.
- Arctic Offshore Engineering (graduate course AT-327).
- Thermo-Mechanics of Ice and Snow, and Loads on Structures (graduate course AT-323).

2003 - 2004 Reykjavk, Iceland.
University of Iceland, Geotechnical department. Erasmus exchange program.


PUBLICATIONS
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M., Marchenko, A., Hyland, K. V., 2008. Experimental study on friction between saline ice and steel.
Proc. 19th IAHR Symposium on ice, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vol. 2.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching & Coaching Experience
"The foundation of good education starts with relationship building - Marco did this exceptionally well."
- WorldStrides Program Leader

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Private Tutoring - Mathematics, Physics, Italian & Drama
2000 - Present | UK & Europe

I have over 20 years' experience tutoring students of different ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds, from primary school to university level. I support both long-term academic development and targeted exam preparation (GCSE and A-Level), combining subject expertise with structured learning strategies and coaching tools.

A recent example includes preparing a Year 11 student for GCSE Maths and Physics (Higher level). Through a clear, motivating, and exam-focused approach, the student progressed from Level 5 to Level 7 in both subjects, successfully accessing A-Level pathways. Parents highlighted my ability to quickly assess learning gaps, build trust, and increase confidence, motivation, and independent study skills.
Full written references available on request.

My tutoring approach emphasises:
- Clear structure and exam readiness
- Step-by-step problem solving
- Confidence building and independent thinking
- Calm, professional, and reliable delivery

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Italian Language Teaching - UK & International Students
2011 - Present | London & Online

Since moving to London, I have taught Italian to a wide range of learners, including students, professionals, and casual learners. Lessons are always tailored to individual goals, such as conversational fluency, exam preparation, accent reduction, or cultural immersion.

Feedback from Italian language students highlights my patience, clarity, and ability to build confidence and enjoyment in learning. Students consistently report improved fluency, stronger pronunciation, and greater confidence using Italian in real-life situations.
Selected testimonials available via my professional website; references available on request.

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Teaching Assistant - Early Years & Special Needs Integration
Feb - Sep 2008 | Reykjavík, Iceland
Kindergarten "Sólborg"

I worked as a teaching assistant in a kindergarten with a dedicated integration programme for children with special needs, particularly hearing impairment. In addition to daily classroom support, I designed and led weekly English language sessions using games, music, and movement. This experience deeply informed my inclusive, student-centred approach to teaching.

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Founder & Program Designer - Coaching, Movement & Embodied Learning
Jan 2021 - Present | LL Morandi & Morandi | London & Hybrid

I am the founder of LL Morandi & Morandi, a coaching and education project focused on results-oriented coaching, embodied learning, and effective communication.

I design and deliver:
- One-to-one coaching
- Group programmes
- Experiential workshops

My work integrates professional coaching frameworks, movement-based learning, mindfulness, and performance pedagogy to support clarity, confidence, motivation, and sustainable performance. This coaching background directly enriches my tutoring practice, helping students develop effective learning strategies, organisation, exam confidence, and self-leadership skills.

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Educational Leadership & Group Facilitation
Tour Director | WorldStrides | UK & Europe

Alongside my teaching and coaching work, I have extensive experience as a Tour Director for WorldStrides, leading and supporting student groups in international educational contexts.

Program leaders consistently highlight my ability to build trust quickly, communicate clearly, manage group dynamics, and respond calmly and creatively to challenges. Feedback frequently references strong relationship-building, empathy, professionalism, and genuine care for students' wellbeing - qualities I bring into every teaching and tutoring relationship.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe effective teaching starts with strong relationships, clarity, and trust. A teacher can make a real difference in a person's life - for better or worse - and at its best, teaching can be a source of inspiration that helps students discover confidence and even enjoyment in subjects they once found difficult or unapproachable. When students feel understood and supported, they engage more fully and make faster, more sustainable progress.

As a private tutor, I work one-to-one, which allows me to tailor each lesson to the student's specific needs, learning style, and goals. Every student is different, and there is no single method that works for everyone. My role is to understand how each student learns best and to adapt my approach accordingly.

I begin with an initial session to assess the student's current level, identify learning gaps, and clarify objectives (for example exam requirements, confidence-building, or long-term improvement). From there, I design a clear, structured learning plan, combining subject expertise with coaching tools to support focus, motivation, and effective study habits.

Each session is carefully prepared in advance and structured to:
- Build understanding step by step
- Encourage active participation and independent thinking
- Develop confidence and exam readiness
- Reinforce learning through practice and feedback

I expect commitment from the student, and I support this by creating a positive, calm, and encouraging learning environment where questions are welcomed and mistakes are seen as a natural part of learning.

My aim is not only to help students improve academically, but also to equip them with strategies, confidence, and self-belief that stay with them well beyond the subject itself.
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'My goal is always measurable progress, achieved in a way that feels supportive, motivating, and sustainable.'

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a PhD in chemistry from a university in the United States. Personally I'm friendly and supportive and easy to get along with.

Teaching Experience:
I have been working as a private tutor for more than 15 years and during that time I have helped hundreds of students. Many of my students have gone on to study Medicine, Dentistry or other subjects at top universities in this country and abroad. I'm familiar with all of the different exam boards (AQA, OCR, EdExcel, IB, CIE).
Before becoming a tutor I had almost 18 years experience of teaching chemistry and biochemistry at university level.

Tutoring Approach:
Every student is unique. It is vital for students to have confidence in their ability. I try to help students to study in the most efficient way in order to achieve the best results and to realize their true potential. I use problem sets and questions from previous exams as much as possible. I have a range of textbooks and teaching resources that I can use. I am happy to have an initial informal meeting to discuss the students requirements before lessons begin. I am always happy to discuss a students progress with his/her parents.

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Personal Description:
I am a native speaker of Spanish with many years of experience in teaching the language to children, young people in their GCSE and A Level courses (I am an Examiner and Specialist for AQA and Edexel), and adults who want to learn Spanish for business or holidays. I have a very interactive and friendly approach to teaching. The structure of the courses is very clear from the beginning but, ultimately, the content and the pace of the lessons is always determined by the students. The emphasis is on having good fun while learning, and a lot of the material used in the lessons is original. As a native speaker, I always make sure that the learning experience also includes cultural aspects of the country. I am absolutely sure that you will enjoy the courses.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher of Spanish and a native speaker of the language. For the last 23 years, I have taught Spanish at different Secondary schools in Kent. I have also taught the language privately to adults wanting to learn or improve their command of the language for business or holiday purposes, and also to young people wanting to improve their chances of a good GCSE or A Level grade in Spanish. I am an examiner for AQA and I have taught Spanish GCSE and A Level courses for Edexel and AQA for many years. So, I am very familiar with the course contents.

Tutoring Approach:
The lessons that I teach are always interactive and practical. Students dictate both the content and the pace of the lessons and the aim is always to make the learning experience enjoyable. For example, if you are an adult wanting to improve your Spanish for holidays, we would reproduce in the lessons the situations that you would normally find yourself in while on holiday in Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country: greeting people, ordering food and drink, finding your way around, buying things, travelling around, asking for help, socialising, etc... As a native speaker, I always make sure that the learning experience also includes cultural aspects of the country.

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Personal Description:
I am a british born multi-skilled Business Management Post-Graduate with a flexible and proactive approach to work. I hold many transferable skills gained in positions, detained alongside studies since leaving school. I am a friendly, approachable individual with a smart appearance and professional manner. My fee is dependent on lesson plans, books/course materials required, travel time/expenses incurred and the number of hours requested.

Teaching Experience:
I have been working as a p/t Tutor for 7 years, Assisting primary school students up to Key Stage 3 in English, Maths and preparing for 11+/SATS Exams. I have also worked at various tuition centres and colleges.

Completed:

Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adult's training
Child Protection training
Childcare & Classroom Work programs
Support Work in Schools course
Training, Assessment, Quality & Assurance course
Enhanced CRB
Employment Related Services course

Additionally, I help adults with ICT, Business studies and Employment Advice e.g CV'S, Cover Letters, Application Forms and Proofreading. I am based in Kings Heath but can also do home visits. Please email me for further information.

Tutoring Approach:
I am passionate about helping pupils and strive to improve their learning. I have a strong belief in getting students to reach their full potential and even exceed it. I can build good relationships with students and have a caring nature. I believe that every child matters and that understanding a child's individual needs is paramount to their academic success. I also believe that confidence in their ability has a lot to be accounted for. Therefore, I offer not only a boost to their ability but to increase their academic success!

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Personal Description:
I am an intelligent, responsible and empathic person with an extensive background in teaching. With excellent communication skills and a tremendous enthusiasm for teaching my aim is always to allow my students to grow and learn for themselves.
My principal goal is to constantly improve as a teacher and for this reason I am undertaking both Spanish and French courses with prestigious institutions like Cervantes.

Teaching Experience:
2009 - 2014
- Substitute phylosophy for the regional government of Catalunya (Spain) and the regional government of Valencia (Spain).
- Private classes in philosophy with High School students and teachers.
2006 - 2009
- Private classes with children with emotional and learning difficultes.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that a teacher should have a good knowledge I awareness of psychology and personal development. With this in mind, many of my additional and special skills have been obtained in this area.

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Personal Description:
Professional English Language Trainer/Mentor.

I am an absolute people person, who is very communicative, outgoing and a natural networker.

It has often been said, by my corporate students that my greatest asset is in my people and social skills and in my ability to get my messages, ideas and thoughts persuasively across; which I developed from an early age, from working in our family businesses of retail and wholesale outlets, upon leaving school.

Teaching Experience:
I have wide experience in working with people from the Middle East and Asian Rim countries; as well as South America.

I have also worked and lived in Russia; starting my new career in Rostov-on-Don in 1995, where I was responsible for opening up a branch of a Moscow-based English language school.

I then moved back to Moscow, after six months, and spent the latter half of my career providing mentoring and Business English language training programmes to some of Russia's largest companies and top personnel + providing English language tutoring/mentoring services to Russia's HNW & VHNW families.

I am totally fluent in the Russian language and culture/mentality; with an ability to to "drill down" to the core thinking and mentality of Russian people.

Experience with preparing and delivering EMBA and MBA preparatory Business English courses.

Competent website content writer.

Creative course designer and project work manager, designer and motivational leader.

Trainer in how to give effective presentations and email writing.

Trainer in cross cultural awareness issues and body language - non-verbal communication.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is totally eclectic and all my lessons are bespoke and designed to meet the needs of the client.

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Personal Description:
I am a friendly, qualified and experienced teacher. I am a native German. I moved to the UK in 1991 just after meeting my future husband. We have three grown-up sons. My hobbies are walking, gardening, piano and music, cooking and I am a member of the WI. I hold a current DBS certificate and I am also registered with the Education Workforce Council.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked in Grammar schools and colleges in the UK for over 15 years, as a German teacher and Head of German. I have conducted GCSE and A-level oral exams for the WJEC examination board and written syllabuses for German GCSE and A-level groups. The school where I worked, received an "Outstanding" by Ofsted. At present, I am working online and in-person with students who are eager to improve their confidence and skills at Key stage 3, GCSE, A-level or Degree level, and also with adults who want to learn German to converse with family and friends or are taking up professional positions in Germany and Switzerland.

The feedback I have received from students has been consistently positive. All students have improved their skills and confidence and many have been able to get top marks in their exams and have been able to secure places at Cambridge, Imperial College, York, Nottingham, Cardiff and Kings College London.

Tutoring Approach:
I currently teach all lessons in person or online on Zoom or Skype. Online tutoring is very effective, as students can choose the best tutor regardless of where they live and save on travelling time. As with in person lessons, I prepare lesson plans and materials and send them to the student before the lesson. I also set homework assignments, mark the work and give constructive feedback.

Language tuition has been my passion for a long time and allows me to be supportive and creative, motivating pupils and believing in their abilities. One-to-one tuition is very productive, because it adapts to the individual learner's needs easily. My experience in schools and with exams has given me the knowledge of standards required for GCSE and A-level exams, and many pupils have commented on how much improvement they have seen in their school work, and in their confidence, as a result of our lessons. My aim is to make language learning enjoyable, and therefore I always encourage a warm and relaxed atmosphere for lessons. My lessons are structured, integrating all four language skills speaking, listening, reading and writing, and also include grammar, pronunciation, games, video clips, and lots of authentic material and cultural knowledge.

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Personal Description:
Highly experienced lecturer in the Arts, Fashion, Design History. Degree from world number 1 Central Saint Martins, Masters in Education from Greenwich University. Have lectured in the arts for 20 years. Identify and assess students skills for developing. My success in 1-1 lectures is complete generosity in my accumulative knowledge, and sharing it with client. My clients are catapulted ahead. Have worked for various governments, ". Learning does definitely take place'
Have supported prepping clients portfolio for foundation for several years. My student won the Gold medal First Prize at Royal College of Art Young Artists Awards 2024.

Teaching Experience:
20 years
I was called over by the government of India in 1996, after graduating from Central Saint Martins, as troubleshooter for their new Art/Fashion College to encountering 'teething issues'. Then worked at Auckland Insitute of Technology , Art& Fadhion dept. Did my Masters in 2000, worked in New Forest with A level Art & Fadhion ( highest grades they had ever had) introduced foundation, 7 out of 10 students awarded Distictions in first year. Head hunted by Shoreditch Fashion department in 2004. Left in 2012. Wrote up my own curriculum and have set up my own summer school in Beijing.

Tutoring Approach:
Identify students level swiftly, then put in place a learning plan / platform to succeed.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am extremely proud of my students results in the first year of the new 9-1 GCSE's. All 14 final year students passed their maths exam at a grade 4 or above. One of my pupils who was in set two at a local school achieved the highest possible grade (9) only 3000 of these grades were given nationally. Four of my students were bottom set of next to bottom set and all passed. Two being the only pupils in their class to pass the GCSE.

I am a fully qualified experienced maths teacher with a BSc in Mathematics. I have experience in intervention and one to one tutoring within a high school setting, delivering the intervention sessions in one high school and taking the responsibility of intervention coordinator in another. I have also prepared small groups of pupils for Further/Additional Maths at GCSE Level. I have been very successful in improving under achieving students to achieve their target grade both as a tutor and teacher. For example I took over a GCSE class which was a bottom set who I started teaching at the start of year 11. At that point the highest grade in the class was a grade F. By the end of the year everyone improved significantly and several gained a grade C. As a father I know how important our children achieving their best is to all parents.

Teaching Experience:
During my teaching career I have taught in 4 different high schools including schools with a sixth form. My first post was in a Lancashire High school where I was responsible for the intervention in Mathematics which involves helping small groups of pupils who are below target in Mathematics. My last GCSE group all achieved grade A*-C. (set 2 of 6)

My next post was in a Sefton High School and sixth form where I was responsible for organising and running intervention. My GCSE group (set 5/bottom set) all achieved at least three levels of progress from their starting point and 3 pupils achieved a grade C (This was above their target grade).

In my final year I was teaching 3 GCSE classes. A higher group in which all achieved B-A* as well as a vocational group and a bottom set where some pupils achieved grade C and others made their expected progress.

I have tutored both in school and privately with a lot of success. One example was a private student who came to me having achieved a grade F at the end of year 10. A year later she achieved a C in her GCSE exam. Successes from the exam results in 2016 include an A level student moving from a E to a B. A GCSE student moving from an F to a C who I started tutoring in February. Another GCSE pupil moving from a C to an A.

I am fully up to date with the changes in exams at GCSE Level for the new 9-1 GCSE`s and the changes in the sats for Primary school pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
I want all my students to be able to develop their understanding of mathematics rather than just learning how to answer a question. I try to work with their class teacher in following the methods they are being taught at school but also realise that different methods may be appropriate if they are struggling. I set homework weekly which is assessed at the start each session unless it is a longer piece or exam paper which is taken away and marked and brought back to the next session. I plan topics which are linked to previous learning in order to develop the bigger picture of mathematics but have excellent subject knowledge so I'm able to change my plan if the student wishes to look at another area that might have arisen as a problem in school/college. I also like my students to be proactive and get in touch if they wish to cover a particular topic which wasn't mentioned at the end of the previous session. I have a good relationship with all the people I tutor, they are at ease to ask questions and praise is central to help raise confidence. I am willing to travel however the price stated is the online price so please enquire if you would like a home visit.

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Personal Description:
A dedicated researcher with a PhD in Biochemistry, with more than five years of research in cancer and cell biology.
After taking some time off for childcare, I am now back in academia and currently interested in a tutoring position

Teaching Experience:
Visiting Lecturer Feb 2019 - July 2019
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad,
Pakistan

Researcher Apr 2017 - Aug 2017
International Institute of Molecular and Cell
Biology (IIMCB), Warsaw, Poland

Research Fellow Feb 2015 - Jun 2016
LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore

Teaching Support Assistant
University of Bristol, Bristol, UK 2010 - 2015

Demonstrator
University of Bristol, Bristol, UK 2010 - 2015

Tutoring Approach:
I have a wide teaching experience and can help to build the deep concepts of the sciences. I am humble, honest, and flexible according to the need of the tutee.I can also help to write scientific essays and stories for writing in scientific journals.

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Personal Description:
I am married with two sons aged 22 and 21. I completed a Languages in Business Degree in 1991 (German and French). I enjoy travelling, cinema, gym and hiking and spending time with family and friends

Teaching Experience:
I am a professional tutor having been tutoring since 2013. I tutor both children and adults in German and French from beginners, GCSE and A level and beyond. I am also a TEFL qualified ESL teacher willing to teach Young Learners, General English and Business English.

Tutoring Approach:
I work on a 1;1 basis at my home with pupils and believe it essential to have a patient and calm attitude with the pupils. It is essential to make the lessons enjoyable and to engage the pupils fully. We cover grammar and all topics related to the syllabus and also practice listening/reading comprehensions, translations, describing photos and general conversation. However, currently I tutor via the Zoom platform and will be doing so for the foreseeable future until the Covid pandemic is over.

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Personal Description:
I'm Freya and I want to help you discover how great learning languages can be!
I have recently just finished my third year at the University of St. Andrews studying Italian and Spanish. I spent my third year in Italy working as an English Language Assistant in a middle school as part of the year abroad programme.
I consider myself an approachable person and find teaching to be a very rewarding experience, and I welcome comments from my tutors about helpful points or areas of improvement to ensure students get the most out of my lessons.

I have 9 years experience of learning languages, which include Spanish, Italian, French, Welsh and German, therefore I have acquired the necessary skills, techniques and methods required to learn and revise for a Modern Foreign Language and hope to pass this onto students. I achieved 2 A*s and 1 A in my A-Levels and am fully aware of the dedication and hard work that is required to achieve your best potential.

Teaching Experience:
After having spent the last academic year as an English Language Assistant to students in a middle school in Italy, I have experience of teaching a range of different abilities and attitudes. Teaching a second language to over 120 pupils (aged 12-14) has provided with new teaching skills whilst also understanding difficulties that students overcome when learning a new language.
In my final year of sixth form, I volunteered my free time at the Preparatory School teaching introductory Spanish to pupils aged seven to ten and returned a year later during my University summer holidays.
The methodology I studied in an English Language Teaching section of a Linguistics module during my first year of University included the theory of language and learning which shapes the objectives, syllabus and activities of a lesson along with the tutor and tutee roles. In addition to this, I have also embarked upon a self-funded online teaching course for second language learning and the best tips and techniques in order for students to succeed.

Tutoring Approach:
Learning a language is complex task that takes a lot of practice and determination.
I tend to focus on grammar drills followed by exercises that include different topics of vocabulary, however I tailor classes to the needs of the tutee. My online classes include powerpoints, games and grammar and vocabulary exercises all through speaking or writing exercises.
As I studied for my GCSE's and A-Levels a few years ago, I have a lot of revision notes and books which are of great help and am happy to mark practice past papers for students as I know personally how helpful these are.

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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.'

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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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