Livingston Tutors and Livingston Tuition

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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Experienced and well qualified tutor in secondary, adult and university Maths and Physics.
With a positive attitude and engaging personality I get on well with my students.
I have also tutored students with dyslexia and autism related conditions and aware of modern educational SEN practices in this regards.

Teaching Experience:
Tutor with over 15 years adult college training and tutor experience.
Can tutor from Nationals 4/5 through to Advanced Higher, as well as GCSE/iGCSE, A-Level, IB.
Also tutor mature students and graduate level University and Colleges NC courses.
Cambridge Entrance exams STEP (paper-1 and paper-2 only).
Registered STEM Ambassador (East of Scotland).

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in putting the students interest first and ensuring that they work at
a pace with which they are comfortable.

Regular reports on progress are available to guardians.

Available daytime, evenings and weekend (presently ONLINE only)
I offer tutor online lessons via Skype/ whiteboard app- very easy at no extra cost to students.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! I am passionate in teaching, and helping people improve whilst feeling more confident in their studies. Having recently completed my higher exams I hope to help people get through the challenging material with the freshest strategies and tips possible. I'd like to label myself as patient, chillaxed, reliable and friendly. Equally, I love to learn and challenge myself, something I hope I can project to whoever I'm teaching.

First lesson will be 50% off, of course, so you can see whether I am the right tutor for you.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored twice before, once in nat 5 maths bringing their prelim score of C to an A, and also in higher maths taking them from a fail in the prelim to a B.
I also help do paired reading with the younger students in my school as well as being the Maths Ambassador where I'm helping hold study supports for higher and national 5s as well as aiding students in classes.

Tutoring Approach:
Although I have strategies and methods to many different question types in either maths or chemistry, everybody has a specific way they like learning so I aim to be adaptable and inquisivitive to see how I can tailor the lessons for whoever I'm helping so they can learn best. There's no benefits in being overbearing or strict or expecting the world from someone, rather I prefer to be encouraging, patient and understanding to how hard some sub-sections are of each subject and working at a comfortable pace for the tutee. I'll also of course be happy to make regular reports or tell the tutee's guardian of their progress!

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am currently studying Medicine at university. Before then I undertook a gap year, where I spent the time tutoring students. I have managed to tutor students who were failing in their prelims, helping them to achieving an A in their final exam. I have also worked with students with Dyslexia. I enjoy teaching and helping other people with subjects that I myself really enjoyed doing. I primarily tutor English and entrance into medical school. I am friendly, patience and professional.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored many clients, friends and family and I myself have undergone many years of tutoring. I have also volunteered in classrooms, where I've helped students with their work. Furthermore, I am also part of the charity organisation, where I mentor students applying to Medicine. I believe that everyone learns differently and I strive to find the best teaching methods for everyone.

Tutoring Approach:
Throughout the years, I have made many resources and learnt different ways to effectively approach coursework and exams. I will make sure that my clients are thoroughly informed on the structure and marking requirements for each exam question. I will also provide a wide range of resources to my tutees. I will share my valuable knowledge, tips and tricks during the tutoring sessions; ensuring that all my students reach their own potentials.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi.
I am a Teacher of Bulgarian Language and Literature.
I am a Tutor of Media and Semiotics Studies.
I've got MD of Bulgarian and Russian Language and Literature.
I've got MD of Art- Management (New European Theatre Models).
I've got Drama for Education Training in Royal National Theatre (London).
I am PhD Student of Semiotics and Advertising Analyser.
I am a writer and scriptwriter with publications.

Teaching Experience:
I have got a Qualified Teacher Status in the UK-Teacher Ref. number 1030661/ 26 June 2009.
I've got Pedagogical Qualification from the High Institute of Pedagogy in Bulgaria and more than 19 years working experience as a Teacher of Bulgarian, Russian and German, Principle of School, Principal of Orphanage and Manager of a Drama Theatre.
I've got more than 27 years experience of acting, drama training and directing, working with different groups of students from Schools, Universities, Woman Drama Society and Military Service Drama Group.
I've got experience of Producing and Presenting Radio Shows, Live Culture Show and Public/Business Culture Events and Festivals in the UK and abroad.
I've got experience of Drama training for Education, Religious Studies, and Human Values and Drama training for Team Work, Professional goals and Business Management.

Tutoring Approach:
I love to share my knowledge, skills and ideas and I am happy to give support to people who are learning, self-developing, and trying to do their best as part of the society.
I always create a positive, cheerful, and relax atmosphere for my students to achieve better results.
We will start by defining the picture of your current knowledge, the task you are given, what do you expect to achieve and what you are struggling with.
I am supporting my lessons with examples from international folklore, history and lifestyle.
Media, drama,religious studies and semiotics we will analyse from structural, symbolical, psychological and post-modern prospects.
As well as increase your knowledge, as a student of mine, you will dramatically improve your ability to interpret text, adverts or characters, and also express their thoughts, views and opinion in essays ( or presentations)with an impressive structure and rich language.
You will have all my support using different channels - face to face, on line or on the phone.
Everyone I have thought so far has achieved high marks on their projects.

Subjects

Personal Description:
French tutor (native speaker) qualified and experienced.
I provide French tuition in Berkshire / Surrey (based in Bracknell) : one-to-one, groups for Business, Leisure, Preparation GCSE and A-level. From children to adults.

In Addition, I could offer French tuition for French native children.

I could travel up to around 5 miles from Bracknell (Ascot, Maidenhead, Windsor, Camberley, Wokingham ,...).

Teaching Experience:
Previously, I was Primary school teacher in France.
Nowadays, I am a Qualified French Teacher in UK.
I have a large French teaching experience in all ages from beginners to advanced, adults and children.

Tutoring Approach:
All lessons are tailored to the students' needs and expectations, designed depending on their level, interests and specific objectives.
I teach in a studious and enjoyable environment.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over 20 years teaching experience, having taught at schools, colleges, and having lectured at Universities. I have been a private tutor for over 20 years and am familiar with the curriculum in the subjects of English and History, and I am also familiar with the many AS and A level courses and degree modules which are on offer in relation to these subjects. I am fully CRB checked and will provide an easy going one-to-one approach in my lessons. I have years of experience at assisting in dissertations and coursework projects - from proofreading to more creative and constructive assistance.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 20 years teaching experience in private tuition, schools, colleges and Universities. My wide range of experience enables me to adapt to the required needs of the students, and allows me flexibility in my teaching approach.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is relaxed and flexible, allowing the student to guide me in providing for their educational needs. I can be available at most times and have excellent references which can be submitted if needed.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a friendly and approachable tutor with a huge amount of enthusiasm in the subjects I teach. I was awarded a Scholarship to a competitive independent before working towards a Masters in Biochemistry at Oxford University.

I have since worked as a Pharmaceuticals Business Analyst, as a High Yield Chemicals Industry Analyst in Investment Banking and as an Air Traffic Controller. In each case the knowledge and skills from my education have been critical. I would now like to gain the satisfaction of helping others do well in these subjects and attain their potential.

Teaching Experience:
In my industries it is critical to continue learning and passing exams, and in every role, I have always had to pass on my knowledge and understanding to others, which has been incredibly gratifying. More recently, I have enjoyed tutoring maths and other subjects to pupils locally, often to help them gain entrance to competitive schools. I also enjoy spending time teaching my son and my nieces.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that learning should always be interesting to the pupil - inspirational even - and that the onus is on the teacher to make this the case. Learning is about being curious and asking questions; in fact I believe pupils should not be scared to ask any question, which means that learning should feel relaxed rather than formal.

Subjects should not be seen as complex but rather layers of straight forward principals that build on what the pupil already knows in an intuitive fashion. In this way, a good teacher allows understanding to grow naturally and not feel like a challenge.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Ope, an experienced online Chemistry tutor who is also a Masters graduate (MSc in Green Chemistry) from the University of York BSc Chemistry with Biochemistry from Queen Mary University of London (both Russell Group universities).

I am aware that many students study with the concept of the sciences, especially Chemistry and Physics. The pressure can be daunting for a teen and I want to be able to make people `see` in a scientific way, be able to bring understanding so that they can take on any examination and achieve the grades they desire.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring professionally since 2010 and have helped various students boost their confidence and achieve their goals. My students have come from all backgrounds and have ranged from Year 6 to 13. Most of my students have been studying for GCSEs, A-Level or IB

From my experience as a professional tutor, I have taught in several families with a majority of people seeking long term tuition.
I understand that students learn in various ways, so I try to structure my tutorials to suit individual needs. Generally however, I strive for a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and sometimes take an informal approach towards learning especially where the tougher concepts are concerned. I am always professional!

I implore hands-on techniques (where possible) and encourage participation and thought-provoking discussion. I encourage my students to ask "why?" While I work closely with mark schemes to ensure that students become familiar with exam technique, my goal is to help them become thinkers and not crammers, so they can apply their knowledge to any scenario. I encourage personal study and revision outside of the sessions and will often give tips about how to maximise the time outside of the sessions after studying a bit more about your learning style.

I use regular feedback mechanisms which can include tests or assignments (from multiple choice questions to essay-type exam-style questions) to assess understanding and progress. There will always be questions at the end of a session in some form to check understanding.

Tutoring Approach:
I have been tutoring online since 2016 and do my tutoring using a virtual online classroom equipped with chat function, document/picture upload, graph function, math/science symbols etc and can be edited in real time - writing, typing, drawing.

We can upload past papers, do interactive quizzes, watch YouTube videos and much more.

My sessions are completely interactive. I have a whiteboard on which we can both upload documents, make notes, drawings, etc. You can also save parts of the board or all of it at the end of the session. We would use Zoom for audiovisuals.

I typically work with exam style questions after a short session of teaching/revision, but I can focus more one way depending on your needs. I usually leave a short bit of work to be done as assignment based on what we`ve done in the session which you can do at any time on the board after the session. We`ll also do a little recap at the start of a new session.

NB
There is a one-off admin cost due to UKtutors which is collected alongside payment for the first paid lesson. This amount depends on the number of hours requested and my hourly rate - this will be added to the fee for the first session. More information is available on the About Us page Thanks.

30 minute online INTRODUCTORY SESSION FREE

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an approachable and understanding teacher. I would say that I am friendly and try to create the most enjoyable learning environment possible as I know that learning something new can be challenging.

I have recently completed a Trinity TESOL certificate.

Teaching Experience:
I have previously worked as an English Language Teacher at a variety of locations. These have mainly been in private language schools in Poland, Slovakia and Spain. I have also undertaken some work in the UK. My students have been both children and adults of various abilities. Some students have also requested Business English.

Most recently I have worked at a University providing pre-sessional English at IELTS level.

Tutoring Approach:
I would say that I go for a very communicative style of teaching.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a bilingual (native Russian) educator with extensive experience teaching Science, Maths, and Russian across various levels, from nursery to adult education. Currently, I teach Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and advanced Maths at a small independent school in Bedfordshire.

I specialize in Maths and Science and have a particular interest in working with students with special needs and autism. I offer intensive GCSE exam preparation, with proven results such as helping a student improve their grade from 5 to 7 in just two months through focused sessions.

I hold multiple teaching qualifications, including an MA in Education (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), which I obtained in 2022. I have also worked as an examiner for AQA in GCSE Chemistry and have experience supporting students with challenging behaviours and special educational needs.

My approach incorporates sensory stimuli to enhance engagement and reduce transitional times, based on my dissertation research into educational motivation for teenagers with challenging behaviours. I am passionate about leveraging students' natural interests to drive positive changes in behaviour and academic attitudes.

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience teaching Maths, Science, and Russian, both face-to-face and online. I employ various student engagement strategies to ensure a productive and enjoyable learning experience.

I began teaching Science in 1989 in Siberia. Since then, I have taught students of various ages and, after moving to the UK, expanded my teaching to include Russian. I also founded and ran a Russian language school for over 11 years, where I developed and tailored curricula to meet individual needs. The teachers I trained in my school are now making an impact in schools across the UK.

Maths: I teach Maths at various levels, from primary to GCSE. My approach focuses on building a solid understanding and confidence in the subject.

Science: I have been teaching Science since 1989 in different countries. In my most recent role at a private behavioural school, 90% of students initially expressed a dislike for Science, but 60% ended up eagerly attending my classes.

Russian: I teach Russian to a wide range of age groups, from 3-year-olds to 76-year-olds. I use diverse techniques tailored to each student's age, learning style, and schooling level to boost their confidence and maximize their potential.

SEND: I have a strong interest in teaching students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), sensory issues, and challenging behaviours. I aim to equip all my students with the skills needed for employability and adaptation to the working environment.

Tutoring Approach:
My goal as a tutor is to cultivate a deep understanding and confidence in each student. I adapt my teaching methods to meet their individual needs, learning styles, and abilities. I aim to inspire independent thinking by incorporating real-world examples whenever possible. I typically start with familiar topics to build confidence and gradually progress to more challenging material. Additionally, I use questions and homework to continually assess and reinforce understanding.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic person with excellent communication skills that provides individuals with help concerning courses such as biology and microbiology.

Teaching Experience:
Tutored primary students age 7-11 , Secondary students 15-18 and University students.

Tutoring Approach:
I aim to provide good understanding of the subject to the student while paying close attention to the individual and also encourage the student to think for themselves. My approach however vary depending on the students learning style and needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a recent Cass Business School MSc Graduate in field of Supply Chain. My BSc is in Economics, Finance and Management. I have a background in social and commercial entrepreneurship having worked in several start-ups and ngos.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching English as a second language in Malaga Spain for 5+ years.

In Malaga, Spain there is a shortage of learning opportunities and availability of English tutors. I recognised that as a native speaker I could dedicate my spare time to tutoring students who wished to improve their conversational English. I taught on average 8-10 students a week. Ages varying mostly between 4-16 with the occasional adult learner.

As a fluent Spanish speaker I am now offering tuition for individuals seeking to develop their grammar or conversational skills in the Spanish language (Castellano).

Tutoring Approach:
As I mostly worked with children I used my creative technique to develop interactive and fun learning games to maintain the children's attention and maximise their learning. My teaching approach has been very popular in the past that I've had a long waiting list.

My method usually consists of first identifying the level and requirements of my tutoree and then developing a session outline based on the individual's needs and preferences.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A fixture in the London underground DJ community for over 10 years, I recently completed a BA in Music Production at BIMM London (1st degree honours awarded) whilst also holding a MLT in Teaching and Training.

I currently tutor at CM Sounds and Core Arts, both based in east London. Production projects have been varied and exciting with remixes and artist albums released on the original rave era label Kniteforce, and sync remix commissions for UMPG (Universal Music).

Past achievements include gaining a BTec level 3 in Music Technology, Designing and growing a successful underground music website (now officially an archive only), and co founding and running Graffiti Breakz (2007-2010), a successful club event which incorporated DJ's, Live Music and Live art.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher at City & Guilds level 3 (2015). I recently completed my BA Hons in Music production (2013/2016), I plan to take a year out to gain teaching experience before moving onto to a PGCE in Music Technology for the Lifelong Learning sector at UCL (2017/2018). I already Hold BTec level 3 Diploma in Music technology (2006).

Tutoring Approach:
No matter what your current skill level or preferred style of music, I will be able to help you improve and enhance your skills or GCSE/A-level/Degree course work.

I am also a native english speaker and have a keen interest in academic writing and the english language.

I am willing to travel to a students home, however if the tuition is music based, I would recommend coming to my home studio, which is fully equipped with industry standard equipment and software. This environment will help your skills and knowledge elevate rapidly to the next level. (equipment list found at the foot of this section).

Having studied at Degree level, I am well suited to help you with course work for GSCE/A-level and Degree. Your course work will benefit considerably from the insights gained from my guidance.

However if you have left formal education and require assistance with a music project from the angle of enhanced production and arrangement techniques, I am also glad to be of assistance.

I have extensive experience in the areas of Music Production, Remixing, Studio Recording, Song Writing and Arranging.


Studio Equipment

iMac i7 2013
Logic X / Logic 9
Ableton Live
Pro Tools
Native Instruments Komplete
Spectrasonics Omnisphere
ReFX Nexus 2
FabFilter Collection
Izotope Collection
Waves pack
Vocal recording with multiple mic options
Full length 7 octave midi keyboard
Roland FX units
Rokit 8 Studio monitors
Midi controllers

Subjects

Personal Description:
I deliver maths courses since 2009 in Romania and UK. I am a friendly person and all my students successful passed their exams with my help.

Teaching Experience:
2009 - 2011 - maths teacher in Romania 11-16 years old up to A level
2013- present teaching GCSE maths to 16+ students and adylts

Tutoring Approach:
I am opened to all kind of topics and anytimeduring the evening or weekends

Subjects

Personal Description:
Econometrics, Financial Modelling, Real Estate and Economics

✓ Credentials: Investment Banking, M&A and Real Estate professional. Oxford & LSE graduate ✓ Specialisation: Econometrics, Financial Modelling, Real Estate Analysis and Economics.

Teaching Experience:
Assist students with gaining skills, confidence and expertise in the areas of financial valuation, financial mathematics and mathematical finance:
- Financial Forecasting and Operating Models
- Business Plan Analysis
- Discounted Cash Flow Analysis and Models
- Discounted Dividend Models
- Leverage Buyout Models
- Real Estate Appraisal Valuation Models
- Commercial and Residential Property Valuation
- Pricing of European/American/Exotic Derivatives and Binary Options
- Monte Carlo Simulation Analysis
- Credit, Market and Operational Risk Models
- Pricing of Credit Derivatives and CDOs
- Copula Models

Assist students with gaining skills, confidence and expertise in the areas of applied econometric modelling and analysis in relation to their studies and/or thesis:
- Cointegration and Error Correction Analysis
- Vector autoregression (VAR) Model
- Stationarity and time-series differencing
- Generalized AutoRegressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH)
- Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) Models
- Logistic and Probit/Tobit Regression Models
- Ordinary Regression Analysis
- Instrumental Variables Techniques
- Principal Component Analysis
- Generalized Structural Equation Models
- Panel Data Analysis Fixed and Random Effects
- Dynamic Panel Data Models

With regards to real estate topics, assistance with preparation for the RICS qualifications with emphasis on the investment appraisal, property finance and performance measurement modules:

- RICS Valuation (Associated and Chartered)
- RICS Property Finance and Investment (Chartered)
- RICS Commercial Property (Associate and Chartered) with focus on investment appraisal, performance measurement and analysis

Other Subjects:
- Econometrics (Degree level / PhD level / Post doctoral level)
- Finance (Degree level / PhD level / Post doctoral level)
- Real Estate (Degree level / PhD level / Post doctoral level)
- Economics (A/AS-Level / Degree level / PhD level / Post doctoral level)
- Business Studies (A/AS-Level / Degree level / PhD level / Post doctoral level)

Exam preparation for Professional Qualifications:
- Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) - all levels
- Investment Management Certificate (IMC)
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) qualifications with focus on real estate valuation aspects

Tutoring Approach:
Supervision with regards to constructing your own business valuation and forecast models using a wide range of specialised software (excel, eviews, stata, SPSS, R, Matlab and VBA); including econometric analysis of time-series, cross-sectional and panel data.

Assist students with gaining skills, confidence and expertise in the areas of:
- financial valuation
- financial mathematics
- mathematical finance
- applied econometric modelling

With regards to real estate topics, assistance with preparation for the RICS qualifications with emphasis on the investment appraisal, property finance and performance measurement modules.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Dr. Sultan is an experienced academician and has been teaching Key stage 1-4 in UK since 2012. He is currently serving as a lecturer of engineering. He has a proven history of great results. He is well equipped with the latest curriculum of UK. He is a fluent speaker of English.

Teaching Experience:
More than 10 Years

Tutoring Approach:
Dr. Sultan has prepared special revision guides and test papers for all levels. His revision books are much helpful towards rigurous practice and a guaranteed improvement.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over thirty years experience of teaching Latin, English, French and essay-writing skills, both in schools and as a private tutor. I specialise in helping students write their Personal Statements when applying to university or to postgraduate courses.

I am the mother of five grown up children, three of whom went to Cambridge, one to KCL and one to Oxford, and I have also guided many other students into achieving offers from top universities, including many to Oxbridge.

After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in English and Classics, I taught for 2 years before going to Drama school, then moved to Granada TV as a researcher and presenter. The next 14 years were spent working for various TV companies, while also writing for national newspapers and magazines.

In 1992, I moved with my family to Salisbury and went back to teaching, first in a college of Further Education, then at a prep school, and subsequently in independent schools: nine years at St Mary's Calne from which I retired in 2015. I was then invited to , come out of retirement to teach at St Swithun's in Winchester and The Oratory School Oxford.

I no longer teach in the classroom, but continue to offer tutoring in Latin, English, French and Writing Skills. A particular speciality is Personal Statements - helping students with their applications to university. I have helped very many students (both pre-university and postgraduates) write successful personal statements for their chosen courses.

As well as the academic subjects mentioned above, I help with any writing task from an A level or IB essay (especially Theory of Knowledge) to university theses and dissertations. I specialise in Oxbridge help, including suggestions for reading, preparation for entrance tests and interview practice. So far I have helped over 20 students gain places at Oxbridge.

Teaching Experience:
Personal statements

I have helped very many students write their personal statements for application to university - both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This does NOT mean writing the statement for the student - I do not have the breadth of knowledge to write about Astrophysics or Zoology, but it does mean helping the student clarify his or her thoughts, explain what has prompted the interest in the subject, how he or she has developed this interest, what extra-curricular choices have been made, and why, and how current A levels (or degree subjects) have prepared the student for this application.
For many students, the Personal Statement is the first time they have have to talk about themselves, and for many, it is bewildering knowing how to approach it and what to include and what to leave out.

I help the student by asking him/her to fill in a preliminary questionnaire, (Why this subject? What sparked the interest? Why it's important for the student and for society etc). Next, I ask for a first draft - it doesn't matter how bad or poorly expressed this is. Then, I work with the student - either at home or by Skype/Zoom, talking through the first draft and suggesting adjustments, improvements etc. Next the student writes a second draft, and the process continues until the students is totally happy that the statement says exactly what was intended, and show the student at his/her best.
I have many testimonials from happy students (including over twenty five to Oxbridge) which I would be happy to share on request.

Latin
I teach Latin at Latin Common Entrance, GCSE, A level, and university level. The great majority of my students achieve 9s at GCSE, and As and A*s at A level. Many have gone on to read Classics at university.

English
I teach English literature and language - both critical analysis of texts and and writing skills - from GCSE to university level and beyond. Many students whom I have helped with A level essays have come back to me for help with their university dissertations, applications for Masters, or covering letters for postgraduate job applications.

Essay writing
As well as helping with A level essays in all the humanities (RS, Philosophy, Psychology, History etc) I am an experienced tutor for IB Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essays. I have also advised and guided many students with their EPQs.

French
I teach French to A level and

I teach Classical Greek to GCSE.

Tutoring Approach:
1. My first priority is to let the student know that they are not alone - I am here to help. Just being told this can be immediately reassuring, especially if the student has been worrying for about a subject or project for a long time.

2. The next step is to establish exactly how much the student already knows. Nothing surprises or shocks me, but I have come across students seeking help who haven't got a copy of the relevant book or haven't read beyond the title page. I understand this - life is busy.So I am never critical or judgmental, I am always on the student's side. If necessary, I will provide a copy (years of teaching and a large family mean I usually have several).

3. The next step is to encourage the student into thinking of the subject as interesting. This may mean overcoming any resistance, by chatting, discovering how much they already know (always more than they think - another source of encouragement) and relating it to other areas of interest. One ideas have started to flow the student will begin to realise that not only might this subject/essay not be as bad as feared, it's possible they might find something enjoyable about it.

4. Now we look at the project and ways of approaching it. The key here is structure. Quite often the student's lack of confidence has led to panic and accompanying lack of organisation. So I help sort out files, help put notes in order, and encourage the student recognise which bits of paper are/aren't relevant to their work. This is mental housekeeping - and once order has been established, the student is in a better frame of mind for doing the work.

5. The next step varies according the to the subject.

LATIN.
I ask the student translate until he meets a problem. I then explain the topic- taking care to base it only on what the student already knows and feels confident about. If there are big gaps in knowledge, I start filling them, teaching vocabulary, grammar and syntax in an orderly way and asking the student to record what we have covered in his own written file.We then continue the translation, making sure the student has understood everything we have covered so far. This process is designed to lift the fog and give the student the tools needed to translate confidently

WRITING.
If it's an essay, I encourage the student to look at the title and think about (a) what is it really asking and (b) what ideas can he or she think of in response? These can be written down in any order - at this stage it's a question of getting the thought processes going.
We then discuss how to organise the student's thoughts into a coherent whole. This can be painstaking process - it involves teaching essay structure, and and sometimes even working backwards - going from conclusion back to introduction - but we always finish by knowing exactly what direction the essay is taking.
The final step is to ask the student to write something for next time. It doesn't matter if it's short or badly-expressed, and I always make it relevant to school work. The reason I ask for a piece of writing is
a) the act of writing enables a student to know what he/she wants to say
(b) seeing a student's writing shows me how to approach the next lesson. I can see what element of the writing need work, and plan my lesson accordingly.

OTHER IDEAS FOR READING ETC
I often recommend extra-curricular ideas to make the subject more engaging - films, YouTube extracts, magazines, even books - the student doesn't have to read a whole book - even dipping in and out is helpful and there is nothing more deadening to the love of books than being told you HAVE to read them.

STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
. I do not only help academic high-flyers. I am also offer warm and sympathetic help to students who - for whatever reason - find academic study challenging. I help develop study skills, suggest organisational strategies (for student and parent) and above all, restore lost confidence by showing the student that he really can tackle - and overcome - any problem - just by taking it slowly and making sure he or she understands each step before going on to the next.

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE.
, I'm a great believer in the comforting powers of a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, as well as the presence of my 2 cats (who, despite being to every lesson I've given, are still rubbish at Latin). For allergic pupils, however, the cats are banished to the garden.

Subjects