Lewis - Oxford tutor





Lewis's profile picture

Information About Lewis:


Personal Description:

I left Hampton School in 2009 with 9 A*s and A's at GCSE and 4 A's at A-Level (this was before the A* grade was introduced). While a pupil there I combined my studies with the Philosophy Circle, made a short film raising awareness of human rights abuses in Burma, and took medals at numerous rowing events, including National Schools Head and National Schools Regatta

I left St Hugh's College, Oxford, in 2016 after seven years reading Classics. I focused on literature - Homer, Virgil, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Juvenal among the more prominent names - but took in history, philosophy, art and archaeology as well. I got studied for an MPhil in Classics at Trinity College Dublin and received a Distinction for my thesis on Homer's Iliad.

While the Latin and Greek languages, inculcated by my grandmother's reading me myths in the nursery, remain my first love, I am as passionate about English. I've always thrilled at a meet, original turn of phrase; I've read for pleasure as far back as I can remember; and I learn a new poem by heart each Sunday. It is this enjoyment and relish of learning that informs my teaching and which I aim to pass on to my pupils.



Teaching Experience:

I have been teaching since before I can recall. My family could tell you that I'm never happier than when imparting some new fact to them. Formally, I began in the Sixth Form, assisting my teachers with their 11-13 year-old classes. There I learned quick, efficient and discreet one-to-one tuition. Since September 2012 I have been tutoring students aged 11 to adult in Latin, Greek, English Literature and English as a foreign language. My tutees have included pupils who had fallen behind, pupils who transferred late into unfamiliar subjects, and a new arrival from Shanghai who could only slightly speak English. He passed his English GCSEs nine months later.

Aside from tutoring, I taught all three classical subjects and special education at the very academically strong Bancroft's School in Essex.

Selected students:

Sameer, 12, Ancient Greek and English as a foreign language:
In five months' residential teaching in Moscow, Sameer went from a novice Greek student to passing the entrance exam for St Paul's, one of London's most prestigious schools. Outside book-study, we boated down the Volga, camped and cooked out, with me as his companion and friend as well as tutor.

Anne, 23, Ancient Greek as part of an MA in Critical Theory:
With no prior experience of Greek, Anne went on to achieve a 1st in her Greek paper. On the strength of that Master's, she went on to read for a DPhil. at Worcester College, Oxford.

Siwei, 16, GCSE English Language and English Literature, English as a foreign language:
Siwei arrived in Britain from Shanghai with very little spoken English. He got two Bs at GCSE nine months later.

Daniel, 15, GCSE Latin:
In six months, Daniel went from a first-year's understanding of Latin to an A* at GCSE.



Tutoring Approach:

I aim to teach you the Oxford way: begin with a read aloud of a text, or ask for a brief summary of the topic studied for homework, and then discussion. My aim is to impart not only factual knowledge (the what) as understanding (the why). But if your son or daughter understands the blunt fact of Shakespeare's iambic pentameter or Virgil's dactylic hexameter, then specific examples of its effective use will come to them and *remain with them* all the easier. I'm particularly good at teaching the 'prescriptive' stuff, like metre and grammar, rigorously without being boring. Many years a student myself, I value patience, kindness and humour in my teachers, and I set these at the core of my teaching.



Map showing Lewis's location

Qualifications:

  • BA Classics from St Hugh's College, Oxford; MPhil Classics from Trinity College Dublin
  • A-Levels: Latin (A), English Literature (A), Classical Civilisations (A), Ethics and Philosophy (A)
  • Advanced Extensions Award: Latin (Merit)
  • GCSEs: English Literature (A*), English Language (A*), Latin (A*), Classical Greek (A*), History (A), Spanish (A*), Mathematics (A), Double Award Science (A/A)

Further Information:

Availability:  Weekends / Weekdays (daytime)
Types of Tutoring:   Travels to you / Online
References Supplied?   Yes
Current DBS/CRB Check?   Yes
Additional Languages Spoken:   Latin, Greek, English, Spanish, French