As a child, I struggled in school. My reading age was low, and my Maths skills were poor. I was the youngest in my year, and I struggled to relate to my teachers; I was quiet, isolated and did not like school. Fast-forward a decade, and I achieved 5 A’s and 4 A*s at GCSE. Two years later; and it was AAAA* in English Literature, History, Photography and an Extended Project at A-level. Today, I am a postgraduate student at a Russell group University, averaging a first-class mark, having completed erasmus study in Poland, and attained a first-class law degree at undergraduate level.
I believe that academic success is within the reach of us all. Natural ability is a myth, and instead success is made up of determination and hard-work, consistent practice, a supportive learning environment, and confidence. A tutor who relates to their students and acts as a resource for them to reach their highest potential is a vital ingredient in this recipe for success. I did not achieve academic success because I am very gifted, or even intelligent. I achieved these things because of a combination of simple tactics. These involved targeted practice with a supportive professional. Fast-forward to today - and the student has become the tutor!
This philosophy has led me to tutoring, which has quickly turned into a passion and a long-term commitment. In just three months I have amassed over 6 long-term clients, and completed over 250 hours of lesson time with these students and have no plans to slow my practice! I tutor across the board. One of my students is a 47-year old EFL Business English learner, one is a 6-year old 11+ student. In-between, we have A-level Drama tutoring, GCSE English Literature and Language work, and a student learning essay-skills at degree level.
My approach is simple: I use formulas (acronyms) for each topic to ensure student success, I exercise patience when explaining and use multi-media means (depending on how they learn best + their learning needs) to explain. I also promote a relaxed atmosphere during my sessions (I build rapport with my students to gain trust).
My tutoring method is strategic, using past papers and government approved curriculum-resources as the basis of my lessons to ensure the hard-work the student is doing is reflected in their success at school. It is also highly individualized. I make a dedicated schedule for each student upon their joining my client-base; it's personalized and carefully made based on their learning needs, style, gaps in knowledge and geared towards their interest. I recently completed a football-themed essay test with a student as he loved Arsenal - and the results were fantastic. I make the effort - meeting students where they're at, because far from being a natural ‘gift’, academic success is a muscle which must be regularly flexed, and is strengthened with consistent practice.
I enjoy my job so much that I plan to turn this into my career. I have completed a teaching qualification, and am completing my Master's Degree in Law before hopefully moving onto virtual tutoring full-time from October onwards. I feel so lucky to have found a career in which my instinctive patience, determination and empathy can flourish and really make long-term positive changes to students academic performance, their confidence in school, and help them enjoy learning. Getting to do this is a privilege, and a responsibility I take seriously. In particular, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I know many parents feel lost and many students are behind and find school very stressful. My calming, 1:1 sessions offer an opportunity to learn at their own pace, write about what they are interested in, and catch-up during Summer before the new academic year commences. Please get in touch with me for possible intensive sessions during the Summer to ensure we can fill in the gaps caused by school closures.
Moreover, I offer a heavily discounted 30-minute introductory session costing just £5. During this session, I meet with the student (and parent, if they like) and we get to know one another. I ask questions to learn more about the student as an individual, and we discuss some of the expectations of us working together. I ask them about things such as their goals from working with me, their long-term career plans, hobbies, whether they like school, how they learn best, whether they have any learning needs such as dyslexia, etc.
Afterwards, I craft a tailored schedule for the student depending on how many hours a week they may need to achieve their goal/catch-up, etc. I find an average of 2 hours per week most beneficial to long-term memorization and learning. We then begin conducting sessions - the fun part! These are 1 hour long, and my students often marvel at how fast the hour-long slot goes, so 4 of them have currently switched to 1 hr 30 to get some more practice in!
If, whilst reading my profile, you thought that me and my experiences seem well-suited to your child/a child you know, please get in touch. I welcome any student, from the quieter, self-conscious, non-academic, and those with various learning needs, to the avid bookworms and already high-achievers.
Practice with a supportive professional is the KEY to academic success - be it in English, History or Drama and beyond. So ... what are you waiting for? Send me a message to get started. |
