Anthony

Tutoring Experience

I began tutoring when I was 16, teaching Classical Greek, Spanish, maths, and science to local students while attending boarding school. I kept this up into my A-Levels and expanded my outreach by driving to students' homes on weekends. When I finished my A-Levels and started at university, I joined a Beijing-based agency. Here, I tutored a broad range of subjects at various levels, eventually specializing in maths and economics.

In my third year, I transitioned to an agency that places a high value on fostering long-term relationships between tutors and students. One of my best experiences here was a lesson series for two Harrow GCSE students, introducing them to major Politics, Economics, and Humanities courses at Oxford. JD oversaw visits to Oxford for them, providing a taste of university life through open days and lectures. I continue this mentorship to this day.

One of my proudest achievements has been tutoring my first-ever student for five years, helping him go from struggling with maths to excelling at it. We’re expecting his GCSE results this August.

Tutoring Approach

My tutoring approach is based on empowering my students by establishing and understanding their goals first. I encourage all my students to play an active role in deciding which areas need work. This often starts with an appropriate past paper exercise, which allows me to gauge their strengths and areas for improvement. I also encourage an open dialogue to ensure we agree on the areas that require attention.

We then devise a fluid lesson plan and set achievable progress goals. For less motivated students, I position myself as a supportive friend, there to help them achieve the goals set by their parents or the agency. I strongly believe in positive reinforcement, but I also address issues such as uncompleted homework head-on, explaining how it can prevent us from reaching our goals. I tell all my students that attempting questions, even when unsure, is essential for their learning and growth.

In the context of Oxbridge admissions, I offer a highly personalized approach. I recognize that every student has unique strengths and areas for development, and my process focuses primarily on creating a strong personal statement and developing great interview skills. We start with the development of solid content, then move on to refining the wording through multiple drafts, ensuring the statement truly reflects the student's aspirations and potential.