Mark

Tutoring Experience

I have been working in education since 2013, starting as a lead teaching assistant at a London academy focused on enhancing student literacy and extra-curricular engagement.

In 2016, I earned my Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Exeter and subsequently taught as a qualified English teacher on the south coast of England through the Teach First Leadership Development Programme.

Over the years, I have held roles as an Education Manager overseeing a team of tutors, an independent educational consultant, and an admissions tutor, aiding international students in successfully transitioning to new schools or universities.

Despite these roles, my passion lies in teaching and tutoring. In 2021, I returned to full-time teaching and tutoring, focusing on supporting students in English language and literature. I specialize in exam preparation (11+, 13+, 16+, GCSE, A-level, and IB), as well as providing guidance with interview preparation and personal statement drafting.

Tutoring Approach

With new students, we always begin with a short introductory "get-to-know-you" conversation to help the student feel comfortable. I ask about their interests in English and what they find challenging, aiming to understand their perceptions of their English skills.

I assess the student's reading habits, current reading material, and literary preferences. After each lesson, I provide a personalised reading list and emphasize the importance of daily reading for vocabulary and expression development.

Next, we complete adaptable diagnostic exercises covering reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling to gauge the student's abilities and identify areas for improvement.

In subsequent lessons, we start by reviewing the student's recent reading and homework before delving into the day's topic. After explaining key concepts, I encourage discussion and questioning to ensure the student can apply their learning independently. Written assignments are primarily set as homework to maximize lesson time for interactive learning. If in-lesson writing is required for assessment, I limit it to 10 minutes.

To conclude our sessions, we have a quiz to recap what we've covered, and for younger students, we may play a game like hangman to reinforce learning in a fun way.