Michelle

I am so passionate about tutoring. With 10 years experience, my teaching methods change depending on what each student might need. I cover different topics in lots of different ways to ensure each student fully understands what we are doing and is able to do it autonomously. Plus, I do try to make sure it’s as enjoyable as possible! I am a relaxed and positive person and I love helping people achieve their full potential.

Tutoring Experience

With 10 years of experience, having taught up to 10 students a week, I pride myself on being a great private tutor due to my dedication, enthusiasm and experience. I am animated, upbeat and sensitive to each student’s needs and my acting background helps me approach things in new, creative ways when necessary. I am able to combine different skills depending on what each student needs from me and always aim to facilitate their education by teaching them to use the tools they need. I always encourage a certain level of autonomy and whenever possible allow my students to choose the topics and skills they wish to work on. I have worked with students to help them achieve higher grades at GCSE, gain entrance to their desired schools and colleges, I have supported students’ studies through times with they are faced with personal challenges, PhD students looking for help with grammar and essay structure, provided acting coaching for students preparing for drama school auditions and I continue to find out new reasons people need and want tuition. I have excellent references and am yet to find someone I haven’t been able to help.

Tutoring Approach

GCSE English Lit and Lang is my speciality. Different exam boards require different approaches so I work with lots of past papers and aim to identify weaker skills in relation to what is necessary for each different paper.

Areas covered:
-Skills for identifying language techniques
-Close analysis practise for fiction and non-fiction texts
-Structure analysis skills
-Writing technique - fiction and non-fiction
-Literature set texts study (Shakespeare, 19th literature, modern texts and poetry), including coverage of general understanding, study of major themes, characters and close analysis practice.
-Essay technique
-Grammar skills
-Text summary and synthesis skills
-Practice papers
-Confidence building

For 11+ students, most often there is an element of low confidence alongside one or two areas that need more focus than the rest. It is often a case of identifying which areas these are and addressing them, and then the rest usually falls into place.

Areas covered:
-Comprehension, grammar, reading and writing practice
-Verbal and Non Verbal reasoning practice papers
-Spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary work
-Variety of games and exercises to learn and practice skills
-Comprehension, grammar, reading and writing practice
-Practice papers
-Confidence building exercises and games
-Regular meetings with parents to discuss progress, targets and any concerns
-Strengths and weaknesses identified alongside areas needing further reinforcement