Sam

I am passionate about the English language and its literature, which I have studied all my life. It is a wonderful feeling to help a child to love a book or to enable an EFL student to understand a difficult grammatical rule. I love the fact that I meet so many new people, who are all so different and special in their own ways, through this job. As a parent myself, I understand how that every child has different ways of learning and needs and tailor my lessons to suit each individual.

About me: I am 42 years old and live with my husband and children, a boy and a girl of primary age. As well as private tutoring for people of all ages and abilities, I run a copy-editing and proofreading business, working with individuals and businesses. I also write, and my poetry and stories have won prizes and been published online and in print.

My qualifications include a BA in English Literature from Warwick University and an MA in American Literature from Sheffield University, as well as an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University.

Tutoring Experience

I have worked as a private tutor since 2009, with people of all ages and nationalities: from children as young as six to mature students. In April 2021, I will be moving to Durham after ten years living in London. I previously lived in Newcastle and worked as a tutor there.

I have experience in helping children to prepare for admissions exams and interviews, including the 11+ and 13+ exams. I have also worked with numerous GCSE and A level candidates. I provide tutees with help to: understand the rules of grammar; improve their linguistic style; write essays or creative pieces; analyse literary texts; or prepare for an exam, piece of coursework or interview. The academic level of the children I have taught has varied immensely, but I have helped all of them in different ways; as well as raising their grades and helping them to pass an exam; many parents have commented that I have notably improved their child's confidence in the classroom.

For adults: I offer one-to-one classes in English language (EFL and native speakers), including IELTS. I have a 100% success rate in helping people to pass the IELTS exam. I offer bespoke classes to foreign students, working with them at their pace to improve all aspects of their English, from writing a business letter to speaking 'like a native'.

My successes include helping a number of children to pass the 11+ exam for acceptance into some of the top London (and UK) schools, including The Tiffin Girls' School (ranked as the number 2 girls' grammar school in the UK), Hampton School for Boys and Lady Eleanor Holles. Other notable successes are helping a student living in Newcastle to pass the Oxbridge English entrance interview, and enabling a disabled GCSE student to improve his English Language grade from an E to an A*. I have also worked at one of the top independent schools in the country, City of London School for Girls.

From 2009-2010, I worked in Newcastle/Gateshead, and taught children and students at Newcastle and Northumbria University, as well as foreign learners wishing to improve their English.

Tutoring Approach

I am an enthusiastic, friendly and supportive tutor. I believe that everyone has the potential to improve their language ability. Everyone is a unique learner and as such, I recognise the importance of working with people at their own pace and conduct each lesson on a bespoke basis to get the best out of everyone. Even shy children warm to me very quickly, and it is a great pleasure to watch them bloom and to do better and better in every lesson. I have a great love of the English language, and of its literature, and aim to pass that on to my tutees. I always seek to raise my students' confidence levels and to make them believe that they can do well. I have been described by as a kind and thoughtful teacher and as reliable, punctual and pleasant.