Katie

I have over 5 years of tutoring experience, during which time I have thoroughly enjoyed working with students all over the world to engage them with a topic in a more creative, accessible, and applicable way. In my spare time, I enjoy working on my writing skills, finding new and interesting ways to convey complex ideas through language. I have brought this skill into my tutoring sessions - providing students with guidance on how to communicate their thoughts on a topic into a well structured, coherent piece of writing.

Availability: I currently have full availability from Monday-Sunday.

Willing to travel: 5 miles

Experience: Specialism
I have an academic background in English Literature, graduating with an Upper Second-Class Honours Degree in English Literature and Classical Civilisation from The University of Leeds in 2016. I have tutored English Literature and Language at GCSE and A-Level, structuring the subject content around a thorough understanding of the various key exam boards, including OCR, Edexcel, and AQA. I have also taught English as a Second Language to students of all ages, in classroom settings and in one-to-one, tailored sessions, focussing on a multi-sensory approach and applying learning to everyday situations.

Approach
I bring my natural energy and enthusiasm for English Literature and English as a Second Language into every tutorial, approaching the subject from a new angle that incites interest and curiosity. Setting goals at the beginning of the process is really important - if a student has clear, tangible targets to work towards it is easier for them to see visible signs of improvement and stay motivated. I am kind and patient, which allows me to build up a strong sense of rapport and trust with the student from early on. I am always happy to offer support and guidance outside of lessons via telephone or email.

Technique
Throughout my career as a tutor, I have mastered a variety of tutoring methods which focus on building a strong knowledge of subject content and exam technique.
Innovative and creative ways to test content knowledge of key texts. E.g. asking the student to retell the events of Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths from Benvolio’s point of view.
Asking questions at the end of every topic to test a student`s knowledge.
Using exam board specifications to show students exactly what they are expected to know - communicating the content clearly and engagingly e.g. through presenting key information on a word document or PowerPoint.
Helping students to approach questions in a structured manner, e.g. through using visual, spatial techniques to show the logical progression of certain arguments.
Providing students with transferable skills beyond the classroom - e.g. note-taking, memory improvement, and text analysis.

Experience
Other than working as a freelance tutor throughout my studies, tutoring and education have played a key role in my day-to-day working life. After graduating, I worked as an English Language Assistant with the British Council in Martinique. I independently taught classrooms of 30 students while adapting to a new environment, curriculum and pedagogical approach. After returning to the UK I worked as a University Access Officer for The Access Project, a charity that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access top universities through a tailored tutoring and mentoring programme. I mentored students throughout their journey from GCSEs to applying to university, setting achievable goals, highlighting strengths and creating a structured plan to work on areas for improvement. I delivered regular tutor drop-ins, assessing volunteer tutors on their subject knowledge and delivery to ensure high quality of tutorials.

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