Ralph

My name is Ralph, I am 25 years old, passionate about mathematics and have a knack for explaining abstract concepts transparently, precisely and, most importantly, to people of all abilities. You’ll be pleased to know that, in contrast to the stuffy and awkward stereotype of a mathematician, I am sociable, friendly and animated in character, and I have a sense of humour to boot!

I have tutored all levels from late primary to undergraduate. I am patient, don’t mind being asked the same question over and over again (in fact I welcome it), and I endeavour to explain things in a variety of ways when a concept is proving difficult to grasp. I aim to give a breadth and depth of understanding of mathematics that sheds light on its necessity, beauty and applications. By breadth I refer to the way in which the subject areas are interlinked, both within mathematics and with other sciences, philosophy and art. By depth I mean giving insight that allows the learner to be satisfied that they understand the inner workings of a topic, rather than just memorising formulae and blindly executing the methods. The reason for such thoroughness is that it is what helped me to succeed in my own education. I find that with a more overarching understanding, less rote learning is required, and I believe that a consequence of this is that more ‘brain space’ is left free to do the thinking when it comes down to it, e.g. in an exam, rather than trying to recall whole textbook passages.

Although this may sound very intense, rest assured that my sessions are relaxed, jovial and peppered with relevant anecdotes and helpful learning tips.

Willing to travel: 10 miles

Experience: In 2013/14 I was a maths teacher at an independent boarding school, where I taught years 9-13. This, coupled with the fact that I only finished my A-Levels in 2009, means that I have recent experience with GCSE and A Level Syllabuses and being in a school environment, as both a pupil and a teacher.
Also, I have been tutoring maths since I was in the sixth form, covering material from primary through to degree level. Each of my tutees has walked away with a smile on their face, improved confidence and a heightened understanding and appreciation of mathematics.