Michael

Hello! I am Michael, a 24 year old from Belfast who has just recently graduated from an MSc programme in Mathematics from Durham University.
One of the most impactful realisations that I came to during my own studies was the importance of building up my mathematical confidence and developing my problem-solving skills. Unfortunately, in my experience, it is not often that these are actually promoted in the classroom; with the emphasis being put instead on learning to preform rote calculation. While this can definitely be useful initially, it`s been my experience that real success in the subject (especially in exams) comes from having both the patience and confidence to tackle unfamiliar concepts and problems head on.
In this way, I believe I can add real value to students of all levels. In my lessons, I promote and encourage a deeper understanding of the topics involved. I do this by creating a collaborative space, where myself and the student both work together through carefully curated problems to gain a full understanding of the concepts used. Rather than teach the student to simply copy example answers, I prefer to ensure the student understands the example answers and what makes them work. This deeper understanding leads to greater confidence, and the ability to more easily recognise and apply these techniques to problems in exams.

Availability: I am usually available from 10-8 on Mon-Thurs, 10-6 on Fri, 11-4 on Sat, and 11-8 on Sun.

Willing to travel: Home Only

Experience: I completed my A-Levels in 2017, achieving an A* in Maths, Further Maths, and Chemistry, with an A in Physics. I performed particularly well in my Maths, achieveing 593/600 UMS. I then went on to get my BSc in Mathematics from Durham University in 2021, starting my MSc in that same year. Through my degrees, I have studied many advanced topics in both pure maths (such as differential geometry and algebraic topology), as well as some advanced mathematical physics (such as general relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory).
I have always had a huge enthusiasm for teaching maths. I first started tutoring fellow students while sitting my GCSE`s in 2015, and continued tutoring on and off all the way through my undergraduate degree. I started to take tutoring more seriously during the lockdowns in 2020 and, after a brief pause to finish my MSc, I am back!

DBS Check: Yes