Subjects

(click subjects to see other tutors in this area)

Personal Message

We may not hold their futures in our hands but we do hold their todays.

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
Mainly 11+ Tuition in and around Plymouth. However, I enjoy teaching Maths and English to pupils who are behind but do not have special needs.

In my view it is important for parents of children with special needs to set up proper support within the school environment so that support can be regular and of the right duration. Although I do not take on pupils with special needs, I will discuss educational needs with parents if they wish to contact me.

Tell me about your qualifications.
B.A. (Hons) (2:1), French with English and Latin as subsidiary subjects, University of Leeds, 1967.
P.G.C.E. with special reference to TESL, University College of N. Wales, 1970.
M.A. in General and Applied Linguistics, University of Exeter, 1977.
Member of the Institute of Linguists, 1982, with distinctions in all examination papers in German.
Certificate in the Teaching of Children with Dyslexia, May 2005, Direct Learning Ltd, Eastbourne. (More information about this certificate can be found at http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/certificate.html). This short course was essentially an introduction to the problems faced by dyslexic children and teenagers and was not an in-depth study of specific methodological approaches to overcoming dyslexia.

What kind of experience do you have?
I have a wide range of experience giving me a broad perspective on educational issues. This includes:
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language in the German Federal Republic (Gymnasium Bergkamen & University of Cologne)
- Teaching German & French to A-Level in the maintained sector
- Teaching German & French to A-Level in the independent sector
- EFL Teaching at the University of Plymouth and the Suzanne Sparrow (Plymouth) Language School
- Home tutoring - especially 11+

How much do you charge?
The fee for each hour of tuition is £20.00 for individuals on a pay-as-you-go basis payable in cash or by cheque. Reduced rates apply (see below) for groups of up to four pupils taught together.

Group Tuition:
Pupils fare best on a one-to-one basis. Under special circumstances I am prepared to undertake group work at reduced rates depending on the number of pupils. No group will usually exceed four in number.

Text Books:

While I have a wide range of teaching materials at my disposal, parents/students should expect to buy essential workbooks themselves. Parents/students can place orders for materials directly through me at a discounted rate.

Cancellations:

If it becomes necessary for you to cancel a lesson, you should give at least 24 hours’ notice. In the case of frequent cancellations teaching hours will be re-allocated to other students.

Where do you teach?
Individual Tuition: Individual tuition normally takes place in the pupil’s own home.

Group Tuition: I can offer group teaching at an agreed venue or at my own address .

I tutor in and around Plymouth, including Saltash, Plymstock, Yelverton, Ivybridge and Cornwood. I no longer teach in Torpoint, Bere Ferrers and Bere Alston for reasons of accessibility.

When are you available?
I am available for tuition from 1.30pm to 9.00pm and week days. Because of the high demand for personal tutoring, I operate on a first-come first-serve basis. Under exceptional circumstances I do offer teaching at the weekend.

Tuition continues during school holidays by mutual agreement. I take a three-week holiday break, usually in August/September. I will discuss changes to these arrangements as the need arises. In the case of 11+ pupils, who will be sitting their examination in the January immediately following the Christmas break, I am happy to rearrange lessons to fit in with family arrangements so that they receive their full complement of lessons before the exam.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
9 - 14 (11+, KS 2, KS3)

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
Mainly 11+

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
I am CRB checked (November 2010) and registered as a teacher with the Greater Teaching Council for England DFE Ref. RP69/11470.
I prefer to tutor in the pupil's home.
I am happy for parents/guardians to observe lessons and welcome this as an additional quality control.

Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.
I am able to offer a proof-reading service in English, German (A-Level) and French (A-Level) and offer advice on essay construction and content. Communication can be by email or Skype. Students should bear in mind that this work makes heavy demands on time and can entail considerable expense. It is essential, therefore, to define the task carefully in advance.

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
Member of the Institute of Linguists (1982) with distinctions in all examination papers in German with a special reference to translation from German to English in the linguistic field. I am also registered with The General Teaching Council for England.

Where and with whom did you train?
See 'Qualifications' above.

Tell me about some of your current students.
Currently I am heavily committed to teaching pupils preparing for the 11+ examination. In my experience, pupils with specific learning difficulties are better served in the school environment, if they can receive one-to-one support on a daily basis. A one-hour block of tuition once a week is, in my view, both too much and too little in the sense that pupils with special needs require frequent repetition in short bursts.

Do you have a personal message for students?
Personal tuition can be rewarding for both teacher and student - far beyond what can normally be expected in the pressurized atmosphere of the classroom.

INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION
In a one-to-one or small-group situation tutors are able to adapt to individual students’ needs and learning abilities. Individual needs can be addressed directly and the most appropriate methods of instruction can be used.

CONFIDENCE BUILDING
In a busy classroom and in response to peer pressure many pupils lack the confidence to ask questions when they do not understand. Peer pressure discourages inquiry. One-to-one tuition overcomes this fundamental problem by providing an environment in which the pupil does not need to feel embarrassed about asking questions. This helps the pupil to build up confidence and to promote personal success by re-enforcing classroom concepts.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
In many cases students do not achieve their full potential because they have acquired ineffective study skills. Private tutoring provides students with an opportunity to develop good study habits at their own pace, to learn new techniques and to improve their performance in school and in public examinations.