Helena

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC MENTOR | EXPERIENCED TUTOR | DBS CHECKED
| BA ENGLISH LITERATURE 2:1

Experienced in online tutoring, specialising in GCSE English Language. Also will begin working as an Academic Mentor at Greenford High School in January.

Tutoring Experience

I will begin working as an Academic Mentor at Greenford High School in January. My primary interaction will be with GCSE students meaning I can transfer my experience to my private tutoring.

I also currently tutor a year 11 student in GCSE English Language. For these sessions, I do a lot of preparation including defining his learning objectives, creating various activities and producing ‘Learning Sheets’. These ‘Learning Sheets’ range from worksheets to revision documents to topic summaries and more.

On Saturdays, I also volunteer as a Classroom Assistant at a music tuition company. As part of my role, I take pupil registration and set their starter tasks. I also help out during the lesson if they have any questions or need something to be re-explained. The pupils range from the age of 5 to 18, meaning that I have experience with a wide age group and know how to adapt to their different maturity levels. I have also learnt techniques for keeping students engaged during an hour-long lesson. Often, I find that their concentration and motivation reduce toward the end, especially if they have done other extra curricular activities beforehand. As such, I have experience in re-focussing students and reducing distractions.

Growing up I used to look after a fellow student with autism and teachers often trusted me to help him complete classwork and explain our lessons to him. I also have experience working with children as a nanny. Academically I have always been a high achiever. For example, in my GCSE's I received 10A* and 1A. And in my A-Levels I acquired an A*AA, with my A* in English Literature. This is further seen in the fact that one of the essays I completed during my year abroad in Denmark is published online.

Tutoring Approach

I believe in breaking tasks down into clear and manageable steps. I use positive reinforcement and an encouraging attitude to build their confidence. I also ensure to teach them an approach to learning that they can apply to other subjects and aspects of life. For instance, I guide my students on how to take great notes in school, how to consolidate what they've learnt at the end of their lessons in school and how to establish an effective revision schedule. Through this, their time with me is maximised and focused on improving their abilities.