Ilari

I am a London-based tutor with five years of teaching experience. Pursuing a career in teaching, I approach tutoring with both professional rigour and personal affection.

My academic record includes a First Class BA from the University of Oxford (Philosophy & Psychology) and a distinction from an MPhil at Yenching Academy of Peking University (Chinese History, Philosophy, and Religion). My diverse academic background allows me to help students of all ages excel in humanities and human sciences. My students also benefit from my professional writing skills: I have published both peer-reviewed and magazine-style essays on topics such as the neuroscience of cultural differences, Chinese philosophy of human nature, and fallacies in modern Darwinism.

SAMPLE OF REVIEWS
"I am more than happy to recommend Ilari for any student of Philosophy who is seeking an experienced, trustworthy, engaging, and inspiring tutor. Ilari is a total pleasure to be taught by. Instantly warm and always genuine, he made me feel very comfortable to pursue and follow my ideas, while skillfully guiding me further to push and expand my thinking in a variety of ways without imposing a particular view. Perhaps Ilari's greatest asset as a teacher is being as strong at listening as he is at speaking. By being so attentive he treated me as his equal, really making it easy for both of us to share our passions and making Ilari's lessons an overall inspiring experience."
- Tutee in Philosophy, UK, 2020

"Ilari, a graduate of Oxford University, came to me highly recommended in December 2017. He tutored my 15 -year-old son in English until mid-August 2018. The challenge was to tutor a boy with Asperger’s syndrome who possesses a good knowledge of English in order to ensure that his new school would place him in the appropriate level of instruction. Ilari showed a sincere interest in the boy, whose trust he gained. My son’s English languages skills have progressed very satisfactorily. I am grateful to him for his commitment and success."
- Father of a tutee, Finland, 2017-2018

Tutoring Experience

As a private tutor:
During the past five years, I have worked as a private tutor for Philosophy and Psychology, but also History, English, and Geography (in English), as well as Economics (in Finnish), and Finnish (in Chinese). My students have ranged from pre-school children to professional adults.

In the classroom:
In 2017-2018, I worked as a supply teacher at the Finnish-French School of Helsinki, running classes on a variety of topics for students ranging from 6 to 19 years of age. I ran classes using Finnish, English, and French. In 2020, I worked for two months as a full-time Psychology lecturer at Lohja High School, also in Finland.

In the seminar room:
In 2020-2021, I worked as a graduate teaching assistant at Peking University, running seminars and grading assignments for a diverse student population. Having received excellent feedback from students and teaching fellows, I was awarded an “Honorary Teaching Assistant” award in 2020.

Tutoring Approach

In most cases, I design my classes in the style of Oxbridge-style tutorials. I believe that critical thinking is a key component in all teaching sessions, and I challenge students to question the teaching content wherever appropriate. This benefits both the student and myself: throughout the years, I have benefited immensely from the comments of my students, many of whom I have maintained contact still after the official tutoring period.