Susan

I am a qualified teacher and taught in secondary schools and colleges for 12 years before becoming a professional opera singer [my career was launched at English National Opera Company]. Performances world wide and in the UK followed, plus TV, video and radio appearances. I spearheaded my own opera in education company for 10 years, taking The Opera Express! around the country and creating one day workshop and performance experiences with up to 100 primary school children. I translated the operas into English and restructured them to give the children the most memorable tunes....A master degree in Voice Studies from Central School of Speech and Drama qualified me as a professional voice and accent coach . I combine performing with my work as an educational professional and work across a broad spectrum of curriculum, including performing arts.

Tutoring Experience

Full time teaching in secondary schools , plus house head [Mathematics]
10 years private tutoring {Mathematics} at O level and A level [ all my A level students improved by 1 or 2 grades]
Knowledge transfer work includes 12 years private tutoring in accent reduction for business professionals and adults [includes elocution ]
One to One and group workshops in public speaking [young people and adults]
Private coaching in communication skills [postgraduate barrister training]
specialist one to one learner and mentor to undergraduates and postgraduates with learning disabilities and mental health issues, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, anxiety and depression. Associate member of Dyslexia Guild.
11 years Teacher of Acting to students aged 7 to 18, plus script writing and direction of productions

Tutoring Approach

I work to build a reciprocal relationship with my students and to establish trust and confidence in an honest interchange. I regard mistakes as an ESSENTIAL part of the learning process and hold that only by risking the possibility of being 'wrong' can learning be creative, organic and most productive. I use a mixture of learning techniques to facilitate the best understanding and retention of information. I believe that a confident student will embrace the whole learning process and, of course, success breeds confidence if it is rooted in real understanding and self belief. A mistake is NOT a failure, but a chance to learn and improve.