Nicholle: Portage tutor

Certified Tutor

Following the completion of a DipHE in Physiological Sciences, I have taken up 1:1 tutoring towards students aged between 6-15 years old for nearly two years.

For a while, I believe that a teacher's influence can heavily impact on how a child perceives learning in the future, and hence I am patient and open minded in all my sessions. Priority is given to ensure the student feels comfortable, and when unsure, they don't hesitate to ask.

There are many factors why there's value in 1:1 tutoring rather than a classroom based setting. The fear of raising a hand to ask questions is eliminated and furthermore, the relationship between student and tutor is more personal, making the environment relaxing to enhance the student's learning.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what my teaching methods are because there is no one size fits all. Knowing that every student is different, I initially observe the stages of where you are at, what you need help with, personality, their strengths and weaknesses. Then I attempt to gauge what is the best approach for a student to maximise learning/results in the most efficient way, without sacrificing your mental health and energy.

Where relevant, tips/advice will be provided if requested. This will be based on reflecting from my own experiences.

Failure is something I will actively encourage you to embrace, because youth is your advantage. It's something I wished I realised sooner, but have been given this perspective in 2023. As students, you have room to make mistakes.

Ultimately as a tutor, I can only offer you the best chance of success. The path is shown, but you must be the one to walk it.