A Level, Pre-U, GCSE, and Common Entrance English tutorials from an Oxford English graduate with seven years' tutoring experience

Learn more about Annabelle

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  English and Latin were always my favourite subjects at school, so I chose to study Classics and English at Oxford. This is when I began tutoring, with just one student, and I soon realised that I loved tutoring these subjects. Over the last four years I have built up a roster of regular clients, and am always happy to take on new ones. Being able to share my knowledge of and enthusiasm for my two favourite subjects is wonderful, and I hope to keep doing it for a long time.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Tutoring English takes up most of my schedule. I occasionally teach English as a foreign language, but much prefer tutoring literature. It's fabulous to have a range of students from Key Stage 3 up through GCSE and to A Level, and my favourite tutoring sessions usually involve in-depth discussion of texts (especially Shakespeare!) tailored to the student's needs, and backed up with advice on good exam technique and revision planning. I teach Latin or Classics to a handful of students, often for the Common Entrance exams or to give extra help to GCSE students, and spend the rest of the time doing admissions tutoring. Editing personal statements, preparing mock interviews, and advising students on their university applications - often for Oxbridge - takes up a lot of time, but I find the work extremely rewarding.

• 3) Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Mrs McKeefry, my English teacher, has always been an inspiration to me. Her unique and creative attitude to teaching literature has stayed with me ever since I started school, and she was responsible for introducing me to many of my favourite books and for setting me ambitious extra-curricular reading and essays. I have actually incorporated some of her methods into my teaching of English Language!

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  I think that flexibility is one of the most important qualities required of a good tutor. All of my tutoring is adapted to the needs of every individual student, and I find that this helps students to attain the best results. My job is to help students to achieve their goals and fulfil their potential, and the best way to do this is by creating tailor-made plans and lessons for each individual. Enthusiasm is also an incredibly important quality for a tutor to have, as is patience, and I have spent time honing these two skills during my tutoring career.