A* Chemistry Tutor offering Online lessons in GCSE Chemistry through Microsoft Teams

Find out more about Aribah

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

  Biology and Chemistry caught my interest at GCSE level. Psychology caught my eye more recently at A level; psychology nurtures critical thinking and debate in a way that the natural sciences can't - this is something I really enjoy and believe to be an extremely valuable skill in all walks of life. I started tutoring after completing my A levels. As a tutor, I'm in a very privileged position where I can share and discuss knowledge of beautiful subjects with people that are keen to learn.

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

  I enjoy the human aspects of Biology - I remember being less keen on the plant-related GCSE topics! Inorganic/physical chemistry is a particular favourite of mine too. Within psychology, I enjoy the Behaviourist approach, including associative learning. Biological psychology is great too, looking at brain scans and neuroanatomy. Beyond the GCSE/A level specifications, I'm keen to learn more about psychopharmacology - the study of the action of drugs and how that influences our psychological state. Psychopharmacology lies at the intersection between Biology, Chemistry and Psychology (which is probably why I find it fascinating) and I'm currently (voluntarily) progressing through a textbook on on the topic!

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

  My A level Psychology teacher was fantastic at what he did; he was extremely knowledgeable and always providing extra reading for those that were interested. I think there's more to teaching than delivering the content, it's also important to encourage curiosity and self efficacy. A little confidence can go a long way and I try to remember that whenever I'm tutoring - especially for younger kids.

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

  Being open to feedback from students is essential as they are the ones who directly experience your teaching style and are in the best position to critique (and hopefully praise!) your strategies. This is why I regularly check in with my students about how they're feeling. Additionally, I think the ability to establish rapport is really beneficial for the learning process - it's much easier to learn from someone you get along with and actually want to listen to! Finally, patience is always a virtue. Learning isn't always a linear process and a good tutor should be prepared to revisit 'weaker' areas and accommodate for any difficulties a student is having, without taking it to heart. As someone who isn't the quickest learner myself, I understand that trying to grasp new concepts can be a stressful process, but I hope to alleviate that as much as possible.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  Until year 12, all of my teachers had described me as a very quiet student until one day a teacher described me as 'usually quite vocal' and as 'actively participating in class'. To me, that highlighted the role that a teacher has in shaping a student's engagement with their subject. I hope that I can help all my students to eventually become quite vocal about their subjects too, just like that teacher did for me!

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  I found it difficult to maintain a healthy a work-life balance, often tipping the scales in favour of work. In hindsight, this made my A level period more stressful than it probably needed to be. For this reason, I try to create a more relaxing/fun atmosphere in my lessons. Naturally, exams are stressful but learning should be as enjoyable as possible!

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I love Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. One reason why deciding what to study further at university was so difficult for me, is that I didn't like the idea of 'letting go' of any of my subjects. For this reason, I enjoy tutoring because it allows me to remain connected to my subjects even after having completed my secondary education

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  I'm dedicated to tutoring and aim to reply to all lesson requests as quickly as possible. Each lesson request excites me; Superprof is a long term commitment for me and I hope to develop my tutoring skills along the way