English Language and Literature GCSE and A level Teacher and AQA English Language and Literature examinations author. Twenty years teaching experience. Proven track record. Enhanced DBS check

Find out more about Joseph

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

  I have been interested in writing since I was a young child. Initially, writing stories for myself and later to read to others. Writing is clearly linked to the various subjects I teach, such as English and History. I later became interested in Acting as a teenager and in helping/coaching others - which led to my keen passion for Psychology. I have since been fortunate enough to study the Humanities at a much deeper level.
  
  During my teacher training in 2003, I taught reading one on one which was very beneficial for me and Jake, my student. Yet, during my first formal paid tuition session in Psychology in 2010, this is when I realised that I wanted to focus particularly on private tuition, due to the massively positive impact that can occur for the student throughout the lessons. I have been tutoring ever since.

• 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).

  I teach subjects that I am both passionate about and experienced in. Throughout each of these subjects, there are common threads as regards excelling in each topic.
  
  I frequently discuss with students the importance of reading frequently and of looking up all of the words that they do not understand and the importance of quality over quantity in their written exam answers. Also, that they answer the question that is set and we also make sure that we work out how many marks there are in the exam and how many minutes we need to apply to each question and to leave two minutes to check their work at the end of each question. And then, finally, to relax and believe, after all of this preparation has been completed.

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

  My English and Drama teacher Mr Crisp. He was a great teacher, particularly in English. He could correct the notes provided in the textbook and his knowledge of his subject was second to none. He helped me to recognise my own ability in these subjects and to feel comfortable in my identity; as he provided such an excellent example of an English and Drama enthusiast. He also gave me the platform to pursue my passion in these subjects as he was my mentor when I was a student teacher and a newly qualified teacher and later my colleague; whereby I assisted him in directing the school’s Drama productions.
  
  Also, William Shakespeare, whom I have wrote about in another part of this interview.

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

  Patience. Punctuality. Empathy. Kindness. Fairness. Organisation. Subject knowledge.
  
  Also, to apply the topics mentioned earlier, (reading, defining words, quality over quantity, answering the question set, marks per minute, leaving time to check and finally relaxing and believing) to each subject, in order to potentially maximise the student’s examination technique and, (hopefully), their interest in or even love of the subject.

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

  Two students that I have taught, changed the paradigm, (the mode of thinking) that I operated in, in terms of what was possible in examinations. I was fortunate enough to do well in examinations myself yet both of these students that I taught, achieved incredibly high marks (97% and full marks UMS).
  
  Talking to them later as regards their examinations, I believe that they reached a heightened stage of relaxation and belief through their extensive preparation. They fully believed in themselves and were therefore not nervous. They worked consistently hard in lessons and this, combined with their natural ability, ensured that they gave their best in a relaxed way. They were ‘in the zone’ or as my studies in Psychology state, they had a heightened focus - which led to “Tachypsychia”- which is a speeding up of the mind which makes time appear to slow down and gives ease, comfort and quality to whatever it is that you are doing (in this case an exam).
  
  They irrevocably changed my view on what is possible for my students.

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

  There can be organisational difficulties and challenges as a tutor, which SuperProf’s payment system and lesson proposition tool does help with.
  
  Personally, I genuinely believe that moving towards solutions is better than moving away from a problem.
  
  However, with each of the subjects I teach and with each student; motivation and confidence are of primary importance.
  
  Through the provision of a weekly implementation of the topics that I have outlined previously and through gentle, purposeful discussion, this can help my students to view themselves and their studies in focus and remind them of their achievements thus far.
  
  This, in turn, can help them to be empowered and to learn from their perceived disappointments and therefore encourage them to develop invaluable qualities from within themselves; and to take their learning, motivation and confidence to previously unrealised levels.

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

  Teaching others is a passion of mine. Alongside this, it would be writing, as this is the other half of my professional life.
  
  Shakespeare is the greatest artistic discovery of my life and I believe he is, and will continue to be, the greatest writer of all time. He also imbued his work with Philosophy, social commentary and Psychology (despite it not even being a subject in his time).
  
  I believe that a person’s writing is a part of who they are and that we should ensure that it reflects who we are accurately and fully; thus further ensuring that it is of the highest standard. Therefore, alongside teaching, my passion is that both myself and my students simply write what we know and that we write it well.

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

  It is certainly not for me to state what makes me a Superprof. I will leave others to decide this.
  
  What I believe I can say, however, is that my students have improved their levels and grades, (some dramatically so) through the work we have done in our lessons together. They report that the lessons (I have worked with some students for 4 or 5 years) have improved their confidence and their degree of motivation and their sense of what is possible for themselves in both their studies and beyond.
  
  And I thank them for the privilege of letting me help them achieve this.