Experienced tutor specialising in QCE and undergraduate chemistry and biology subjects—Previous Bond University Tutor

Find out more about Tahlia

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

  I really loved biology at school and knew I wanted to study science at university. However, I wanted to learn a bit more about the different areas of health sciences and developed an interest in how chemistry is incorporated into this. This led me to complete my Bachelor of Biomedical Science, a degree that combined the chemistry and biology of the human body. Furthermore, I gained an insight into medical research through completing an Honours degree in Molecular Biology.
  I began teaching for the Biomedical Science program during my Honours year, where I discovered I really enjoyed finding creative ways to explain complex concepts to students.

• 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 both high school and university-level chemistry and biology which is a broad range! My bachelor's degree gave me such a wide range of knowledge that I now use to help as many students as I can. students studying a variety of curricula, including QCE, VCE, and HSC chemistry and biology, in addition to biomedical science, veterinary science, nursing, health sciences. Some topics are more difficult to teach, like biochemistry, but I find it makes me more creative in finding unique and digestible analogies to help build a foundational understanding of the process.

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

  I had an amazing chemistry tutor in my first semester of my undergraduate degree, which really made a difference in my university experience. She was incredibly patient and was excellent at helping to explain complex diagrams. Because of her, I felt more confident and prepared when attending classes for that subject. That is the kind of feeling I would like to now help my students with.

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

  To become a great tutor, communication skills are essential. Although being knowledgeable is incredibly important, without the ability to communicate this knowledge clearly and effectively, students will not leave the session with a sound understanding of the content. Additionally, adaptability is also a highly valued skill in a tutor. I tell my students "there is always another way to learn" and let them know that if one method I use to teach doesn't work, I can always find an alternate one.

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

  I remember leaving one of my early undergraduate lectures upset, because I was so overwhelmed by the difficulty and volume of the content I needed to learn. I find many of my students are currently experiencing these feelings and emotions. I reassure them and say, "if this subject were easy, I wouldn't have a job". This is true, as I spend over 20 hours per week helping students understand and retain these complex topics. I often tell students this story and let them know that they are not alone, and I am here to answer any question they might have to help them get to where they want/need to be.

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

  Throughout my degree, I found the complex processes in biology to be particularly difficult to understand and memorise. When there were diagrams trying to explain these processes, I oftentimes found them more confusing with little-to-no explanation accompanying them. Now, I use my knowledge and expertise to explain these diagrams to students and teach them how to take effective notes for future revision.

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

  Whilst I love biology, chemistry, and teaching, I think it's so important to also have passions outside of academia. I love to go bouldering (rock-climbing) with my family and friends to help maintain a balanced life. However, talking about tutoring specifically, I like teaching students how to develop reliable methods for how to "break down" exam-style questions and subsequently, how to develop a quality response to that question.

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

  I pride myself on making myself an academic role model for students in addition to a tutor I dedicate myself to mentoring-committed to my students' long-term success and always available to support their progress. I celebrate every win with a student, no matter how small they may perceive that win to be. I truly pride myself on being a tutor that a student feels confident and comfortable with to ask any questions without a fear of shame or judgement.