Ralph Jeffreys

My lessons can be in person or online depending on the student's preference. I would begin with an initial meeting to assess what areas the student needs help with most: is it the understanding of the given text, the tools and techniques to perform analysis, or the skills needed to write essays and express their ideas? From there I would plan accordingly.

For example, if a student wants to improve their analysis, I would prepare three extracts - one from a text they know which I would ask them to prepare an answer two, an example extract I have analysed which we can discuss and then a third that we could work on together in the lesson. This would allow me to see the level they are at and help correct and encourage their existing work as well as show them an exemplar to work towards. Working on an extract in the lesson would allows us to work on how to approach a text you don't know as well as getting in the practice of breaking down a text quickly, crucial for the eventual exam.

Ultimately though, a tutoring experience needs to be enjoyable and adaptive. We do not learn if we are stressed or bored, and we learn best when we have a genuine interest in the material we are looking at. I would always begin sessions by engaging the student and checking in with them to ensure theyre in the right frame of mind to work, as well as using videos and music to help bring to life texts which we can lose interest in when we study them, rather than just sit back and enjoy them. The work level also needs to remain manageable while pushing the student, which I would discuss with them and their guardian to ensure they are not being overworked.