My approach to teaching has always centred around patience and clarity, along with creating an atmosphere in which whoever I’m working with feels comfortable enough to stop and ask a question when they don’t understand something - and to not be afraid to tell me when what I’m saying makes no sense whatsoever! (Which fortunately only happens occasionally!)
A common concern I hear from students is that their school teachers move through the material too quickly, making it difficult to catch up once they fall behind — especially in a subject like maths. I fully understand the challenges of teaching groups, having done so myself on occasion. But the key advantage of one-to-one tuition is that the work can be tailored specifically to the individual. Topics that might generally be considered difficult can be covered quickly (as long as they’re fully understood), while areas that teachers usually rush through can be explored more thoroughly if the student needs it.
Topics are worked through from start to finish (except perhaps for when they are simply being revised) with staggered examples and questions so that the progression from the fundamentals through to the most difficult aspects seems as fluid and natural as possible. When the time is right, I’m more than happy to challenge the student a little in an attempt to progress them more rapidly, but I’m equally happy to revisit a topic as many times as is requested and necessary in order for it to be fully understood.
If you’re considering one-to-one tuition — whether for yourself, a family member, or a friend — it’s important to remember that the effort you put in directly affects the results you get. One or two hours a week can lead to some improvement, but combining lessons with consistent independent work before and after sessions can unlock tremendous benefits. (And on that note, I’m happy to provide homework questions for practice between lessons.)
