GCSE & iGCSE Tuition
I have taught GCSE and iGCSE English longer than any other subject, having started soon after graduation in my early twenties.
Both the language and literature components are among my favourite subjects to teach as they draw on such a broad range of skillsets, including literary analysis, essay writing and composition.
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As well as GCSE and iGCSE, I have also taught the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level: a course very similar in scope to the UK GCSE syllabus.
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The wonderful thing about English is how it informs and influences other academic subjects, as well as life beyond the classroom. The ability to articulate and communicate clearly is an essential life skill, while the value of reading well – of gauging the quality and credibility of written information – has never been more important than it is today.
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​It is a common misconception that you need a natural aptitude for English to gain the highest grades. In fact, a great deal can be taught. In my experience, hard work and commitment are far better predictors of positive outcomes than any kind of perceived natural talent.​
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Having performed strongly in my own English GCSEs, I am well aware of the work and dedication required to excel in these exams. However, my aim is not simply to help students pass a series of tests but to foster a lifelong love of reading that endures long after the exams are over.
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Reading is one of life's greatest joys. It gives us knowledge, understanding and empathy. To read a book is to transform abstract black-and-white symbols on a page into whole worlds of form and colour in the imagination. It is the most magical kind of alchemy, spinning gold from straw – and we can all be sorcerors if we wish.
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At a time when AI and online tools are taking on more and more of the human brain's heavy-lifting, reading provides a vital and vigorous mental work-out. To watch a screen is to receive passive, pre-packaged information. To read a book is to set the neurons aflame. As words create worlds in your mind, your visual cortext lights up, your sensory motor regions ignite and your language centres spark in a thousand directions at once. It's a wild neurological ride.​
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As the incomparable Dr. Seuss once said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." I will help my students to reach their potential in their exams. But I hope I will also help them to spread their wings a little too.
