Kian

I'm from the fine city of Norwich, where I went to Norwich School. I studied A Levels in Latin, History, and Politics, and achieved A*s in all three. I then went on to study Classics at Brasenose College, Oxford. I earned the title of scholar after my first set of exams, and ultimately graduated with a 2.1.

I started tutoring in my first year of university, and have continued to do so until now. But my time at university wasn't purely characterised by study. I also worked part-time as a walking tour guide, which allowed me to bring my love of history to life. And I took an active role in the drama scene, writing a number of plays, directing a few, and acting in one. I took two of my plays to the Edinburgh Fringe, both extremely enjoyable experiences. I continue to write, now mainly in other forms, mainly short stories and travel writing.

Each student has their own story and their own needs, so I think the most valued approach to tuition is flexibility and adaptability. I always make sure what I am doing is of use to the student, and will often ask if there is anything that they would rather I covered, or any areas they need more help with. Often, therefore, my lessons may use the student's homework as a starting point, and I will focus on helping them understand the tasks they've been set.

Of course, students aren't always sure themselves what their weaker areas are. When that happens, my approach is fundamentally practice oriented. I get the student to do as much as possible in a lesson, often giving them a chance to explain concepts to me. I approach a session like a dialogue, more in the style of an Oxbridge tutorial rather than a lesson in school. This approach is unparalleled for producing students who are confident not only in their set content but in engaging with new content.

I enjoy creative writing and am eager to work in a field where creative writing is central, such as screenwriting or travel writing. I also enjoy visual art, and like to pick up the paintbrushes from time to time, usually with disastrous consequences (bad paintings I mean, not accidentally poking out my eyeballs.) I read a lot, I keep up to date with politics and international relations. And in broadly related way, I am also keen on foreign languages and I've recently been spending a lot of time polishing up my Persian. Also, I run.