Afreen N.

Hi! My name is Afreen and I love reading (and writing, occasionally!) During my GCSEs and A-Levels, I really enjoyed studying English but I felt there were inadequate resources on specific exam technique and how to apply these skills in exam conditions. That's why I really want to make these techniques and skills accessible to more students and share what worked for me in order to achieve top grades- whilst also helping students find what works in order for them to achieve top grades as well! I believe my passion for literature really translates into my teaching and I would love to encourage more students to really enjoy studying English and get the most out of it.

I have had prior experience teaching English and Maths to SEN children whilst doing a volunteering placement in a children's home in India. While my teaching experience may only consist of a few months, I feel it was truly valuable and insightful into the skills a teaching role actually requires. This experience developed my communication skills very effectively; tested my adaptability when changing certain teaching methods in order to accommodate for different needs; and highlighted the importance of patience and perseverance when teaching.

My approach would be primarily student-led. I would encourage them to highlight the areas where they feel they need more support, whether that would be: connecting different ideas about texts and constructing a thesis; understanding and annotating texts; or simply how to structure an answer effectively within timed conditions. However, I also understand that a student may not always know exactly where they need more support, and I would be happy to work with them to identify these areas together. From there, I would work with them, sharing my insights whilst also giving them the tools to think of their own methods that would be successful in building up their weaker areas, whilst constantly keeping a focus on exam technique. I believe English is a trial-and-error subject and what might work for one person definitely may not work for another! My lessons would be a clear reflection of this idea- my main focus is to build the student's independence and confidence in an exam setting.