A bit about Dr Matt

From my first day at university as a mature student, just a few years ago, I knew that I wanted to be involved with education for the rest of my life. My passion for learning soon became a passion for teaching. I started out academic life studying English, but went on to do my PhD in Film & Media. It was an incredible voyage, full of surprises and discoveries. It changed my life and gave me the desire to teach and to help others change theirs. My fairly recent experience as student means that I remember clearly the challenges as well as opportunities which study involves. I enable students to meet the challenges to unlock the opportunities, helping them plan, research and write essays as well as getting to grips with all the theories and concepts related to the work. I build confidence, bit-by-bit, one step at a time. With my passion for Film, Media, and English, I also inspire. Essay Writing, Film, Media, English; other academic study skills including presentations, research, work and time management, and professional development My lessons start with some background and context then move on to a detailed explanation of the ideas and subjects being explored, developing students’ knowledge & understanding of the English, Film or Media text. For Essay Writing, I give a presentation on the subject, ask the students to apply the basic principles to a piece of written work, then give feedback on the work, accentuating positives and building on strengths. I first started tutoring on the Film & Media degree at the University of Wales in 2016, while still studying for my PhD. What I love most about teaching my subjects is seeing students progress from level to level, achieving the results they need, and realising their dreams and ambitions. I also have a passion for the subjects themselves. Where Essay Writing is concerned, it is probably the most important skill a student will learn. It is the key to unlocking the door, on the other side of which lies academic success and personal fulfilment. Knowing this, I take great pride in teaching the full range of essay-writing skills, such as planning and research, structuring, correct use of referencing (e.g. Harvard), and clarity of expression, knowing the benefits that these skills can - and will - bring. I could not believe my luck when I started teaching Film and Media. It was a lifelong love of mine (it is for many!) but during my PhD I found that the more I knew about the history and the theory, the more I wanted to know. In my lessons, I teach all the principles and theories behind the films and television shows, but with the genuine enthusiasm of one who truly loves the subject. My teaching style is inclusive, supportive, chatty, and enthusiastic. I am hands-on in my approach, teaching the basic principles, setting work, then feeding back, helping students develop and acquire skills at a sure and steady pace. My favourite thing about being a tutor is teaching the subjects I love to help students get the results they need. There is no better feeling in teaching and tutoring than seeing a student pass their exams. Actually, that might not be quite true. Perhaps the best feeling, on reflection, is when a student writes to inform you that they got that place at university or that job they never thought they'd get. At times like these, teaching really is its own reward. Teaching and learning changes lives in the most positive way imaginable. Change a life, whether yours by learning or someone else's by teaching, and you change the world. In a word - my enthusiasm. There is no single success that I can point to. From helping students pass their A Levels to guiding them towards their degrees, each and every success has been of equal value. And when we talk about success, the unique thing about teaching and tutoring is that it belongs both to the student and the teacher. I have a PhD in Film & Media and a First Class Honours Degree in English. I am a musician and songwriter of many years' experience and have released records on three different labels - one in London, one in San Francisco, and one in Madrid.