A bit about Kian J

I am a recent graduate with a first class degree in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. I also graduated in 2018 with an overall 2:1 English and History. I have always been a natural academic and a bit of a nerd (well, maybe a bit more than a bit). I'm interested in a variety of topics; some include linguistics, history, sociology, politics, film and media as well as fitness. I specialise in teaching English to students of other languages (TESOL). This means I design my lessons to fit the individual needs of every learner. I currently tutor students of all ages and nationalities for a Liverpool based company named U Created Education. However, I also have an interest in tutoring assessment preparation as it is something I excelled at in university. Each lesson will depend entirely on the subject matter and the topic being discussed. For example; if I am tutoring a lesson about synonyms and antonyms, I will design tasks related to that topic to improve my students' overall understanding of the topic. However, no two lessons will be the same and will depend on the students' needs, wants and goals. Macro goals will also be considered, such as impending assessments or exams. I first started tutoring in October of 2020. I began by tutoring 1st year students in English but transitioned to teaching older pupils later in the year. Since then, I have taught many different age groups and nationalities. I love teaching English because it is such a fascinating subject to learn and understand. It has such a breadth of scope to it; there are also many different subtopics to choose from. I also thoroughly enjoy watching my students as they progress academically and grasp the topics I am tutoring them in. I would say my teaching style is more of a hybrid between the facilitator and demonstrator. I believe in showing through integrated learning; using activities as a means of generating new ideas instead of reciting old ones. Likewise, I also believe that any good teacher should foster a sense of learner autonomy in their pupil, since a good teacher is also learning continuously. My teaching philosophy is do not show someone what they can learn to do themselves. Any great educator fosters learner autonomy in their students since learning does not stop after school ends. The ability to adapt to any environment; be that in a work environment or social environment, is essential to anyone looking to enhance their critical thinking skills. This will prove vital for life in general. I would say students love how flexible my lessons can be. For instance, many lessons take a more relaxed but innovative approach where creativity is encouraged. That said, flexibility does not encourage lack of discipline or structure. There should be a fine line between between the two paradigms. My greatest success in education would have to be helping my student receive a band 6 in her IELTS speaking test instead of a 5.5. She worked really hard to get the score to increase and finally achieved what she set out to accomplish. This took time and a lot of frustration but was ultimately worth it in the end. My current qualifications are as follows: A levels in English Literature (B), Sociology (B), History (D) and Creative Writing (D); a 2:1 overall BA Honours in English and History; a first class masters degree in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. I am looking to complete my CELTA qualification this march which will further qualify me to teach English as a second language in the UK. Teaching runs in my family. My mum was a teacher and used to teach at a collage close to wear I live. Furthermore, I remember the impact that a good teacher could make on my own interest in education. I had a teacher in History who made the subject so fascinating, it made me want to learn more about the topic at home. To me, that is someone who makes education worth while. Someone who encourages someone to pursue something even outside the classroom for their own betterment. I do not teach for an exam board just yet, but the exam board I was taught in high school was AQA. Moreover, I am experienced with a number of different age groups. I am most confident teaching teenagers or adults because I am most knowledgeable in those areas taught. Outside of teaching, I am still just as nerdy as whilst teaching. I love to research topics that I am interested in. I am also heavily invested in fitness and exercise, having gone to the gym religiously for at least 5 years now. Overall, my hobbies include reading, writing, researching and spending time with my family and friends.