Alex Macinnes Ostrouch - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

Experience

2004-2005 Vienna International School : teaching jazz band and piano to 10th grade students

10/2005-11/2005 Westminster School, London : coaching fencing (foil and epee) to students of varying ages

2007-present London : teaching Israeli reality based self-defense at local London gyms (including ‘Gymbox’ and ‘Virgin Active’), as well as to private clients

2008-present London : private tutoring to students of varying ages (including university level) : employed by Keystone Tutors and other sought-after London agencies

Recent Keystone Work:

GCSE History, GCSE English: GCSE Homeschooling English and History (Started: January 2011)

GCSE History, GCSE English, GCSE Maths, GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics, GCSE Latin, GCSE French: GCSE HOMESCHOOLING. (Started: February 2011)

AS/A2 History : IB History (Started: April 2011)

Biography

I grew up in Warsaw, Poland where I completed the IB diploma in 2004 at the American School of Warsaw (41 pts). I then spent one year in Vienna, Austria working at the Vienna International School as a jazz band teacher before moving to the UK in 2005 for university. I studied International Relations at the LSE at undergraduate level and War Studies at KCL at MA level. Since then I have worked full-time as a personal tutor in London for various agencies.

Until last year I fenced at the highest international level as a member of the British senior national team in foil. I was part of the Olympic Talent Programme as a hopeful for the 2012 Olympics and competed on the World Cup circuit regularly. Due to injury and for personal reasons I unfortunately no longer compete. I now keep fit by running and training in Krav Maga (I am an instructor and teach private lessons around London).

I have a great passion for jazz piano, and have been playing for many years. I have performed both as a soloist and as a member of small ensembles, most recently with the LSE Jazz Band. I also very much enjoy teaching.

Personal Approach

I am deeply committed to helping students achieve both their academic and non-academic goals. To this end, I have recently written a book about effective study habits (available at ibsurvivalhandbook.com) which aims to empower students with a set of skills (these include both study skills and ‘life skills’) rather than merely providing them with a condensed version of some subject. My approach to tutoring reflects my belief that effective studying is as much about the ‘how’ as it is about the ‘what’. While the ‘what’ may be similar for all students doing a particular course or degree, the ‘how’ depends very much on the individual. My job as a tutor is to help individuals discover their own ‘how’, while engaging and exciting them about the ‘what’.

What I do when I am not tutoring

I work as a full-time tutor and Krav Maga instructor in London.

Additionally, some recent projects include:

I recently wrote a study guide for IB students, The IB Survival Handbook, which has been endorsed by teachers (including a head examiner) and university professors, and which is being used by an increasing number of IB schools worldwide. The Binghampton IB school in NY, for example, has recently purchased over a hundred copies for its students. Our website is ibsurvivalhandbook.com.

I recently completed a course on memorisation (the Giordano Memorisation System 'phenomenal memory' course) which has radically altered the way I approach both learning and teaching. It has been a lot of fun incorporating these techniques into my lessons; without fail people are quite amazed at what they are capable of given the right techniques.

Testimonials

17/10/2011: “Alex was extremely helpful for study skills” (Mother of IB History student)

07/07/2011: “We are very pleased with the way Alex is working hard on developing strategies for dealing with memory problems. He is professional, highly reliable and delivers what he sets out to do.”

Ari Helgason (former tutee):

Alex tutored me during my studies at the London School of Economics. I found his insights and guidance to be invaluable. He not only helped me to get a grasp of the material, but also empowered me to find answers for myself and taught me how to study more effectively. At the same time, his lessons were a lot of fun - full of anecdotes, incisive comments, and humour. I ended up graduating with a first class degree in International Relations. Alex was a crucial part of my success, and I will always be grateful to him. He cares deeply about the progress of his students and is a real gem for any tutoring agency. I would strongly urge you to employ him.

Mrs Kate Greenhalgh (Teacher, Ursuline High School, Wimbledon. B.A. (Oxon) PGCE Roehampton):

Alex has tutored my son Jacob this term. Jacob is at Shrewsbury House Preparatory School in Surbiton, in Year 7. The volume of information needed for revision for Common Entrance, as well as certain key subjects which Jacob finds hard, made me request a tutor with a broad range of subject knowledge, as well as excellent skills in motivation and the teaching of learning approaches. Alex has fulfilled all these very well indeed, and motivated Jacob successfully. Jacob's end of year examination results showed a marked improvement, especially in the areas of special focus with Alex.

Alex is a very accomplished, personable and professional tutor, who is very popular with Jacob, as well as helping him academically, and I would recommend him unreservedly.

Passport: Keystone Tutors has a copy of Alex Macinnes-Ostrouch's passport and therefore can confirm that Alex Macinnes-Ostrouch is a UK / EU national or has the appropriate visa to be eligible to work in the UK.