Michael Slavinsky - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

Experience

School Teaching

Head of Modern Foreign Languages, 2009-2011 - London Academy, Edgware HA8 8DE. A fully comprehensive secondary academy in North London with a sixth form, serving some of the most deprived wards in the UK and with a very diverse student body - both culturally and in terms of educational attainment.

•Responsible for teaching and learning of modern languages across the Academy.

•Oversaw introductions of new GCSE and A-level specifications in French and Spanish.

•Implemented Community Languages programme across the school which allowed students to sit accredited examinations in their 'home' language.

French Teacher (Teach First), 2008-2009 - London Academy

•Ages Taught: 11-18

•Experience teaching full range of ability and attainment including students with special educational needs (dyslexia, ADHD, English as a second language, literacy issues).

•Experience teaching native speakers with a focus on grammar and written skills as well as spoken and listening skills.

•Comprehensive understanding of GCSE, A-level and EPQ content, exam requirements and methods of assessment.

•Sixth Form Tutor experience, including writing references, selection of universities and help writing personal statements.

English Assistant, 2006-2007; Lycée Bergson, Paris 75019

•Ages Taught: 13-23

•Topical teaching focused on current affairs and culture.

Tutoring (French), 2011

1 Year 12 (Lower Sixth) student, 2010-11, Highgate School A2/AS French (Final Grade attained: A*)

•Focus on grammar, essay writing, cultural content and developing higher level presentation, debating and arguing skills.

1 Year 7 student 2011, Fortismere School. Year 7 assessment.

•Short term tutoring to help student successfully obtain a mark in the top 40% of her year in order to be able to go on to study Mandarin.

•UCAS and Personal Statement assistance.

Mentoring/Coaching

Coaching 2 Sixth Form students with no prior family history of university education from Quentin Kynaston School, St John's Wood, on HEAPS (Higher Education Access Program for Schools). Mentor and coach on study skills, time management, UCAS & Personal Statement and interview technique.

Sunday School Teacher (Hendon Reform Synagogue Sunday School) 2000-2004

•Co-taught mixed ability class of 4-7 year olds through aspects of Jewish Studies and basic Hebrew.

Recent Keystone Work:

Oxbridge Preparation, Fine Art: UCAS application and Personal Statement help (Started: January 2012)

GCSE French: French for GCSEs (Started: January 2012)

GCSE French: Yr 10 French (Started: January 2012)

Biography

I grew up in a bi-lingual (English/Russian) home in North London and attended City of London School from 1997-2004 before reading a BA in European and Middle-Eastern Languages (French and Hebrew) at Oxford University.

During my studies, I spent a year abroad in Paris, the Dordogne, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv where I studied language and taught English both as a tutor and as a classroom teaching assistant.

After graduating, I taught French at London Academy, Edgware for three years on the Teach First Leadership programme. For two of my three years there, I was head of department of Modern Foreign Languages, responsible for language teaching across the school and across all age groups (11-18).

I am currently studying for an MA in French Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Personal Approach

I value tutoring because it allows me to make the biggest amount of progress with my students in the shortest amount of time.

I believe that the key elements of good tutoring are being able to give specific feedback to the tutee, thinking of creative ways of delivering the content and equally creative ways of assessing what has been learned.

I believe that every subject of study must be made real - that is to say, situated in a relevant context to the pupil, while still broadening their horizons and looking for frequent opportunities to take the pupil out of their 'comfort zone'. This often requires the tutor to tailor a very personal programme of study for their tutee which can only improve as they get to know each other.

What I do when I am not tutoring

Currently a candidate for a MA at Birkbeck College in French Studies.

Associate Director, The Brilliant Club (Widening Access programme for students from areas of disadvantage: www.thebrilliantclub.org)

Keen footballer, runner, swimmer and cyclist.

Testimonials

16/05/2012: Michael Slavinsky is fabulous, he is very organised and our son is responding extremely well to him. (Mother of GCSE French tutor)

01/02/2012: My daughter said that Michael explained things clearly and she was able to understand the points he was trying to get across. (Mother of GCSE French student)

01/02/2012: We thought Michael was terrific! (Mother of GCSE French student)

24/01/2012: Michael was excellent, he was a great help and thanks to him I am confident that I have put in a strong UCAS application. (UCAS Applicant)

Mother of A-level Tutee:

''Michael was the perfect choice for Tom - young, energetic, enthusiastic and wouldn't put up with any nonsense. As a result, Tom believed in himself and started to enjoy French and French literature. As I may have mentioned when we exchanged emails a year ago, Tom was loathe to continue with the last part of the French A level as he thought if he didn't get an A star he would be made fun of by his contemporaries and due to his dyslexia he really didn't think he could every achieve that high mark...However, very much thanks to Michael, he obtained an A star and is so unbelievably delighted.''

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