Oskar

Experience

I have worked as a self-employed tutor since 2013. I started tutoring during my undergraduate years (Modern Languages and English at Cambridge University) to help a GCSE student who was struggling with her French oral. Having been predicted a C, she ended up achieving an A*. This success prompted me to seek out further teaching opportunities, and I now professionally tutor French and English, from 13+ to A-level.

My most recent work has been in French, a highlight of which was home-schooling a 12 year old (who I was informed ‘hated French’, but who - after five months working together - decided to continue to study it at her new school), and successfully tutoring the Westminster Challenge scholarship entrance exam. I have also helped several GCSE/IGCSE and A level students achieve top grades in their exams. I have a particular interest in finding engaging ways to teach grammar, as I believe a firm grounding in the building blocks of language is necessary to be able to use it confidently. I am also able to draw upon my professional operatic training when teaching pronunciation.

In English I have taught both Language and Literature at GCSE and A-level, helping students improve their essay writing skills and encouraging them to read texts from new critical perspectives. I am also able to draw upon my extensive stage experience when analysing play texts.

Prior to tutoring regularly, I worked as a freelance EFL teacher at language schools across London, having qualified to teach English as a foreign language in 2013. I taught children from ages 5-18, from a wide range of nationalities, backgrounds and abilities, and repeatedly covered adult-learner classes at all levels. I also assisted an adult learner with her CELTA coursework.

Biography

I took a four year degree at the University of Cambridge, studying French and Portuguese for the first two years before I switched to English in my third year, receiving a 2.1 upon graduating. I have also recently completed a master’s in opera at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

My undergraduate degree combined with my vocal training has left me with a varied set of language skills, and a wide knowledge of literature from several cultures. I am also a qualified EFL teacher, having taken my Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) at International House London in 2012, receiving a high ‘Pass B’ grade.

I attended Highgate School in North London, taking Biology, English, French and Music for A-level, receiving 4 As (all at 90% or above). At GCSE, I received the highest mark in the country for French, and received 9 A*s in total.

I now tutor to remain involved in the academic world, and to help young learners fulfil their academic potential. I enjoy having flexible work around my work in the performing arts, and the opportunity to work with different people every day.

Personal Approach

Whether in person or online, I have a naturally positive rapport with students that helps me to engage and manage lessons effectively. I am enthusiastic, approachable and dedicated, and I endeavour to present myself and run my classes in a professional and energetic fashion. I understand the pressures students can feel in the run-up to exams, especially at this unpredictable time for schools. Whether the student needs motivating or is already very keen, I enjoy using my background as an actor to develop lively methods of teaching that promote deeper appreciation of learning in subjects across the curriculum.

What I do when I am not tutoring

I am a professional singer, actor and producer who has worked on productions across the UK and internationally.

As a performer, I work regularly with young audiences in theatre-in-education settings and for family performances. I have led music workshops for the charity Music for Kenya in schools, hospitals and orphanages in rural Kenya (2017) and English workshops for university students in Tokyo (2012).

As a producer, I programme and manage the theatre for Nozstock festival, a leading independent boutique arts and music festival in Herefordshire, and am company manager for vocal ensemble Festival Voices.

I enjoy travel, having journeyed solo across the United States, Central Europe and South America in recent years, meeting new people and learning from different cultures.

I have studied French and Portuguese to degree level, Russian to GCSE, and taken classes in Italian at the Italian Cultural Institute. I also enjoy cooking, having trained at the Cookery School on Little Portland Street.

Testimonials

"Oskar has been a great success. Holly finds him easy to work with as he has real structure to his teaching." Mother of GCSE French student

"Katya has really engaged with Oskar’s teaching style and got along extremely well with him. She said he is the best tutor she has ever had. Her end of year results are testimony to his dedication and teaching style. We are very grateful to Oskar for helping Katya push herself in French." Parents of A-level student

''Really interesting, bright guy – fantastic actor/director, in other words, great at ‘performing’ - a plus point for teaching! He helped Alex with her French oral and was terrific.'' Mother of GCSE student

''I just wanted to let you know Dalia got an A in French. She is delighted and could not have done it without your help. Thanks!” Mother of GCSE student