Oskar

Experience

I started tutoring during my undergraduate years 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 English and French, from 13+ to A-level.

My most recent work has been in French, 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 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.

In English I have taught both Language and Literature, including CIE/Edexcel GCSE and OCR A-level. I enjoy working on improving students’ essay writing skills and encouraging literature students to read texts from new critical perspectives.

I have also worked as a freelance EFL teacher at language schools across London, having qualified to teach English as a foreign language in 2012. I have taught children from ages 5-18, from a wide range of nationalities, backgrounds and abilities, and have been repeatedly hired to cover adult-learner classes at all levels. I have 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 masters 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

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, and, whether the student needs motivating or is already very keen, I enjoy using my background as an actor to develop lively methods of teaching.

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. I programme and manage the theatre for Nozstock festival and am company manager for vocal ensemble Festival Voices.

I am a keen traveller, having journeyed solo across the United States and South America in recent years, and I enjoy meeting new people and learning from different cultures. In January 2017, I led music workshops for school children in rural Kenya as part of the inaugural Music for Kenya project.

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

''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