4+ Years of tutoring experience, First-Class Honours from the University of Oxford, 3 A*'s at A-Level.

Find out more about Zach

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I first became interested in Geography during my GCSEs, I loved how interdisciplinary it continues to be. It purposefully utilises all fields of academia, from the physical sciences all the way to sociology (and even psychology in some cases!). This means that studying Geography gives you the unique ability to work across all these areas, tackling real issues such as climate change and inequality from holistic perspectives. I first became interested in private tutoring when I started university, as I mentored students in the year below in their Oxford/Cambridge applications. I realised then how fulfilling I find this type of work, seeing my students enjoy their subject and succeed in their academics has motivates me to carry on tutoring ever since!

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I am a human geographer through and through! Or at least I thought I was before tutoring, working with students on physical geography has helped me develop a new appreciation for that aspect of my subject. My passions while at university have been focused on geopolitics mainly, critically analysing concepts such as state sovereignty and territory to learn more about conflict across the globe. I love to discuss all things geopolitics and international relations with students, topics that continue to be extremely relevant in the world today. Saying this, I continue to love all aspects of geography and enjoy engaging with students on all syllabus content.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  My A-Level geography teacher is a big inspiration, he pushed me to apply to Oxford and gave me the confidence to strive for those big academic goals. He also inspired me because of the effort and support he showed, going above and beyond to help me succeed, this is a quality I try and adopt in my own tutoring approach.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  I think being flexible is the most important quality in a tutor, being able to respond to each student's unique needs and preferences. This allows you to model each session in a way that is the most effective for their learning. This tailor-made approach also generates a unique relationship with each student based on mutual-understanding.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  My greatest challenge was exam technique, I struggled with this as I really enjoyed the content within Geography but I wasn't able to work to the mark scheme and structure of the exam. I have worked on this since my GCSEs, my exam technique continues to evolve through exam practice and studying the exam conventions/tips. This is something I make a big part of my tutoring style, focusing on exam technique by practicing questions and developing in-exam strategies.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I have a particular passion for geopolitics and international relations within geography, this field continues to be more and more relevant in the world we live in today. Outside of tutoring, I love travelling around different countries, as a geographer I think it is important to try and understand other cultures so travelling helps me to do this. I also have a particular interest in scuba diving, an activity I was lucky enough to do in Mexico, focusing on the environmental impacts of tourism on turtle populations.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  I believe I am a Superprof because of how I tailor my tutoring to each student. Over the years I have been tutoring, I believe I have developed a structure which is most effective for a student's learning, but is also able to be changed to suit their preferences. I think my academic results demonstrate how passionate I am about my subject as well, and my experience applying to university allows me to also mentor for admissions as well as covering exam content.