99.50 ATAR Medical Imaging Student teaching Sciences and Maths for All Year Levels in Adelaide

Find out more about Isabella

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

  I developed an interest during my last few years of schooling for both my chosen field and to commence private tutoring. I always enjoyed helping my peers in any work they struggled with so it eventually became second nature. I have been lending a helping hand for as long as I can remember! I pursued private tutoring after a work colleague contacted my mum when hearing about my Year 12 results. She asked if I could provide tutoring to her children. From that moment on, I have enjoyed every second of it.

• 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 love to teach a range of topics! My favourites are Maths, Science and English, although, I do enjoy teaching Year 12 subjects such as Psychology, Biology and Research Project. I love to discuss the fundamentals behind all these subjects so that I flourish the students' associative learning rather than rote learning. While I believe rote learning can come in handy (such as for memorising times tables), knowing how to work things out and use them becomes very necessary.

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

  I have many inspirations and role models in my life. To be specific, my Year 7 teacher was one of my greatest role models. He always encouraged us to think beyond what we were learning, to always question WHY. Why something is happening, why something works or rather doesn't work. This is something I love to implement into my own teaching, as I believe it is very important to encourage the curious minds of children. The world is our oyster so we must demonstrate that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and start to question it!

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

  There are many qualities required to be a good tutor. Being a private tutor means you must have exceptional communication skills otherwise things will not run smoothly. You must be hardworking, compassionate, understanding, patient and creative. You must be flexible and have the ability to adapt. This includes having a multitude of resources to follow suit. Listening is a key fundamental to success as a tutor. Additionally, there must be a real passion and motivation within the individual so that their enthusiasm can encourage students to feel the same way.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  In Year 4, one day I went home from school crying to my parents after doing a multiplication and division test. They were very concerned and confused so they had asked me what was wrong. I told them I was very bad at division and I felt left out as everyone else was really good. They sat me down and told me that anything I put my mind to I will achieve. That night, I watched youtube videos and tried to understand what was going on. I continued this every night for a few weeks until I fully understood what to do. The next time we had a test I finished first with an amazing result and was very proud of myself! It reminded me that we are all human and do not start off as perfect. With a little extra effort, time, and patience we can achieve anything we put our minds to. Don't be disheartened if you are struggling or have a weakness, rather use that as motivation to get better and strengthen your understanding. It is the most fulfilling thing you could ever accomplish!

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

  As aforementioned with the anecdote above, there have been many times where I have faced difficulties and challenges within my subjects. We will all be disheartened at times where we receive a grade we were expecting to be better. The key to overcoming these challenges is perseverance and hard-work! Never let a grade you weren't expecting bring you down. Question why, take note of the feedback and change it for next time!

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

  Teaching in general is a huge passion of mine, coupled with the actual areas I offer. I have a great passion for all things Science and Maths related, which is clearly demonstrated in the way I teach these subjects. I am currently studying at University within the Medical field as helping people is one of my greatest joys and I can't wait to do it for the rest of my life.

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

  What makes me a Superprof is my passion to teach, my commitment to my students, and the joy I have in sharing my knowledge with not only my students but the wider community