Doctor and King's College London Graduate. Offering support for medical and dental students including admissions exams - top 1% globally on the UCAT

Find out more about Connor

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

  I've been passionate about teaching since I was 15 years old. I used to tutor my next-door neighbour for their year 9 SATS every weekend. Since graduating sixth form I have been teaching A Level Physics, Maths, Biology and Chemistry. Teaching is also a very important part of being a doctor, so as a final year medical student I am always keen to take more junior students under my wing.

• 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 enjoy teaching a multitude of subjects. However, I am most passionate about Physics and Medicine, as I have a degree in medical physics and am currently in the final year of my medical degree. When teaching A Level physics, I love to cover mechanics, particularly projectile motion. I really enjoy breaking down a complex topic into bitesize chunks, and pointing out that since 3-years-old most students have been able to throw a ball - but we only learn the physics behind it at 16!

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

  In my clinical placements and experiences I have met a huge number of doctors who have gone above and beyond to teach me. I find it inspiring when a teacher goes out of their way to try and imagine a topic from the students perspective. When you become an expert in a field it can be easy to forget what it was like learning the theory for the first time.

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

  I think a good tutor needs to listen as much as they talk. Ask the student to summarise lessons or theories in their own words and help them to find the pieces they are weakest at. A good tutor also needs to remember that everyone learns differently, and that it is the tutor's job to adapt to the student.

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

  I have a very strong memory of my A Level Maths teacher explaining to the class that despite us now studying A Level content, it still remained the case that the earlier topics still matter just as much. This has remained true throughout my own time in education, it was the GCSE level physics that tripped many of my colleagues up during my physics degree. I try to remind my students of this too, by periodically recapping the basics of each topic and laying a solid foundation.

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

  Medicine is a constantly evolving field, and requires a lifelong commitment to learning. Even though it is so interesting discovering new things you didn't know everyday, it can be demoralising to find out that the guidelines you only just memorised last week are being changed in a weeks time!

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

  It would be very hard to pursue a career in medicine if your passions didn't align with medicine. I am passionate about learning, about teaching and about finding new ways to do things (in medicine and in teaching). I am also very passionate about bettering my own physical and mental health and am an avid swimmer and waterpolo player.

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

  GCSEs and A Levels were not easy for me. I found it hard to concentrate in classes, I NEVER did my homework and often would complete the bare minimum each lesson. I had to teach myself to learn. However, I achieved excellent grades and an offer to study medicine.
  
  Going to medical school was another shock to the system, the style of teaching was drastically different to anything I had experienced before and the content was many times harder. Again I had to learn to learn. In my first year of university I was diagnosed with dyslexia, which honestly did not come as a shock to me. I felt it explained a lot of the challenges I had faced to reach that point. I believe that having had to adapt my own learning style so many times to suit different environments and teaching styles, I have gained a strong understanding of how people learn and how to teach.