Levon

I am a 26 year old, Master of Physics graduate of the University of Liverpool, and current PhD researcher at Queen Mary University of London, hence my particular strong points being mathematics and physics. I am currently working with new materials to make solar cells for the future, aiming to enhance their performance and stability, among other things (current solar panels on people's rooves only convert about 15% of the sunlight that strikes them!)

These subjects are as interesting as they are difficult, as I myself found out - particularly in the jump between high school and sixth form college.

In school I found these subjects (especially physics) taught to a far lower level compared to that in college. As a result, this period was very tough mentally and required a lot of determination and resilience, in order to achieve my goal of studying at university. However, this goal I did achieve and it allowed me to then excel and grow in understanding, and ultimately graduate, conducting my master's thesis on future dark matter searches. This experience I believe, is why I would be a beneficial tutor for any student looking to achieve their goals in physics and mathematics.

I am a patient and easy-going person and enjoy communicating about science and mathematics with people. This is coupled with a determination and confidence in my abilities to teach and help the student reach their potential and their goals. I also speak Russian, were this to be of any use.

Tutoring Experience

My more recent experience involves completing teaching training in higher education in 2022 (Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy), which involved evaluating a lot of teaching and demonstrating experience with students in university physics modules. This was done at the University of Liverpool and I continue to teach now at QMUL; where I recently won an award for best demonstrator in lab classes. Examples of modules worked on include Foundations of Modern Physics (relativity and quantum), Electricity and Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics.

Looking further back, being the eldest of siblings that took maths or physics further, from early on I also helped with their work and understanding. Then after finishing school I returned for a 6 week work experience, teaching in the maths department - to students of all levels and ages which meant I gained experience adapting my approach to help in the most effective way I could.

Tutoring Approach

I am patient, communicate well and listen to the student to first of all find out to what point they understand and which parts really need explaining further - I have found so many times through education that a teacher will almost ignore you when you tell them what you have done and just go from the very beginning. It can be quite frustrating when you are stuck on something but I believe I have an ability to help well in these situations, which comes from an enjoyment in teaching.

When it comes to the style of teaching, I believe the best way will be to follow up on the ordered syllabus being taught at school/college, to practice more and find the areas of the subject that need further explanation. These areas we can then focus and go over in different ways. I would then supplement this with past paper practice as a main element of the work, as this I have found to be the best approach to exam preparation.