A-level Business Studies tutor who can equip you with the tools to obtain an A*

Find out more about Joshua

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

  As a business studies tutor, my primary reason for wanting to get started in private tuition was entrepreneurial (unsurprisingly). I noticed the lack of quality tutors in the field who were prioritising what is perhaps most difficult in the subject: exam technique! Thus, utilising the knowledge I pass on in my lessons, I filled the gap in the market. It was not too long ago that I sat my A-level, and I would have loved the guidance and support from a tutor at the time. So, being able to be that guidance and support for others now is incredibly rewarding for me.

• 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 teach A-level Business Studies (Edexcel and AQA) which is potentially one of the most confusing A-levels, as the exam doesn't just test you on WHAT you know but HOW you showcase it. With this in mind, I primarily teach exam technique, as it is practically a taboo subject in schools and never sufficiently addressed. In terms of content, I love pricing strategies (which all of my students could testify to) and am a master (self-proclaimed…) at all things finance. Although, I am only human, so there are a few topics I tend to find quite boring to cover (I'm looking at you business legislation).

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

  I have two role models in my life. My first role model is my mum, as she managed to raise three children as a single mother on the salary of a teacher's assistant. She taught me to never give up when times seem tough, as through motivation and determination you can find the brighter future that lies ahead.
  
  My second role model is my Maths teacher from secondary school, who taught me to never settle for what is "standard". This has been a lesson I have carried with me throughout my life, which has motivated me to do everything possible to avoid being ordinary and to aim for extraordinary instead!

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

  I think the main quality for being a good tutor is being personable, as a student needs to get along with their teacher in order to be engaged and to actually want to learn! In school, I had the best Maths teacher, so I was engaged in every lesson and would constantly get involved. Although, I cannot say the same about my computer science teacher, whose lessons taught me more about how to stay awake in class than about programming!

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

  During my time at school, I thought knowing EVERYTHING in the specification would guarantee me great grades. It wasn't until my first business exam in year 12 that I found this belief to be wrong. After achieving an E in the paper, despite knowing the content inside the paper like the back of my hand, I asked my business teacher WHAT I did wrong. She told me I was asking the wrong question and then provided me with an answer that changed the way I approached the subject. "You shouldn't be thinking about WHAT you did wrong, but instead asking yourself HOW you got it wrong".

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

  My main difficulty was timing, as I struggled to complete a paper with great answers in the 2-hour time limit (I am sure many of you have had simmilar experiences!) It was incredibly frustrating for me as I knew how well I could answer the questions in the paper. Luckily, this is not something I struggled with in the final exam, as through my personally developed exam structure I was able to provide strong answers to every question!

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

  My passion is for personal growth and development, for both myself and for my clients. This is something that holds true in every area in my life. My hobby is health and fitness, which is why some of my friends believe my second home to be the gym! The main reason why I love bodybuilding is that I can see visible achievements, which is incredibly motivating for me as my hard work in the gym is rewarded with tangible personal growth! This passion is why I love tutoring, as I can have a profound impact on someone else's personal growth and development.

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

  The main reason why I am a Superprof is my understanding of the issues and challenges that students face. I am a lot closer in age to my students than other tutors are, which is incredibly important when it comes to learning, especially voluntary learning which happens outside of school! In fact, it is proven that students with better relationships with their teachers achieve better grades. I have had the honour of all of my students saying I am more of a role model and friend figure than a teacher. This has allowed my students to open up to me about what they are struggling with, to be honest with me if they are not understanding something, and to think positively about making mistakes (as you need to make them to discover them!) rather than being upset or afraid to be wrong.