Alexis
Ambassador
- Hourly rate £40
- Response Time 14h
- Number of students 50+
Book a class
1st lesson free!
PhD and nationally-published writer teaching GCSE and above, based in London
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- London
- By webcam
Ambassador
We host the best tutors. Quality of their profile, experience in their field. Alexis will be happy to arrange your first English lesson.
About the lesson
I approach each topic according to the immediate and long-range needs of the student, whether they require help in comprehending their topic, in preparing for exams, or in planning, executing, and proofing written work. Depending on the desire and temperament of the student, I can gear my lessons either towards cramming and exam survival or towards the nurturing of lifelong learning.
In my time as both lecturer and tutor I have learned that there is no effective one-size-fits-all approach to pedagogy. If you're struggling with an obdurate topic and simply wish to pass an exam that you're dreading, I can help you by teaching to the test and unlocking the code of what's expected at your level. If you're enthralled by your subject and wish to pursue it further, beyond the bounds of learning outcomes and assessment, then I can cultivate that passion in you. If you want to improve your critical or creative writing, I can help you articulate your vision and present it according to high standards; along the way I will instil good practices that will help you in any such task.
For any given first session I like to get to know the student, find out where they're at in their course of study, and see what their current working methods are like. Usually, talking about the current piece of homework, the next upcoming exam, or due assignment is a great way to gauge their requirements, assess where my help is most needed, and thus collaboratively devise a joint programme of work. Some students work better with a more freewheeling approach in which they discover the joy of their own working methods, whereas others achieve their potential with a more planned and scheduled approach. Contingent upon these considerations, my sessions can run between one and two hours.
subjects
- English
- English Literature
- Modern Literature
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+2
Critical Thinking
World Literature
languages
- English
levels
- Secondary
- GCSE
- AS Level
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+7
A Level
BTEC
Adult education
Undergraduate
Masters
Diploma
Doctorate
About Alexis
I have been lecturing in English Literature at Brunel University, where I received my PhD, since the 2015-16 academic year. I have been offering private tuition in various capacities since I was a teenager. I have received consistently positive feedback from the groups I've taught at university, and have had successful results with my private students since focusing on tuition in the last year. I am also a nationally-published writer whose book reviews have appeared in The Guardian and Prospect Magazine. I have run sessions on writing technique at my university.
Recently, an MA student at Birkbeck whom I have coached in writing technique received a Distinction for both essays that they wrote in the past year, an A Level student of mine got a place on the Classics & Philosophy BA of their choice, and a GCSE student showed considerable improvement on his English mock exams. In addition to English I have also tutored in Religious Studies and French Language (GCSE) as well as History, Classic Civilisation, and Philosophy (A Level). I am familiar with the AQA, OCR, and EdExcel syllabi, as well as the skills required to thrive in a university setting.
I have an Enhanced DBS Certificate, dated March 16th of 2020. I am signed up for the update service.
Review
All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience lived by the students of Alexis.
5 (21 reviews)
Xhino
Perfect! I thought it went excellent as a introductory lesson. Looking forward to next week session.
Xhino
Excellent! Very friendly tutor. Understood what requirements.
Perfect! Alexis has a very kind and positive manner, my daughter always finishes her lessons feeling happy and more confident about her work and capabilities.
Perfect! Very interesting lessons. My daughter is really enjoying learning with Alexis.
Excellent! Alexis helps you navigate your issues in your writing and gives advice on how to improve and get better in your essay writing. He follows the curriculum and gives extra tasks to work on your writing skills. Furthermore, he is considerate if you are unable to attend lesson and will help you catch up with work as fast as possible. He gives variety of ideas which addds a lot more to your knowledge, for example; an essay on how romeo is presented in romeo and Juliet. Alexis can give a variety of ideas such as young boy, uneducated with love, romantic and more..
Perfect! I enjoy the lessons a lot. His insight into literature is really good and it has helped me a lot
Perfect! Alexis is an amazing tutor. He has a incredibly vast knowledge of English literature and he can always help improve your work, whether it is in terms of analysis, grammar, or clarity of explanation. He is always there to listen to your questions and always make sure you understood. My overall feedback is extremely positive. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs improve knowledge and skills in English literature.
Greg
Perfect! Alexis has been a brilliant help with my English Literature A-Level. His wider knowledge is astonishing and it’s always very interesting to hear him talk; he does not veer from relevance and his vast understanding of English Literature means that he is able to make very interesting connections, therefore helping to hit your assessment objectives. It also means that he is familiar with a wide range of texts which are studied across exam boards.
Lessons have been curated to my needs, and I found that the time is always made the most of, as well as being enjoyable. My teachers and I have found my confidence in writing essays and has greatly improved with practice thanks to his guidance. My target grade is an A and my parents and I have confidence that with his help, we will have a good chance of achieving this.
I would highly recommend this tutor! Thank you Alexis!Greg
Perfect! Explains difficult subjects in a simple manner and adjusts his teaching methods depending on the student to make learning as easy as possible.
Perfect! The class was great and he understands what I need , highly recommended
Urbain
Perfect! Alex is an excellent tutor. He has a wealth of knowledge and he is able to share his passion in a very engaging way. He is approachable, reliable and always well-prepared. It has been a pleasure working with Alex.
Urbain
Perfect! Excellent first lesson !
Perfect! Excellent! My son benefits a lot from Alexis’s tutoring in preparation to GCSE English and RT. Sessions with Alexis are focused on student’s needs. He is patient and observant. He establishes a joyful and productive learning relationship with my son, he has really enjoyed working with Alexis…, and I would highly recommend him to anyone!
Perfect! We feel very lucky to have found Alexis! Alexis has been amazing for my son in the build up to his GCSEs and his English Literature grade in a recent mock really showed how much he has benefitted from Alexis's tutoring. He is now starting doing some English Language tuition as well. My son enjoys the lessons and never complains about having to do them, he says Alexis is 'really good'
- high praise from a 15 year old.Perfect! Alexis is an excellent tutor. He helps my son in his English course work. My 16 year old son is thoroughly enjoying his English lessons with Alexis.
Andrea
Perfect! Fun, professional and knowledgeable keeps the students engaged, and helps expand vocabulary, can recommend.
Andrea
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Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher
5
Alexis has taught History to my 2 children. He is extremely knowledgeable and adapted his teaching methods to suit them. The children easily understood and retained what they were taught. Alexis is one of their favorite teachers and makes learning easy. Very professional and courteous. Highly recommended.
Alexis is a teacher of my son. He is a great professional. He always takes into account my wishes, gives modern, relevant and high-quality knowledge to my son. He is an excellent teacher and tutor. He is very friendly and attentive. I’m happy to have such teacher for my son.
Alexis assisted me in writing two assignments for my Masters Degree in Contemporary Literature and Culture, one on postmodern literature and the other on human rights narratives in documentary filmmaking. His delivery of feedback was encouraging and respectful, and his grasp of the style and flow of an essay goes beyond the straightforward content of the work. His knowledge, though operating in subjects distinct from the area of his primary study, was wide-ranging and flexible, and his keen insight was invaluable in attaining the two distinction grades the essays were given. I couldn't recommend Alexis more highly, for tuition in English literature, and indeed any humanities subject .
Alexis is a truly wonderful tutor. He is teaching GCSE English (analysis, comprehension, creative writing) to our son and is familiar with the requirements. He is always prepared and understands just what’s needed to deeply prepare for each topic, while also improvIng exam strategy and confidence. He is clearly capable of more: A-level and university tutoring too. We’re thankful that he instilled great skills in our GCSE son who is on his way to moving up 2 grade marks. His teaching is personalised to specific needs he keenly observes and he is also open to feedback. Trustworthy, patient, prepared, easy to communicate with, professional, punctual, kind- he has a good grasp of students’ needs and structures lessons that lead to noticeable improvement, allowing the student to find their own love for the subject. I highly recommend Alexis.
Dr Alexis Forss was initially my doctoral student at Brunel University, where I hold the Chair in Contemporary Thought. Latterly, he became both my trusted colleague, teaching several modules with me (as well as teaching solo on other courses at Brunel), my friend and intellectual companion - and he has also tutored two of my own sons, privately. As the extent of my involvement with this young man would indicate, I consider him to be not simply trustworthy, but an excellent teacher, thinker, writer and communicator. Indeed, in ten years of teaching in higher education, Dr Forss is the best teacher and lecturer I've seen. He is empathetic as well as eloquent: understanding the capabilities of students intuitively, working to provide them with heuristics that will suit them at their level, and patiently leading them into new skills and areas of knowledge. He is diligent in his preparation for classes, and sincere in his belief in education: this man is not a hack. My own retention of Dr Forss as a teacher for my sons (both of whom are ASD), indicates just how highly I regard his abilities.
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Rates
packages
- 5h: £200
- 10h: £400
webcam
- £40/h
free lessons
- 30mins
Find out more about Alexis
01
When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?
I've been a reader for as long as I can remember, so studying English felt like the natural choice. I did some private tutoring when I was in secondary school, but I only seriously began to think about tutoring as a full-time profession in the last few years.
02
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 can give instruction in the full spectrum of English Literature as well as a good deal History, but when I set out to become a tutor I didn't expect to find myself helping out with so many essays and dissertations. I love helping people structure, articulate, and polish their ideas in written form. As long as the student has a handle on their topic, I can help them write anything; this is how I've ended up assisting on projects in areas ranging from Psychology and Nursing to International Relations and Business Studies. Stepping outside of my nominal remit has repeatedly given me the chance to learn new things, and I love hearing students talk about their passions and interests.
03
Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?
My very good friend and mentor, Will Self. I also owe a great deal to Devorah Baum, who was my postgraduate supervisor at Southampton University. They taught me not only scholarship and pedagogy but also feeling and humanity.
04
What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?
Patience, empathy, and curiosity.
05
Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.
One of my proudest moments to date was helping a student achieve Grade 8 in his English Language and Literature GCSEs. As his mother put it in an email to me: "Not bad for a dyslexic who was consistently underestimated by all his teachers!"
06
What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?
I wish I had more of a formal grounding in the English language-its grammar, syntax, and system of rules-because I often struggle to articulate these to non-native speakers. My relationship with the language is purely instinctual, which means that I'm sometimes unable to provide satisfactory answers to certain questions.
07
Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?
Aside from reading and teaching, I love long walks and watching films. I write about these experiences on Medium. Here's an example of my work: https://medium.com/curious/ten-thoughts-upon-stepping-out-77f2a7fe6936
08
What makes you a Superprof (besides answering this interview questions :-P) ?
I hope the numerous good reviews that I've received speak for themselves. But if pressed, I think I'm a good tutor because I care about my students' success. Whether they want to ace their GCSEs or A Levels or get a First for their university essay, I share their goal and love working alongside them towards it.
