Gareth says
I am currently studying in NUS (Faculty of Law). I specialize in General Paper and English. I have taught at Sec 1-4, JC1 and 2 levels (General Paper). I have two siblings in secondary school and junior college, and thus have a wide array of study materials and experience to tap on.
As for the approach I prefer, I like to start off with a gauge of the student's ability before I tackle his/her problems with schoolwork. It is important to see if the student is firstly able to cope with the current school work level. Depending on how that turns out, I will assign easier/tougher exercises to challenge the student, or to revise his/her basics.
There are students out there who fear the General Paper because they think that to do well requires a very strong English base. That is a mere myth. In fact, GP is about logic and analysis more than including bombastic words.
I want to show that the skills of analysis and rigorous thought can be developed, no matter where the student stands in his/ her language capabilities. To do this, I use an independently developed framework for thinking. I also try to get the student to question assumptions present in his / her thinking, which is the basis for higher-level thought.
I am willing to spend a bit more time and effort than others to allow my students to achieve what they really should be getting, instead of possibly mediocre results that just show that they are underperforming.
StarTutor's Review
Other than being a Straight A student since his Hwa Chong Institution days, Gareth also has the ability to impart his skills and technique to his tutees. Currently a law undergraduate in National University of Singapore, Gareth is able to manage his time well and copes well with his studies, making him a committed tutor whom you can trust. He specializes in General Paper and Secondary School English.
Gareth is patient with his students and tracks their progress consistently. He works closely with his tutees’ parents to best understand the needs of the student, so as to push them to their best potential. Gareth believes in motivating his students by letting them understand the subject and the thrill of being able to solve the question. That sense of satisfaction which Gareth guides them to would propel his tutees to work hard towards their own individual goals, be it to pass the subject or enroll into a university of their choice. Being an eloquent speaker himself, Gareth is able to help instill confidence in his students, so as to tackle their Oral examinations.
Gareth is well equipped with the knowledge of the subjects he specializes in. During the StarTutor Pro interview, he was able to demonstrate techniques, such as contextual inference for comprehension and also how to spot the assumptions in a GP essay question. He has shown us during the interview how to study smart from his personal experience which has served him well, evident in his O and A level results.
Being an avid climber, Gareth has conquered many peaks in the region. With his tenacity and familiarity of his specialized subjects, Gareth can help his students conquer their own challenges and work towards their goal.
- Interviewed by StarTutor (Arthur, Jerry, Weichao), 27 June 2010
Testimonial
Student (Alvin Low Wei Kit) - 2009 - Currently in AJC --- Tutored subjects English, Chemistry, A Math, Phys --- Results before (term grade averages) B4, B3, A2, B3 O-level results A1, A1, A1, A1
Student (Preshant) - 2010 - GP A levels - Final grade A, from a B4 in class
2006 GCE A (
Hwa Chong Institution)
Economics (A), Mathematics (A), Physics (A), Chemistry (A), General Paper (A1)
2004 GCE O (
The Chinese High School)
English Language (A1), Literature in English (A1), Combined Humanities (A1), Mathematics (A1), Additional Mathematics (A1), Physics (A1), Chemistry (A1), Biology (A1), Higher Chinese Lanuage (A2)
Commitment Level
Refer to my schedule.
