Florence Brown

What makes a great tutor?

The most important qualities for a tutor to possess are kindness, friendliness and enthusiasm. Tutors need to be approachable so that children feel comfortable to ask questions and do not fear making mistakes. A tailored approach is essential to tutoring and a great tutor is someone who really understands the needs and interests of the student. I always try to find out about the child’s hobbies and prior knowledge before beginning lessons so I can try to build a strong rapport with my students from the outset.

What are you trying to encourage and cultivate in your students?

I aim to instil self-confidence in my tutees by being patient and encouraging. This self-confidence is essential if children are to be independent learners. It is important to challenge children to think for themselves and praise them for effort, regardless of mistakes. The ability to work independently will increase their confidence further, as well as their enjoyment of the subject.

Apart from teaching, what are your own extra-curricular interests?

I am passionate about languages and when I am not teaching I love to read and watch films in French, Italian, Spanish and German.

What makes Commons Education tutors different?

Commons Education is different because of its personalised approach. Big tutoring agencies employ hundreds of tutors and there is little interaction between tutors and agency staff. We match students to tutors individually and all regularly check in with each other, working as a team and sharing ideas for the most effective teaching strategies.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by people who aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in. This requires self-confidence which, in my opinion, is the key to success and happiness.