LITERATURE IN ENGLISH: FRIENDLY GUIDE & CRITIC IN THE WORDWORLD - English tutor with JEZ

Mr Jez Dobbs is of no doubt the best English Literature teacher that I have ever had.

Entered in his class first time in Grade 9, I soon developed a genuine interest in literature under Mr Jez’s magical influence: he is not like many other teachers who simply let students swallow the text without carefulness or who solely explain by themselves a verse from start to end. He is more like an ingenious guidance, leading students through the Wonderland of Literature, and somewhere in this journey, his students surprisingly discover with pleasure that they have already gathered so much treasure that their futures are enlightened with an ability called independence. I am very honoured to have been one of those students.

Mr Jez has taught me how to read—not on the literal surface, but actually how to really understand and enjoy a literary piece of work. For example, our class was reading William Faulkner’s Barn Burning at the beginning. I thought what Mr Jez has done to us must have been magic because after several classes with him, I, who was claimed by many peers and teachers to be good at reading, unbelievably realized how much I have missed in those passages. The interpretation that I did with Mr Jez’s guidance was almost another world from what I can understand by myself. What is more, the understanding part came so naturally that I felt doing nothing peculiar but then suddenly I can sense more meaning in the text. I was and am still highly fascinated by this teaching mode, which has benefited me to great extent: to the extent that I applied for an undergraduate degree in University of Oxford and finally got an offer.

My successful entrance into Oxford could never possibly occurred if it was not with the help from Mr Jez, who always has a faith in me even when I did seem to be doomed. Due to some personal reasons, my CIE As Literature score came out as a nightmare—a B, instead of the A that I needed for Oxford. At that point, I felt really down and was planning for re-sit. Then Mr Jez came to my rescue: he was never reluctant to use his free time to correct my essays, which really were a great number. His comments for students’ essays are significantly remarkable as well. Mr Jez reads our essays more than just carefully: he shows respect to our thinkings by treating our ideas with equal fairness, which is very important for students learning English as their second language. He neglects no details, encouraging further pondering on points that are well-made or half-made while debating or pointing another perspective for points that are without evidence. All these are done through annotation or, if you wish, a face-to-face communication. In short, his students will never worry about essay feedback and will surely learn something from his comment.
Mr Jez has taught me to enjoy literature rather than making it a tool or studying it under task. After he left our school (at which I have not graduated yet), the two of us began an exploration of classic English poetry, half for improving my literary skills, half for joy. We read works from poets like Shelley, Wordsworth, Keats, Browning and so on, and I was again impressed by how naturally and easily Mr Jez enabled me to understand those sophisticated languages and how joyous and light yet profound he has made poetry become. Perhaps, sometimes I wonder, these all came from his own passion for literature and a wish to spread out this joy of mind.

Mr Jez is really a good tutor in Literature, and I recommend him to you, to anyone who appreciates the beauty of the creation of language and who has the desire to understand more about literature.

Jez Dobbs is a first class teacher of English and English Literature. Jez worked for me at Beijing National Day School when I was Centre Principal from 2013 - 2016. Jez taught English to Chinese students and A Level English Literature (Cambridge International Examinations Curriculum). Throughout his time at the school Jez always gave the students his undivided attention and he commanded a huge amount of respect from the student body and his colleagues. In the classroom Jez has a highly engaging style to which his students respond well. I have no hesitation in recommending Jez to you.
Stuart Hirst