I’m Melanie – a qualified English teacher and exam marker with over 17 years of teaching experience at top international schools including Dubai College, St Julian’s in Lisbon, and St George’s in Düss

Find out more about Melanie

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

  I began tutoring while working as a full-time teacher in schools, and it quickly became something I genuinely loved. What stood out to me was the opportunity to connect with students and their families on a more personal level. In a one-to-one setting, you can really see the impact of your teaching. Students gain confidence, make progress more quickly, and start to enjoy the subject. That sense of visible growth is incredibly rewarding.

• 2) 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 English in general, but at heart I’m a literature teacher. I love the texts you’re studying—I really do!

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

  Yes, a big shout out to my A-Level teachers at school—my English ones for being so inspiring, but also the humour and personable character of Mr Frost in Religious Studies, who also happened to look like ''The Rock. He always made learning fun.

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

  A good tutor needs patience, adaptability, and strong subject knowledge, but just as importantly, the ability to build trust. Every student is different, so being able to adjust your approach and explain things in multiple ways is key. Encouragement is also vital. Many students struggle with confidence, and a good tutor helps them believe in their ability as well as improve their skills.

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

  Any teacher will tell you that there’s no better feeling than a student or parent coming to personally thank you for the difference you have made to their learning. It’s not all about results, sometimes it’s about giving a student the belief that they can succeed, and I’ve been lucky to have that feeling many times.

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

  It’s a fact that many young people are reading less and less, so the ability to write academically, or select the right words for the right moment, is not as easy as it is for someone who gobbles up books in their spare time. If requested, part of my tutoring does involve talking about books and trying to find one that a student is interested in. Beginning the book with them and then encouraging them to keep going. We all have to start somewhere or be re-motivated.

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

  I do love literature, and it is what inspired me to become an English teacher in the first place—but you might be surprised to know that it wasn’t my strongest subject at school. It wasn’t until A-Levels that I started to excel, so I feel I can really relate to students who are grafting and progressing rather than finding it naturally easy straight away.

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

  Every lesson I teach is tailored to that student. I can identify gaps in knowledge or skills very early on, a student’s ability to take on ideas or skills, and what needs practising more. This comes from being an experienced teacher who has met and helped hundreds, maybe even thousands, of students over the course of my career (gosh, that makes me feel old!).