Dean's list recipient at Unimelb Electrical Engineering with an Atar of 99.9. Expert in Maths and Physics with 90+% exam marks, I build Formula electric cars!

Find out more about James

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

  I first started tutoring in high school after realising I am actually quite good at explaining difficult concepts to my peers. The very first subject I tutored was actually English, but then I soon realised I am more passionate about Physics and Maths.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Currently I offer tutoring in Physics, Maths, and Chemistry mainly below the university level as I am an undergraduate engineering student myself. I tutor maths and sciences not only because I obtain excellent grades in them, but also because of my deep understanding of each of them and I find it fascinating being able to explain certain chemistry concepts in terms of physics and link all these fields together.
  
  Often, I'd like to have a nice short chat with my students about their visions, goals, and their motivations. As an extremely self-motivated person, I truly enjoy having students who share the same envisions as me and are keen on improving. I would advise them from time to time on little things that are non-academic related but equally important to achieving their goals and I could learn from them as well.

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

  My role model is my dad who is actually a professor himself. He is the smartest and the wisest person I have ever met. He gives me great advice when I struggle with academics or other things in life. I have been looking up to him since I was little.

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

  There are numerous different ways of teaching. However, I think one doesn't truly internalise knowledge until one fully understands it, so I truly appreciate teaching from first principles, logic, and intuitions.
  
  Besides the abovementioned characteristics, most students struggle to understand concepts because of the lack of references. So the ability to relate the theory taught to the real world is truly a game changer and is what makes a person a great tutor.

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

  I was not used to being this motivated and in fact, there was a time in high school when I struggled to get my life together because of some incidents in life. I stayed depressed and found all the things taught in school meaningless until I came across my year 11 form teacher who used to work as a volunteer in third-world countries. He saved a person's life by making a temporary oxygen concentrator with physics concepts he learnt, and that's when I really understood how powerful this seemingly simple stuff is. Ever since then, I have tried to grasp all the knowledge I came across and maybe one day, I'd save someone's life too.

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

  In maths and physics, especially university level, theories have become extremely abstract and hard to visualise. However, I still try to understand everything to the best of my ability because I feel that I should also become a role model for my tutees.

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

  I absolutely love teaching, especially when my students are able to understand concepts they found difficult to comprehend after my explanation. It gives me a sense of achievement and really makes my day.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions)?

  I definitely don't have the most amount of students on Superprof nor have the highest hourly rate, but I think the fact that I am able to help my students fully understand the concepts in maths and physics and give them advice on life or other aspects that other tutors don't normally go into makes me stand out.
  
  Also, I always mention to my students the importance of work/study-life balance as life isn't all about maths and physics. The fact that I am enjoying life makes me a "superprof" academically and in life!