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Find out more about Angela Emma

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

  I have always had great passion for all the topics listed in my profile. Both languages and numbers were my thing all along my school years which made it terribly hard to choose a degree when it was time to go to uni! I ended up choosing architecture, which was definitely the right path for me, however, sharing my passions not only for the more technical areas but also languages is something I feel very fortunate to be able to do!

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

  It really depends on the topic I'm teaching. Let me walk you through the ones I teach the most.
  
  Maths --> My personal favourite area within maths has to be algebra! I absolutely love it! Anything that involves ratios is also a preferred topic of mine since I find it so relatable to our daily life and find it a great topic to engage with students. Spoiler alert! We will be running through my Spanish tortilla recipe if we do a ratio exercise together, you have to know the egg to potato ratio for every amount of tortillas you make! Maths and a little recipe all in one class, how about that?
  
  English --> Both my parents were English teachers so they helped me develop a passion for teaching the subject as a whole. My mother is still, to this day, the source of every bit of knowledge I have when it comes to English grammar. She taught me how to make grammar explanations interesting, how to do the perfect board/presentation layouts and use reading as a tool for students to become passionate about the language. My father, on the other hand, taught me all the fancy vocabulary, as did my grandmother! "What a capacious bag you have!" (Why say big when you can use the word capacious?!)
  
  Spanish --> My other mother tongue. Growing up in Spain before moving back to Spain made me completely bilingual in Spanish, having some typically loud Spanish family really helps too! Spanish spelling and pronunciation is way easier than English, so teaching this language has always been a treat!

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

  I grew up in a household full of amazing, hardworking, dedicated teachers who gave me all the tips and tricks to be the best tutor. I'd 100% say both my mother and my father are still to this day my role models, in teaching and in life! (They are not reading this, I promise it's an honest answer!)

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

  Beyond being knowledgeable in the subject, you have to be able to create good rapport with students, adjust to them, and for that you are going to have to be very flexible, patient and encouraging. Regardless of age, when someone comes to you for tutoring, you are there to help them not only objectively improve a skill but to help them grow confidence in themselves. It is such a rewarding process to be part of!

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

  I have so many…I'll keep it short with only one relating to languages.
  
  When I was 10 years old, I came back from school one day very annoyed, some kids in my class had given me a nickname and had been mocking me. My mother asked me what the nickname was, I think, fearing something cruel. "Dictionary", I replied indignantly. They were calling me "dictionary!" My mother burst into laughter and told me not to worry, she said that it was actually a compliment, that I used a vast range of words that some of the other children didn't even understand and that that wasn't a bad thing at all. At that time I was slightly confused, but my mother took me out for a milkshake as a treat because of it, so I felt that it must not have been that bad after all!

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

  To be completely honest the biggest challenge for me is always time. I always feel I want to do so much more than there is time for! Most of my students I have once or twice a week and classes just fly by! I find it really sad to see so many students - again regardless of age since I teach children, teenagers and adults- struggle with one of the subjects I love teaching just because they haven't received the time and dedication that they deserve from their previous teachers. Changing this situation and making them re-engage with the subject and even finding it appealing is what I always find one of the perks of this job, it's so fulfilling!

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

  Apart from teaching and architecture I have a passion for cooking, swimming, travelling and painting - I used to be much better at this last one, I must admit! Although I'm not sure we could consider it a passion as such, spending time with my family and making memories with them is something I always make an effort to incorporate and I love doing. I am extremely lucky to have a very large family, though, sadly most of them don't live in the UK. An excuse to travel, on the other hand, so can't complain!

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

  You can tell me when you become my next student!hahaha I think there are many things that make me unique as a teacher, but I'd love to know what it is about me that has been special to you. One of my youngest students gave me one of the best compliments up until now I think…when her mother asked her why she enjoyed her lessons with me she replied "because when I finish I class with Angela, I'm happier than when I started it. She's like the sun". Difficult to beat that, but I challenge you to! hahaha