Level 5 TEFL/TESOL - AA in Psychology - Certified in Teaching Online & Teaching Neurodiverse Students - BA Educational Studies (In Progress)

Find out more about Gabrielle

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

  Honestly, I’ve been that person who genuinely loves reading, writing, and the weird nuances of the English language for as long as I can remember. Connecting with kids and talking about books always came naturally to me. But the real "aha!" moment... the turning point where love turned into a full-blown passion project... was when I started homeschooling my son. Watching him learn made me realize how much power there is in personalized, high-support learning. From there, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to take that exact same tailored energy and bring it to both kids and adults who need a learning space that actually works for them, not against them.

• 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 and ESL, but really, my favorite "topic" is whatever makes my students tick! I treat my lessons as a two-way street. I absolutely love diving into my students' cultures, hearing their stories, and letting them teach me about their world. When we bring your native culture and personal background into the room, learning a new language stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like an adventure. We get to embrace where you come from while bridging the gap to where you want to go.
  
  As for what I like a little less? Memorizing dry, context-free lists of prepositions. We will get the grammar down, I promise, but we're going to use real-life human conversation to do it, not robotic drill sheets!

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

  My biggest teaching inspirations actually came from the lessons that didn't work for me. Growing up with AuDHD, the standard, rigid, "one-size-fits-all" public school mold felt like trying to put a square peg into a round hole (especially when it came to math class... total nightmare zone). Going through that taught me exactly how not to teach. It inspired me to become the kind of tutor who looks at the whole student... their brain, their energy, their learning style... rather than forcing them into a box that wasn't built for them.

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

  First and foremost: top-tier listening skills and a serious dose of empathy. Being a great tutor isn't about standing at a whiteboard giving a lecture; it’s about subtle detective work. You have to be tuned in enough to spot the subtle cues.. knowing when a student's brain is processing, when they’re secretly overwhelmed, or when a specific visual or interactive angle suddenly makes the lightbulb go off. It’s about being adaptable, incredibly patient, and deeply understanding.

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

  My entire teaching philosophy can be summed up in one powerful truth I learned the hard way: "If a student can’t learn the way we teach, we must teach the way they learn." Back in school, whenever a lesson didn't click, the fault was always placed on the student for "not getting it." But language and learning are alive! The moment you stop forcing a rigid lesson plan and instead pivot to fit the learner's natural cognitive rhythm, the frustration completely melts away and genuine confidence takes over.

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

  Explaining the "whys" behind English grammar rules! English is basically three languages stacked on top of each other in a trench coat, pretending to be one language. Half the time, a student asks, "Why is this rule written like this?" and the honest answer is, "Because 600 years ago, someone decided to break all the rules!" Navigating those quirky linguistic contradictions with a straight face is definitely an ongoing workout, but finding clear, practical ways to break them down is half the fun.

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

  At the heart of it, my true passion is real human connection. English and literacy are just the tools I use to help people unlock their potential. There is nothing quite like giving someone a communication skill or a burst of confidence that they get to carry with them for the rest of their life. Knowing that a lesson today helps someone level up their education, land a goal, or feel at home in a new community... that’s the good stuff right there.

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

  I’m in it for the whole human, not just the textbook! I don't drag my students through a rigid, cookie-cutter syllabus just to check boxes. I build custom, highly supportive, and engaging environments around your goals, your schedule, and your brain. Plus, we're going to laugh a lot along the way... because learning a language should feel empowering, not stressful!