Dental school admissions help from a 2nd year Leeds Dental student. Admissions tests, Grades, Interviews etc. 1st Lesson FREE !

Find out more about Saif

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

  I have enjoyed studying science and maths since GCSE and it was something I took over to A levels but having not done so well in Physics I dropped that and carried on with Biology, Chemistry, and Maths which after receiving poor predicted grades I was able to prove my teachers wrong and get AAA which gave me the confidence to pursue dentistry as it had a good blend of science but had more action involved such as doing surgery! The high-risk high reward of being a dentist thus lured me in!
  
  So I got into tutoring privately at 16 at the tuition I learned at and the lovely lady was kind enough to offer me a job and a free Nandos! For me, it was my first paid job at 15 ! and so speaking to students that were around my age felt different to how other teachers interacted with their students. However, I found that the students would be more comfortable around me and learning became an enjoyment for them as I was laid back when I wanted to be but when the work was set to be done I would be serious. Ultimately I was able to get many students high SAT scores and a good number of 11+ passes into grammar school too and have enjoyed the fulfillment of tutoring ever since!

• 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 have taught and got admirable results at many levels of education with my students. A topic that I recently took on was that of dentistry and teaching first years the basics of the clinical setting and some interesting theory involving facial anatomy and delving into the oral mucosa and its associated microflora. A subject that I haven't truly harnessed my full potential would definitely be the arts and having really enjoyed media studies in school , I would love to pursue theater in my spare time trying to watch more and more musicals. So far ive watched wicked and its wicked ! (pun intended)

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

  Without a doubt it would be my parents and grandparents who have worked really hard to raise me and my brother and teach me about life all whilst juggling their own personal lives with careers ,hobbies and other commitments. It is this work ethic that I strive to replicate in my teaching as a tutor to ensure my students get the grades they need to achieve their goals.

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

  Communication can make or break the tutor-student relationship and is essential for the success of the student. If the student understands a concept it is because the concept was communicated in an effective manner and ultimately led to the student understanding it with more clarity. This helps with answering questions and contributing to higher grades. There are many other qualities critical to the success of a tutor such as respecting the student both in terms of their strengths/ weaknesses and also being responsible but the tutor should be looking to develop and evolve in more than a set number of ways to pass on invaluable experience to the next generation.

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

  Would have to be 100% about failing to get the predicted grades for dentistry during my 2nd year of college. So I literally got Cs and Ds in my UCAS exams which were the papers you'd take to finalize your predictions. Having failed them it was my choice to just accept defeat but I persisted, persistence was key to powering on, making the necessary improvements in all areas to ultimately get through and achieve the grades I needed. I cannot stress how important it is to employ a hard-working ethic.

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

  When I am not teaching dentistry I like to pursue teaching in other areas such as helping students with their SATs and Primary school English and Maths. The difficulties remain the same as the ability to get the student on board to grasp concepts will ultimately define you as a tutor.

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

  I actually enjoy playing competitive games that reinforce problem-solving skills and force you to think very spontaneously. It helps to encourage and build connections between mind and action to allow me to think under pressure; especially useful when making quick decisions on how to tailor teaching to pupils.

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

  Superprof is being good at what you do and passing the treasure on for others to follow in your footsteps. I want my students to feel that they can inherit the torch and make new strides toward their specialty! With a bit of fun on the way!