Award-winning, friendly private tutor offering engaging and enjoyable Chemistry tutoring and University Prep

Find out more about Habiba

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

  I became interested in sciences when I was about 8 years old and started reading the (children's) Human Body Encyclopaedia. I first found memorisation really fun and I even learned the periodic table by heart in year 8 (or that was my idea of fun - at the time!!). I realised very soon after that rote-learning and memorisation was only useful for party tricks, I struggled applying my knowledge to exams and realised that it was understanding the content I learn which makes all the difference.
  
  I became interested in private tutoring later, when I realised that many of my friends struggled with understanding the content we were learning. After explaining a few topics to some friends (who found my explanations helpful!) I created an instagram account during my revision where I posted explanation videos of different topics. It was from there that I discovered how rewarding helping someone understand my subjects is, and I pursue private tutoring for this reason.

• 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 Biology and Chemistry, and I absolutely love these two subjects! I'm especially nerdy about getting to grips with the link which exists between biology and chemistry (hence having studied Biochemistry). I like to discuss topics which see a clearer overlap between biology and chemistry (such as respiration, enzymes, etc..), this way students who might (perhaps) like one subject and not the other are more likely to see the link and appreciate topics more. Studying the sciences from a broader depth also helps "kill two birds with one stone" per se, meaning that I am more able to identify knowledge gaps and foundational weaknesses my students might have. This saves time and allows for smarter (not harder) work to be done.
  
  Perhaps my least favourite topics in Biology would be related to classification. I prefer topics which have more "substance" and less names to learn 🙂

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

  I was always close with my teachers at school. My year 9 Chemistry teacher taught me that teachers could teach lessons which made sense and I understood while being fun. During sixth form, my Biology teacher led engaging lessons based on discussion, always asking loads of questions to help keep me engaged. At the same time, my Chemistry teacher taught me how exam technique can help exam grades soar rapidly. I use a combination of these lessons from my teachers in my own tutoring.
  
  Outside of tutoring, I would say that I look up to Julia Gillard (former Austrailian PM) because she can deliver a brilliant speech.

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

  Excitement, passion, friendliness and a degree of informality, all while maintaining professionalism. Students seek tutoring for extra help with a subject they may be finding tricky. I believe that no amount of explanation will help a student who isn't able to engage, so I try to provide an environment where my students can relax, enjoy, challenge themselves and ask as many questions as they need.

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

  When I was in year 13 and applying to universities, I was puzzled as to why my Chemistry teacher wouldn't predict me an A* grade. I prodded and prodded until eventually he told me that I needed to improve my exam technique. I didn't know what he meant, I thought that putting all I could think of in my answer was the best way to maximise my chance of gaining marks. What I didn't think of, of course, was that examiners don't have time to read pages and pages of response to short questions!
  
  I learned to forensically break down a question like one would dissect a quote in English lessons, asking myself what each word in a question means and what the question is asking of me. I found that catering each point of my answer allowed me to hit each point in the mark schemes like arrows to a bullseye. Surely enough, my grades skyrocketed and I was predicted an A* in A-level Chemistry (and achieved among the highest grades in the Middle East!)

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

  The difficulties I used to face in the sciences (especially Chemistry) were mostly in carrying out calculations with equations. I didn't understand how to extract information for the question, and memorised "methods" to carry out specific calculations instead of understanding where they came from. When I did this, I was completely unable to work out unfamiliar calculations and would keep getting confused with different question wordings. I had to go back to the beginning and re-learn where calculations "come from", but I'm happy to say I no longer struggle with this. I aim to teach my students this foolproof approach to calculations.

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

  I am so passionate about making crazy links between things where people might not see one. I think that my brain works a bit like a crazy spider web and I'm just trying to jump through the different threads, learning all I can. I take this "link-making" approach in all areas, both in the sciences purely and outside. My craziest example of this is that I am now studying Law because of a revelation I made through studying the sciences! (that is, I believe that scientific innovation is best translated into real-life by tying up legal loose ends, for example, in creating contracts to buy vaccines, or in deciding whether Artificially Intelligent cars are ethical). This passion isn't limited to teaching of course, but I think it shows through quite a bit!

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

  I believe that I am a superprof because I am dedicated to providing my students with an environment and educational relationship within which they look forward to learning and feel that their worries are continually addressed. I try to help my students feel at ease by including personal anecdotes about the specific elements of what they are studying that I used to struggle with. I provide my students with custom-made notes with every session and resources which are made purely from exam markschemes and tips for exam technique at the highest level. Above all, I enjoy teaching my students very much and hope that shows through in my lessons!