Samuel

Having completed Bachelors (in 2014) and Masters (in 2018) degrees in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter I have moved back to Suffolk where I was born. I was always a keen academic and enthusiast in the field of history, but studying Latin and Greek at university was an exceptionally rewarding and enjoyable accompaniment to those historical studies. Furthermore, this really opened my eyes to exploring and enjoying languages on a broader scale, something which hadn’t really occurred for me during my study of Modern Foreign Languages at school. In consequence to this, I am also currently endeavouring to learn Italian.
Aside from academic pursuits, for many years I enjoyed sailing here in Suffolk, and once made an extremely lengthy and failed attempt at learning to play the guitar, and have sadly since concluded that I am by no means musically inclined! I enjoy board games when there is a group of us with time to play, and my passion for the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien I find to be an excellent complement to my love of Latin, Greek, and Classics.
Engaging with people, with or without a pint in the hand, and good conversation I enjoy the most though, and I always love to learn new things. Being keen to learn more myself, I have found that helping others to expand their knowledge, experience and understanding to be one of the most rewarding things to be engaged in, and look forward to continuing to do so.

Tutoring Experience

I have experience ever since attaining my undergraduate degree in tutoring Latin both to private tutees and as an extra-curricular activity in schools. Principally, from 2014-15 I worked with Exeter Cathedral School alongside their Head of Classics supporting the teaching of Latin and Classical Civilisation to Yr 7/8s in preparation for their Common Entrance exams. Furthermore, from 2014-17 I was also engaged with the University of Exeter's Isca Latina project, helping to run after-school Latin clubs at St Leonard's Primary School in Exeter, and a lunchtime club for Yr 9/10s at Queen Elizabeth's School in Crediton. Alongside one-to-one tutoring, in the 2017-18 academic year I taught Latin and Classical Civilisation to Year 9s at Exmouth Community College in Devon, in which I was required to prepare and deliver lessons on both language and historical material to pupils with a range of abilities.
Prior to these roles, I had worked for five years as a sailing instructor at an international school back home in Suffolk. Given the language gap, this was understandably a challenging experience in trying to convey the relevant concepts and generally making sure one stays engaged and is engaging with the children. This has certainly given me confidence though in communicating in an educating environment, and I have been able to put this to good use through my various subsequent teaching engagements.

Tutoring Approach

Following a combined total of 5 years studying Latin and Ancient History at university, and 2 years studying Ancient Greek, I am keen to continue working in said disciplines. In doing this, I hope to help others to better understand and appreciate what can be a highly engaging area of human culture, and one with curious contrasts and fascinating parallels to the modern world.
My interest and experience of ancient languages lies chiefly in them as tools to help explore and add depth to the classical world of ancient Rome and Greece, coming to it from a historical perspective as much as from a literary one. Consequently, my chief interest in tutoring lies in developing a tutee's knowledge of ancient texts and their context, giving them a wider experience of such written materials, with a view to enhancing their examination relevant comprehension skills and grammatical knowledge. I am, however, extremely flexible and perfectly willing to offer more focused support and to work with a student on a certain text within a certain syllabus, such as the Cambridge Latin Course or the OCR examinations.
As such I feel I would be ideal for casual learners from a beginner's level of basic grammar up to A-level standard, but I would also be delighted to work with those doing a formal qualification up to A-level and interested in learning around their subject. The ancient languages have been an engaging, taxing, and yet rewarding subject of study for me, one which allows fresh appreciation of classical world, and which can continue to be so for others.
For those studying Ancient History and Classical Civilisation without a language component I would be equally able and willing to support a programme of study up to A-level standard, with sessions tailored to supporting specific topics which a tutee feels they need extra help with. My own chief interests, and consequently areas in which I feel I would be of most help, include Roman political culture, Hellenistic monarchies and Greco-Roman philosophy, although this is by no means an exclusive list.