Experienced History and Politics teacher with 15 years’ UK and international experience offers A-Level and GCSE tutoring online from Valencia, specialising in essay writing and exam technique.

Find out more about Bjorn

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

  My deep appreciation for history crystallized while sitting against an adobe mud wall in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, conversing with a Military History professor after days of intense fighting in the Upper Sangin Valley. I realized then that all the human drama, sacrifice, and endurance of our ordeal would one day be condensed into a single, sterile line in a textbook—if recorded at all. That realization gave me a visceral connection to the past and a desire to bring historical events alive.
  My turn toward teaching came around that same period, around a campfire in the African savanna during pre-deployment training in Kenya. I was tasked with teaching 100 soldiers about our platoon’s namesake battle honour, "Corunna"—where only 60 out of 600 men of the 9th of Foot survived the field in 1809. Standing in the firelight, I opened with a sudden shout: "SIXTY MEN!" Silence fell over the crowd, and I had them hooked as I told the story of General Sir John Moore’s heroic retreat. Years later, one of those soldiers met me and recounted that exact story word-for-word.
  It was in that moment I realized I had a genuine gift for storytelling and inspiring others through the past—a quality I now bring to one-on-one tutoring to help students connect deeply with history and politics.

• 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 love nothing more than bringing History and Politics into the modern sphere to make them directly relevant to my students. In our sessions, we frequently analyze current affairs and link them back to historical precedents and political theories. History isn't just a collection of dates; it's an ongoing conversation, and I enjoy helping students see how past events directly shape the world they live in today.

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

  Dr. Duncan Anderson was my Military History professor while I was studying War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His enthusiasm for the subject was infectious and directly inspired me to pursue teaching. Additionally, Mr. Warner, my A-Level Communication Studies teacher, opened my eyes to critical thinking in a way I had never experienced before. I credit him with giving me a lifelong love of learning and a deep curiosity about the world.

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

  Above all, empathy. Being able to read the room and understand what motivates—or demotivates—a student is critical to getting results. Alongside building rapport, a great tutor must translate that understanding into practical academic skills, helping students master clear essay structure and exam techniques so they can convert their subject knowledge into top grades.

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

  I can still vividly remember my teacher, Dr. Smith, walking into the classroom with a full-sized longbow and firing an arrow straight down the length of the room into a target! That single, memorable History lesson sparked my lifelong passion for the subject and showed me how powerful active teaching can be.

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

  The "procrastination monkey"—a familiar foe for most students—is something I wrestled with as a student and even as a teacher. Cutting through distractions, focusing on the task at hand, and maintaining momentum can be tough when surrounded by modern noise. Because I've navigated this myself, I enjoy teaching my tutees practical strategies to tune out digital distractions and build focused study habits.

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

  History has been my passion for as long as I can remember. It started with family trips to castles and museums as a child, and it has only grown since. I've spent years traveling the world, driven by a constant curiosity about human history, culture, and the stories behind the places I visit.

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

  I am genuinely invested in my students' journeys and their personal success. I empathize with the pressures they face, and I work alongside them not just as an instructor, but as a mentor dedicated to helping them achieve their full potential.