HSC & VCE English Specialist | Essay Writing, Text Analysis & Exam Preparation | 15+ Years Experience in Education

Find out more about Mary

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

  I was 12 years old, my mother was a teacher and homeschooled me. She used to take me with her to her casual relief positions and as I was always a voracious reader and lover of history, wanting to share that passion and having such a great model set me on the path towards teaching from that point.

• 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 predominantly love English and History as I enjoy discussing ideas and opinions as well as historical facts. Learning about the past informs us towards our future, so I love theorising cause and effect and making predictions due to previous knowledge.

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

  Aside from my mother, I had the most amazing lecturer in my first university degree. I went to university quite young and having Dr Rizzo to look up to was awe-inspiring: a woman who spoke 7 languages fluently, could speak on any subject not just her History background (Theology, Literature, Philosophy...) and such an elegant, classic and kind lady in addition to her impressive academic success. It was beautiful to see such a role model.

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

  I believe qualities that are required to be a good tutor are patience, kindness, the ability to articulate a concept in a number of ways in order to tailor to the learning style of the student, and to tailor the lesson to their needs.

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

  One of my favourite teaching moments was when I was giving VCE classes in Politics. After 2 years of my classes, one of my students came up to me and said before she took my classes she always thought people who disagreed with her were "morons". But due to the way I teach and my open approach, she found herself noticing how I could discuss multiple sides of a hot issue and show that people could have reasonable positions that were polar opposites and that she said she had now learned to respect people of opposite viewpoints whilst maintaining her own views and she attributed that to me.

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

  It is always a challenge to ensure that my approach is tailored to what the student needs, both in their individual goals and what skills they need to succeed in the current curriculum.

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

  I particularly enjoy helping students to understand texts and develop a strong essay writing structure. I love linking students to resources that really help them to succeed in tailoring their writing to the types of prompts and essays they are being asked to write.

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

  I have 10 years of teaching experience, in addition to tutoring homeschooling children for 4 years before my teaching career. I am from a family of dedicated teachers so the interest in education and love of learning and teaching has come from strong examples of leadership in my heritage.