Welcome to Ian Matthews Tutoring
Education through Empathy
Engaging and Accomplished
Tutoring Services
Are you looking for a tutor who can help you or your child make that all important next step?
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My name's Ian Matthews and I have been teaching English, Media, and Games Design at an 'outstanding' level for the past eighteen years. I am passionate about learning and have dedicated my career to ensuring the very best outcomes for my students, be they just starting out or putting the final touches on their studies.
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I offer one-to-one or small group teaching both online and in person for ages 5 - adult. Each of my sessions are tailored specifically to my learner's needs with the express intention of promoting self-confidence and increasing abilities in a way that suits them. I work to timetables both long and short, exam focussed or comprehension development. Get in touch to see what I can offer you!
I`m a fully qualified (PGCE with QTLS) teacher with a CV that has seen me work in Primary Schools, High Schools, Colleges, and Universities around the world. Recently, I have been working with learners including English Literature GCSE students, Games Design Degree students, English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) adults, and gifted and talented English Language KS2 learners. I continue to work with a cohort of learners from Spain, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, and the Middle East.
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Please feel free to check out the rest of my website to see more of my background and how I can offer services to suit you.
What I Offer
Tailored Specifically for You
One-on-One Lessons
As my specialism, I know how difficult it can be to find a reliable teacher that focuses on One-on-One Lessons, especially online. As a Tutor with significant amounts of digital classroom experience and development skills, I can identify students’ problem areas and work with them in empathetic, positive, and constructive ways to achieve success. I design my lessons according to my students’ needs, with an emphasis on confidence-boosting activities.
Exam Preparation
If you're looking for someone to help you get a handle on the best way to approach that upcoming exam, look no further. I have worked as an Exam Assessor in Media and English, understand exactly what markers are looking for, and am able to pass that on to you. I can work on helping you in any exam at any level.
Group Lessons
Working in teams, expressing oneself clearly and being able to understand those around us, is a skill that is becoming more and more important in almost every profession. As such, in my Group Lessons, not only do I look to offer specific subject learning but also skills relating to speaking and listening skills, empathy development, and team management. I make learning fun through a variety of engaging and outside-the-box activities in these sessions without losing focus of the core, differentiated learning.
Formative Study
We don't always have exams or career reasons for starting study. Some of us are looking simply to develop our own interests or to practise and develop existing skills. To this end, I also offer one-to-one English speaking classes (good for ESOL learners who may be interested in CEFR, IELTs, or Cambridge tests), Film, Game, and Literature Analysis classes where we can chat through your ideas, reflect, and build on your knowledge for your own intrinsic motivations or to help you prepare for that next step.
Positive and calm and very interesting learning for the kids. Ian's work is very useful and well explained.
Barbara
Ian has loads of brilliant ideas - really useful, wish I'dve known about him sooner!
Essy
Ian is a caring, engaging, and committed person whose teaching experience sets him apart from more basic tutor services. His knowledge is varied and deep and the way he is able to make his sessions a point of excitement in our son's week is brilliant. We would highly recommend.
Li Lian
Booking Sessions
Tailored Specifically for You
One-to-One (Long Term)
For deep understanding of subjects and development of advanced learner knowledge
Exam Prep / One-to-One (Short Term) / Formative Study
Detailed study aiming at meeting specific learning requirements and training
Group Lessons
Sessions aimed at working with small groups to develop interpersonal skills alongside subject study
My Background
Professional
Teaching Consultant, Lecturer, and Tutor
As a fully qualified teacher with QTLS, I have taught in primary schools, high schools, FE Colleges, and Universities. Originally from the north of England, I have also lived and taught in Japan and Singapore, worked as a Digital Learning Consultant travelling to Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States in my work. With teaching experience in English, media, sociology, history, politics, and education theory, I currently work as a University Lecturer in Games Design and tutor a number of learners in person in Spain and online from China, Hong Kong, the Middle East, and the UK.
Academic
Specialist in Special Needs Learning, English Language and Literature, Games Design, Film and Media
Qualified to PhD level, my specialisms are in English Language and Literature, Media and Film Studies, and Videogame Design and Analysis. I have published book chapters on Shakespeare, conference papers on Empathy and Game Design, and presented at numerous conferences with a focuses often on Feminist Film Study, Empathy, and the impact of Brexit on Literature and Language Learning.
Personal
Engaging, curious, and always learning
I am a keen gamer and am involved in helping young developers create exciting new games. I love to cook, to travel, and am an avid hiker. If I'm not working, I'm likely reading, and if I'm not doing that, I'll be at the cinema. I have been in the stunning region of Galicia in northern Spain for four years now so although my Spanish and Galician should perhaps be better, I am still very much trying my best to learn.
Common Tutoring Queries
Everything You Need to Know
Do you have an age you work with more than others?
Whilst I started with GCSE and A-Level teaching, I found that I loved working with younger years just as much. As such, after moving into primary and special needs teaching, I also have a wide range of skills to draw on for younger ages and I currently work with a large cohort of KS1 and KS2 learners.
It seems that you teach English mainly; do you teach other subjects?
Yes! I have a wide range of knowledge and have students who come to me for Film Study, Game Design, Psychology, and History sessions. I have also worked on Public Speaking, Philosophy, and training A.I. These are often learners that work with me in exam preparation forms or younger learners who are working across subjects. If you have a particular area you'd like to study with me, please let me know and we can discuss.
Where do you hold your teaching sessions?
Post pandemic and my move to Spain, I have mainly been working online. I use Zoom and email primarily but can be adaptable to your situation. I am available for local in-person visits (i.e. around Vigo, Pontevedra, and Galician locales) depending on times and availability.
How do I pay and why are some of your costings different?
I tend to offer discounts for students who are with me in the longer term and I can sometimes offer discounts for referrals. With different clients around the world, you can be assured of competitive rates for your region. I tend to work payments through Paypal or similar so that you can be guaranteed protection on your payments.
Contact Me
