Octavian

Since 2009, I have been teaching Physics at the University of Oxford, where I also conduct research in Medical Physics, focusing on the mathematical optimization of radiotherapy for cancer treatment. I'm fluent in five languages—English, French, Italian, Romanian, and Spanish—and am currently advancing my skills in Arabic, Galician, and German. My academic background includes degrees in Physics (MSc from Paris and BSc from Toulouse), Engineering (BEng from Toulouse), and Radiation Biology (MSc from Oxford). Additionally, I have earned nine language certificates across four languages from the University of Oxford Language Centre, with top proficiency levels in Spanish (C2), Italian (C2), German (B2), and Arabic (A2).

Tutoring Experience

Higher Education Experience:

• University Teaching: Over 1,410 hours of formal tutoring at the University of Oxford.
• Private Tutoring: More than 2,500 hours of tutoring for MBA and undergraduate students across subjects such as Mathematics for Physics, Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics, Statistics, Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear Physics, Solid State and Condensed Matter Physics, Structural Mechanics, Biophysics, and Quantitative Methods for Finance.

Secondary Education Experience:

• Physics and Mathematics Tutoring: Over 3,200 hours of tutoring students in Physics (A2, AS, IB, PAT, SAT, GCSE), Mathematics (A2, AS [C1, C2, C3, C4, S1, S2, M1, M2, FP1, FP2], IB, MAT, SAT, GCSE), and French/Spanish/Italian (all levels, focusing on both conversational and written skills). Proficient with Edexcel, OCR, and AQA examination boards.

As a private tutor, I have taught the full first-year curriculum at Oxford, KCL, UCL, and Imperial College, the full second-year curriculum at KCL, Quantum Mechanics and Solid State for the second year at Imperial, and the full third-year curriculum at Glasgow. Topics I have covered include Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Mathematical Methods, Optics, Waves, Thermodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear Physics, Solid State, and Lasers.

I also have extensive experience working with students with special educational needs (such as dyslexia, Asperger's, and autism) and am skilled at adapting instruction to support quick and effective learning.

Tutoring Approach and Reporting:

At the end of each session, I provide a detailed report summarizing the student's progress with homework, strengths and areas for improvement, as well as the next steps and homework assignments. This report is immediately emailed to the student and/or parents to provide real-time feedback.

Notable Tutoring Examples:

1. C. (KCL, 2nd Year): Provided intensive tuition (21 hours/week) over two months, covering the full curriculum and exam papers. C. achieved scores ranging from 60-95%.

2. T. (KCL, 1st Year): Supported a student rebuilding self-confidence after a personal loss. By April, he was able to independently complete three past papers per day and earned a First for his first-year results.

3. O. (AS/A2 Student with Asperger’s): Provided weekly support for over a year, covering various math modules, exam strategies, and visualization techniques. He managed a challenging exam schedule, achieving scores of AAC.

4. A. (Law Graduate): Assisted in translating her CV and statement of purpose from English to French for a career in fashion in France.

5. I. (A2 Student): Supported a student with health issues, focusing on Physics and Math preparation to meet university entrance requirements.

6. J. (UCL, 1st Year): Provided intensive summer preparation for rescheduled exams following a health setback, aiming for a First.

7. V. (3rd Year Quantitative Finance, Regent’s University): Conducted intensive sessions (3-5 hours/day) for exam preparation and assisted in translating his startup’s website from French to English.

8. A. (3rd Year, University of Glasgow): Helped a student recover from prior exam failures, focusing on past papers, which led him to successfully pass all 10 exams and graduate.

9. G. (Imperial College, MSc in Biological and Medical Sciences): Assisted in preparing for a Physics/Biomechanics exam.

10. P. (Imperial College, 1st Year): Supported Mechanics exam preparation through intensive sessions, resulting in a successful resit.

11. M. (Foundation Student, Kaplan): Provided guidance on lab report writing in Physics, helping him improve his marks to 95%.

Tutoring Approach

Each student is unique, so I create a personalized study plan tailored to their goals, time remaining until exams, the material to be covered, and their current level. Based on these factors, I calculate the hours of tutoring and self-study needed to achieve their objectives.

As a friendly tutor, I make an effort to learn about my students' interests and hobbies, incorporating them into our lessons. For example, if a student is passionate about water sports, I’ll frame kinematics problems around boats or ships instead of cars or trains, making the material more engaging and relevant.

In the final 15 minutes of each session, I prepare a detailed report on the student’s progress, including homework performance, strengths, areas for improvement, new assignments, and our next meeting date. This report is promptly emailed to the student and/or parents, providing real-time feedback and helping them track progress effectively.

About half of my sessions are conducted online. Using technology like drawing tablets for hand-written equations and Skype for screen sharing, I can closely guide students as if I were in the room. This method not only eliminates the need for in-person tutoring but also saves time and reduces costs for both students and parents.

I focus on students who are committed to their studies and avoid tutoring those who are distracted by video games, social media, or lack genuine interest, as this can hinder any significant improvement in their academic performance.

To maintain fairness, I have a no-cancellation policy, as missed lessons prevent me from offering that time slot to another student. Exceptions are only made for serious illness, with a doctor’s note required.