Rene

Hi! My name is Rene. I am a student doctor in my 4th year of medical school at Kings College London. I am currently undertaking an additional intercalated degree. This will give me a further qualification in Regenerative Medicine and Innovation Technology. I am experienced in mentorship of academic peers and younger students and have undertaken a teaching course; thus, I have an in-depth understanding of teaching and learning theory which has allowed me to tailor my teaching style to individual students. I have a passion for science, and I find it genuinely exciting. I strive to be able to instill this same enthusiasm into students, and to make learning enjoyable. I am confident that my clinical experience and strong academic record, give me a vast amount of knowledge and experience to help any student. I look forward to not just helping students to reach their academic goals but also to fostering a genuine academic curiosity that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Tutoring Experience

I have experience teaching and mentoring academic peers and younger students, and I have completed a specialised teaching course, designed to train student doctors to be confident educators of colleagues and pupils. This course focused on teaching medical and scientific concepts specifically. This has allowed me to gain in-depth understanding of teaching and learning theory and learn how to tailor my pedagogy to relate to every student, and to address differential attainment. I have practically applied these teaching theories by carrying out teaching sessions for groups of students. Additionally, I have experience in assisting prospective medical students with their applications. I am well-versed in the medical and dental school admission process, therefore I can offer mentoring for UCAT exams (having achieved within the top percentile during the 2020-2021 application cycle) and medical school interviews (having secured a number of offers post-interview). I am extremely knowledgeable about the candidate selection criteria and requirements of medical/dental degree applications, and I understand the highly competitive nature of the application process. This enables me to help students to ensure that their applications stand out, and to give them the best opportunity to secure a highly coveted place.

Tutoring Approach

I find that a one size fits all curriculum is more along the lines of what students will experience in a traditional school environment. In my opinion, of one of the key advantages of one on one tuition is that I, as the tutor, have the opportunity to get to know the student. This allows me to tailor my method to their needs and preferences. I believe that each student is different with a unique learning style and different requirements, thus each will flourish with a different approach to teaching. As such, the first few lessons focus on finding what will be the most useful and effective method to meet their needs.

Generally however, the main theory that underpins my teaching style is a strong emphasis on active recall, and spaced repetition. This is scientifically backed as one of the best and most effective methods to learn and retain just about anything, making it ideal. Beyond just recollection of facts, I also aim encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Particularly at level 3 and beyond, understanding and application of taught concepts is increasingly tested, therefore I aim for my students to be able to confidently tackle these types of questions. To allow students to be as confident as possible, practice and repetition is crucial. As such I make it a priority to ensure that students are familiar with the style and content of their exams by practicing exam questions. This also enables us to collaboratively identify areas for development, or topics that require more attention.

Outside of scheduled lessons I also aim to be readily available to my students should they have any last-minute concerns or queries, or if they require any additional support.