Basic & Further Mathematics. Over 9 years of experience as a personal tutor.

Find out more about Adegboyega

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

  I had always been drawn to technical thinking from a young age, when my parents used to give me the weekly sudoku puzzles in newspapers to solve, and I also had a Rubik's Cube, which I was fond of. However, I got interested in private tutoring in high school. I used to assist my teachers in training junior students for national mathematics competitions and also coordinate extra catch-up classes for my peers. They realised they grasped the concepts more when I taught them compared to our teachers. This was fulfilling for me, and it became a passion to always pass knowledge to people who find it difficult to understand.

• 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 teach Mathematics. I love the subject, and one thing I tell most students is to see it like a puzzle; once you understand the basics behind every topic, solving any question flows naturally. When teaching, I always like to tackle the basics; however, there are topics like integration that I like less, as I have to start explaining all the way back from the preamble (differentiation), which is not ideal for situations where the students don't have much time. There are a lot of topics I love to teach, but I think my best ones are Circle Theorems, Inequalities (Linear and Quadratic), and Probability.

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

  Yes, I also had a private tutor for two years in high school. He believed a lot in me even when I was an average student, which was very inspiring.

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

  For me, the top two qualities aside from subject mastery, of course, are patience and adaptable communication. Every student learns at a different pace, and you should be willing to meet with them patiently at all levels. Also, make sure that you can communicate in the way best suited for every unique student.

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

  While I was preparing for Mathematics competitions in high school, I practised all the questions in different textbooks multiple times, and I got to a stage where I believed there was no single question in Mathematics I couldn't solve, and this opened my eyes when relating with other students that Mathematics is about constant practise. Even when you are struggling, keep doing more questions, as the more questions you miss, the less likely you are to miss the next, since you learn from the mistakes of the previous.

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

  Initially, I used to find it hard to remain focused and maintain the same level of accuracy for an extended period of time, especially in examinations, until I started knowing when to take breaks rather than forcing myself to continue through a block, as it never helped. Now, with my students, I also incorporate that when I notice they are making more mistakes or are not as sharp to take 5/10 minutes breaks before we continue.

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

  Teaching is my passion. But an aspect I particularly enjoy is witnessing the growth in confidence of my students, especially in their feared topics. It is a great feeling hard to describe and a major part of what keeps me going.

• What makes you a Superprof

  I believe what makes me a Superprof is that I've experienced both sides of the learning journey. I know what it is like to struggle with Mathematics, and I know what it takes to overcome those struggles because I've lived that experience myself. Now, I'm able to use that experience to help others succeed.