Cecilia Foo, B.A. M.A. (Oxon)
Mathematics
Having graduated from secondary school with flying colours, Cecilia read Mathematics at Oxford University, the academic cradle of world-famous mathematicians and scientists such as Lewis Carroll and Stephen Hawking (though he later ‘defected’ to Cambridge University).
In the course of her studies at St. Catherine’s College, one of the 38 colleges that constitute Oxford University, she won the St. Catherine’s Undergraduate Scholarship for her academic, social, and cultural contributions to the College. Ultimately, despite other extra-curricular commitments in various university societies (during one of which she met her husband, Charles), she achieved a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics.
Since 2003, Cecilia has been tutoring Mathematics for various internationally recognised qualifications, including the GCSEs, IGCSEs, A/S and A-levels, International Baccalaureate, SATs, AP Calculus, and Middle Year Programme examinations. This experience has allowed her to write detailed, impromptu notes from memory during her classes that clearly explain key points and concepts to her students. Her past students highly appreciated the conciseness and clarity of these notes - so much so that in many cases they formed the backbone of their revision and subsequent exam successes.
Ever since becoming a mother of a young son, Cecilia has gained an even better understanding of the demands and expectations of parents, when it comes to private tuition
As a tutor, Cecilia believes that the key to success is to find the synergy of relations between the tutors, who are passionate about their subject and the students, who are (or sometimes become under the tutors’ guidance) determined to succeed. Once, that relationship can be tapped, excellence can be found at the end of the road.
The efficacy of this approach is attested to by the success of her pupils, some of whom have continued their studies at globally prestigious universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Brown, and Cornell. Some of her former tutees were also successful early entrants at local, competitive institutions, such as Hong Kong University and Chinese University (for medicine).
Jenkins Tsang, BSc, PhD
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics
Dr. Jenkins Tsang earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics (Combined Honours) in 2002, and further pursued a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry, which he achieved in 2007. Both degrees were obtained from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada.
Prior to engaging in full-time private tuition, Jenkins enjoyed great success in academic research. His research work has been published in world-class scientific journals, such as the Journal of the American Chemical Society. However, Jenkins' passion for spreading knowledge led him to seek a new path that would sate his passion for knowledge, while giving him the rewarding feeling of being able to educate and communicate with students striving for higher academic achievements, and the opportunity to make a positive influence in their lives.
Jenkins has 15 years of teaching experience, including 10 years of full-time private tuition experience in all 3 Science Subjects and Maths. He is essentially a talking textbook for local-international IB and IGCSE students, and is also extremely familiar with all mainstream mathematics and science syllabuses under the Edexcel, Cambridge, AQA, OCR, AP and Collegeboard (SAT subject test-administering) examination boards. Jenkins will readily be able to pinpoint areas that his students need to work on, while building on their current strengths. His teaching experience and knowledge on past exams over the years, as well as his familiarity with teen culture, allow him to compile complete sets of notes and questions - memes, savage math IB AISL jokes and roasts dispersed amidst exam keywords, worked examples and step-by-step solutions. These material are well-cherished by appreciative students who are able to make the most of their valuable lesson time. Furthermore, Jenkins' expertise in experimental design, formal scientific writing styles, data processing and analysis have translated into valuable advices to students; many students who took these to heart have since witnessed their internal assessments (IA) and extended essays (EE) used as exemplar documents by their respective schools.
Jenkins' tremendous mental-math and problem-solving skills allow him to effectively help students prepare for Oxbridge interview questions, maths and science-related big-brain entrance exams such as BMAT, UKCAT, ENGAA, PAT and MAT. Jenkins' knowledge in maths and all 3 sciences also allows him to continue to tutor some of his IB and A-level graduates with their university studies.
Outside his busy teaching schedule, Jenkins likes to play strategy games such as Chinese chess, poker and mobile phone skill-games. Jenkins was once a top-20 HK player and world-ranked in the popular phone strategy game Clash Royale. His favourte win condition is the goblin laugh emote.
Jenkins seriously enjoys the Sciences and Mathematics and has a habit of doodling formulae everywhere, including our windows. His students have found this passion to be surprisingly infectious.
With a horde of students from class of '18, Jenkins was invited to attend the German-Swiss International School graduation ceremony.
As a former diplomat, serving military officer, and lecturer, Charles has a plethora of experiences inside and outside academia, which he can bring to bear in the teaching of his students.
Apisake Charles Monthienvichienchai,
B.A. M.A. (Oxon), M.A., MPhil (Cantab), PhD
History, Theory of Knowledge (IB), English Literature, Classical Civilisation
Dr. Apisake, or Charles to his friends, was educated at Ampleforth College (aka "The Catholic Eton") in North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom. After graduation, he went on to collect an impressive array of degrees in a range of subjects, including a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History at Oxford University, Master of Arts in Thai Studies from the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Master of Philosophy in Chinese Studies from Cambridge University, and Doctor of Philosophy in History from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
After completing his PhD, Charles worked as a diplomat at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over 4 years, on a wide variety of challenging assignments, ranging from dealing with crocodile attacks and monkey invasions, conducting negotiations on economic and environmental issues on Thailand's behalf at the United Nations to handling bilateral issues with countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, and Ireland.
Currently, Charles is a serving Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Thai Army and a lecturer in history at the elite Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. Since its establishment in 1887, the military academy has furnished Thailand with 11 (out of a total of 23) Prime Ministers, not to mention countless prominent leaders in the Thai state and private sectors.
Despite his busy schedule, Charles has, in the past, privately tutored pupils in history on a part-time basis for the GCSE, IGCSE, A-level and also International Baccalaureate examinations. With his practical experiences, as well as a vast pool of academic knowledge, he is well-placed in fostering greater understanding among his pupils as to the relevance of history in their daily lives, as well as the workings of the world, while improving students' examination skills. Consequently, many of his former pupils have gone on to achieve high grades in their final examinations, often confounding the expectations of their regular teachers.
In addition to history, Charles has also had multiple positive feedback from students taking their English language/literature and IB Theory of Knowledge courses, particularly for their essays, written tasks, and oral presentations.
Charles can also offer advice on university applications, interviews, and personal statements, both for the UK universities, as well as the US college systems.
Andrew Parsons, MSc, PhD
Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry
Dr. Andrew 'Andy' Parsons earned his Masters of Science in Physics at King's College, University of London, and a Doctorate in Nanophysics and Nanotechnology from Royal Holloway, University of London.
Despite his day job at the Integrated Circuits Failure Analysis Laboratory, Andy thoroughly enjoys teaching and has done so on a part-time basis for the past decade. Having a job that uses his academic knowledge in systematically solving problems has allowed him to use his practical experiences to help his students overcome academic problems.
A fluent speaker of Cantonese, Andy has tutored students preparing for their Physics , Mathematics and Chemistry examinations under international and local curriculums, mainly GCSE, A-level, the IB Diploma Programme, and the DSE examinations. He has also given more specialised tutorials in waves and mechanics, optics and electricity, as well as momentum and electric circuits .
Daniel Shiu-Hiu CHAN, BSc, PhD
Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics
Dr. Daniel Chan completed his BSc in Advanced Science at the University of Sydney, Australia, and a BSc in Chemistry at the University of New South Wales, Australia, before continuing to complete his doctorate in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. In the course of this impressive academic career, he won many prestigious awards, including the Highly Commended Thesis Award from the University of Cambridge and the Stephen Angyal Prize and School Medal for the best performance in Honours year from the University of New South Wales. In addition, he has authored or contributed to over one hundred academic articles.
Daniel has over 15 years of tutoring experience in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics, with many former students hailing from leading British and Hong Kong boarding schools. Given his extensive experiences in Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom, Daniel is comfortable tutoring students studying for a wide range of curricula, including the IGCSE, A-level, IB, MYP, KS3, and SAT.
Annabel Williams, B.A., MPhil (Oxon), PhD (Oxon)
English Language, English Literature
Annabel has had over five years’ experience tutoring students one-to-one, helping them to achieve their academic goals. She is particularly experienced in working with GCSE and IGCSE English Language and English Literature, A Level English Literature, and IB English and English Language and Literature. She has also worked with students preparing for SATs and PSATs.
Annabel takes great satisfaction in helping her students to develop critical thinking and enabling them to apply analytical skills both to their set texts and to unfamiliar ones. She recognises the importance of verbal, as well as written communication, and offers intensive, focused advice on oral examinations along with essay style and examination techniques. Annabel’s wider reading is voracious and varied: from the Victorian novels of George Eliot and Charles Dickens, through to exam classics such as Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and Orwell’s Animal Farm, to drama such as Sophocles’ Antigone and Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, and the poetry of Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy and Thomas Hardy, to name but a few.
Annabel achieved her Bachelor Degree in English, with First Class Honours, from Bristol University, took a Master's in English Language and Literature at Oxford University, and has recently completed her studies for a PhD in English at Merton College, the University of Oxford. At the moment, she is continuing her academic career as a part-time lecturer at the University of Oxford and is working on a book project. She is thus well-positioned to help students who are preparing for university entrance interviews – and to give advice on the transition from A Levels or IBs to undergraduate level studies.
Sean Gilbert, B.A. (Cantab.), M.A.
English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing, University applications
After graduating from the University of Cambridge with a BA in English, Sean worked at an international tuition school in Hong Kong before helping to launch a tuition school in the United Arab Emirates, where he was described as a "Super Tutor" in the Khaleej Times, the UAE's longest running English-language newspaper.
Subsequently, he graduated with a Master's Degree in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where he had the chance to have masterclasses with nobel laureates and other leading thinkers, became a producer and teacher at a sixth form college, while also continuing with giving private tuition. He has also written columns for a number of publications, including Time Out, The Holborn (where he was also a section editor), Metro, and Theater Full Stop, as well as works of fiction that have appeared in Short Fiction, Storgy, and Litro.
Passionate about education, where he finds great reward in being a part of the enormous transformations that his students go through on their journey of learning, Sean is experienced in supervising a range of students (Ages 12-18) with a variety of academic ambitions, especially in combining the emphasis on accuracy of the Chinese education system with the European style of fostering independent and critical thinking.
Sean is experienced in working with a variety of texts, including Shakespeare and more modern texts including those by Joseph Conrad, Katherine Mansfield, T.S. Eliot, Fitzgerald, and Harper Lee . For poetry, Sean specialises in the Romantic poets, including Keats and Shelley. Contemporary texts that he has taught and discussed include those by Carol Ann Duffy, the British Poet Laureate (2009-2019), and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Sean is currently based in the United Kingdom and is available to teach online classes.
Adam Reekie, B.A. M.A. (Oxon)
Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Civilisation, Law
Adam has been fascinated with the classical civilisations of Greece and Rome since he was young, learning Latin since he was 9 and Ancient Greek since he was 13. It was only natural that he would go on to study Classics (or in the Oxford lingo - Literae Humaniores - which broadly means Latin and Ancient Greek literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, all in their original languages) at The Queen's College, Oxford University, graduating with honours in 2005.
Following his graduation, Adam took a law conversion course and subsequently qualified as a lawyer. He worked for one of the world's top commercial firms in London, before relocating to Bangkok to be with his wife, who works as a university lecturer. A short stint at another top international law firm was followed by an offer of a teaching position on a new undergraduate International Business Law course at Thammasat University in 2014. Adam continues to lecture at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
Aside from lecturing, Adam has also been engaged in private tuition for youths from 12 to 18 years of age, primarily in English writing skills and critical thinking. He has also taken on Thai postgraduate students who are intending to take the national examinations to become judges (one exam is in English). Much of Adam’s past teaching experiences have been focused on English and Law, nevertheless, given his extensive academic background, he is more than capable of taking on students interested in polishing their skills in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Classical Civilisation.