Unlocking Physics Potential | Dedicated Tutor for IB, GCSE, IGCSE | Empowering Scientific Minds

Find out more about Junaid

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

  I chose to train as a teacher in 2012. I remembered how much I enjoyed learning at school and how curious children tend to be. I wanted to help answer all those questions we have as we are growing up. Such as, why is the sky blue? How is a rainbow formed etc. This led me to become a teacher of Physics, so I could help children learn about the world around them.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, and the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I am a Physics Specialist but teach all three science subjects till GCSE's. The fundamental concepts to understand Physics can be categorised under; Particles & Energy, Forces & Space, Electricity & Magnetism, Light & Sound.
  The topics within this which I like to discuss range from the behaviour of particles to Newton ion classical physics and Einstein's quantum theories. Most importantly, discussion on how science was discovered and build upon helps pupils learn the scientific process, which is important to develop their thinking as young scientists.

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

  My Science teacher at school and my Maths teacher at college were the inspiration for my personal interest in STEM subjects. More popular role models for me would be science researchers such as Andrew Huberman and Neil de Grasse Tyson. It is that scientific thinking of questioning, deducing and checking that I admire about these two modern-day scientists

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

  A good tutor is one who understands the learning needs of their individual pupils. Is able to work at the learners' pace and possess a good knowledge of the subject. Importantly, is aware of the common misconceptions most young people may have and is able to tackle them explicitly using powerful knowledge. A good tutor is one, who does not simply focus on what to learn, but on how to learn. Not on what to think but how to think. These then become transferable skills, which independent learners can then apply to other subjects.

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

  I think at school most students think, I don't want to be a scientist when I grow up, so I don't care about that subject. It is important to understand that when you are being introduced to different subjects at school, you are not only being taught the content but how to think like a historian, a scientist, an athlete etc. This will then go on to help you decide which profession, sector or career is most suited for you. Of course, the things you find easy will be automatically categorised as the ones you are good at. Although, it is vital to not forget that school is your training ground. It provides an opportunity for you to develop areas which you find difficult, hence, may not enjoy doing them because you may not find them easy.

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

  The challenge of teaching Science is teaching the scientific process. Although, in our daily lives we continuously apply it, but this cause-and-effect relationship is one which can be tricky to get a grasp of. Changing mindsets does not happen overnight but with continuous practice, habits of thinking become permanent but if practised wrong they become permanent and incorrect.
  In terms of Physics, difficulties come in when teaching concepts which are applied incorrectly in everyday language. An example of that would be the use of the word weight. In everyday language this is not significant, however, in scientific literacy weight is a force, whereas, mass is the amount of stuff/particles matter is made up of. So it is concepts such as these, which are difficult to teach and learn as pupils already have an idea that they come in with before entering the classroom and it is about undoing that and rebuilding a new schema in the brain that the most challenging aspect.

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

  My passion is to help educate young minds with powerful knowledge so that they can become independent learners and contributing citizens of the community in the future. With the advancement in tech, leading to social media platforms and a lot of knowledge being mis spread. In recent times, the questions have been, Is the Earth flat? Is the vaccine real? Most people will seek information from comments and posts on social media but those who have knowledge will be able to differentiate fact from fiction or know how to process the wealth of knowledge being presented to them on a daily basis.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  Over a decade of teaching experience in various national and international curriculums in private and state schools has helped me develop and understand on how pupils learn. My personal interest in neuroscience has helped me to become a better teacher. Backed with good subject knowledge and an academic background in Aeronautical Engineering are the key things which make me a Physics Superprof.