AMINE TAZI

'Starting back in 2011, my journey with Chris had just begun. As an unsophisticated 8 year old boy, I couldn’t even start to fathom the heights to which it would lead me to as a wielder of the English language. From the simplest of grammar rules to the complex art of university writing, every notion I studied was done so with purpose, ensuring a methodical course of evolution. 

'At first, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t reluctant to partake of such lessons. As a young child, the idea of studying in my free time sounded truly like a nightmare. However, at the very first hour spent working with Chris, this perception changed. The arduous task of learning grammatical conjugation suddenly shifted to a moment of pleasure when I had the opportunity to apply these rules to my own free writing. Not only did this stimulate my concentration, but it also assisted me in understanding the real utility of such boringly apparent rules. This approach to teaching is one that I believe to be the most efficient and enjoyable, at the very least from the student’s point of view. When coupled to personalised worksheets in response to each student’s needs, it creates a comfortable yet focused atmosphere to work in, even for young children. To summarise Chris’ teaching method, I would describe it as being a waltz between precise structured work and fun personal discussion, where the student’s participation and cooperation is pleasantly requested to ensure their development unfolds in the best moral and pedagogical conditions. 

'As I grew older, the lessons transitioned from mastering the basics of the English language to helping me deal with my schoolwork. Rather than just assisting me in writing literary essays or completing other tasks, Chris helped me to develop the skills to deal with these assignments on my own. Step by step, we tackled each aspect of these technical questions to the point where I was comfortable confronting them in any situation. You could relate this to the saying  ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ In similar fashion, by working with Chris and following the methods he showed me, I have grown to become someone able to independently write essays that hold more impact and value. This is also true for less academic work. As a huge enthusiast of creative writing, I have also worked a lot with Chris on honing my personal writing skills. Whether it is finding my writing style or developing my story telling skills, I feel like I have gained great affinity with this form of art and credit this to the deep discussions we shared. 

'As I write this in 2020, I am now 17, and when looking back at this journey, I don’t regret a single moment we spent working together. Ironically as a half-French, half-Moroccan student, English has become my preferred language when writing any type of piece. When looking back, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that this experience has been productive and rewarding for me as an individual and that its scope is sure to extend to the realm of my university years and even beyond.