PhD, published poet and former teacher, with 30+ years in higher education, offering creative writing lessons to first and second language adult students.

Find out more about Mari

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

  At age 12, I discovered that writing creatively is a life-line and kindles one's life force. I am a fourth generation teacher and tutoring is in my blood.

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

  My speciality is to help writers to write with creative clarity and conviction. I work from the premise that you have the seed of creativity within, and together we can kindle that, and work on crafting. What will emerge from this is your unique voice. One method is to work directly on drafts which you bring to the table. I also offer exercises to stimulate the imagination. Sometimes we examine how other writers write well, and why it works.

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

  I grew up in a family of teachers - therefore teaching is as natural as breathing.

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

  Advanced listening skills; patience; being perceptive to what the student's goals are; being reliable and organised; ensuring the student's growth, progress and satisfaction.

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

  At age 12, I was naughty in class and my teacher punished me by sending me home with the task of writing a poem. This was how I discovered not only what good teachers do, but also, how much writing meant to me.

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

  During school years, many students have negative experiences of writing creatively and reading literature. Poetry is sometimes taught badly.

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

  When a student feels empowered by gaining new knowledge, I feel deeply satisfied. I am good at break things down to its simplest form, this process adding up to mastery of complex tasks or projects.

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

  I have over 30 years of teaching experience and numerous teaching qualifications. In my PhD I risked a poetic approach to problem-solving in social science and education, and I was fortunate to pass with minimal changes to the thesis.