Our tutors - Oliver Hobson

Oliver, Spanish and Italian - University of Oxford

Hi, I’m Oliver, a third-year Spanish and Italian student at the University of Oxford. I am currently on my year abroad that I have split between Siena and Barcelona.

At A-Level I studied Spanish (A*), Chemistry (A*) and English Literature (A). I also obtained a PLIDA B2 (an A-Level equivalent qualification) in Italian in 2021. I also speak Catalan and a bit of French.

I have a keen interest in how languages have evolved and become what they are today. As such, I believe that a solid understanding of the building blocks of a language, for instance the grammar and pronunciation, is essential to success and progressing towards fluency.

I have experience tutoring students from a wide variety of age groups all with very different goals; I, therefore, understand the importance of tailoring each and every lesson to my tutees needs and thoroughly enjoy the process of working together to develop a plan that is both effective and most importantly: fun.

Beyond my degree, in my second year I was JCR president at Merton College, which was simultaneously one of the most rewarding, stimulating but challenging experiences of my life. It gave me the opportunity to improve my communication and organisation skills; and taught me the importance of transparency and working collaboratively. All these competencies I have endeavoured to incorporate into my tutorial approach.