1-to-1 sessions
I’ve been tutoring since 2005, when I first taught English, Mathematics, and Science to a pair of Primary 4 twins. I’m grateful to the parents who have recommended me to other students, and I’ve been giving private tuition (at various capacities) ever since.
Enrichment Centres
I’ve also had the privilege of working at enrichment centres large and small, as a curriculum developer and writer.
Secondary English
I focus mainly on Secondary English (including GP), and I wrote the entire Secondary English curriculum at Joyous Learning over 4 years. I’m exceptionally proud of it.
Escape Room Curriculum
I converted (or designed from the ground-up) 2-hour lessons in an educational escape room format for the classroom. They’re fun, enjoyable, and I particularly like doing that
Other Subjects
I also write curriculum for English, Mathematics, and other Humanities subjects.
I’ve worked WITH
Subjects
As a scriptwriter and journalist by training, I specialise in English and Literature at all levels.
Other areas that I teach and develop curriculum for include:
- English
- General Paper
- Literature
- Language Arts
- Economics
- Social Studies
- Geography
- Environment Systems and Societies
- Mathematics (Primary)
- Science (Primary)
- Gifted Education Programme (GEP)
Escape Room Lessons
One of my most proudest achievements was at Joyous Learning, where we pioneered escape room lessons. They were incorporated into our regular curriculum (where some of the 2-hour Thinking Writing classes were transformed into escape room lessons), as well as 3-hour workshops for larger groups.
Enrichment Workshops
I’ve developed enrichment workshops for Primary & Secondary levels.
To Be or Not To Be: An Introduction to Shakespeare
Sounds Right: Write Dialogue Like a Real Scriptwriter (Secondary)
Smart But Lazy: Motivating Your Brilliant Child
Name It To Tame It: Describing Emotions Authentically
Sounds Right: Write Dialogue Like a Real Scriptwriter (Primary)
Defeat Doctor Fallacious: A Vocabulary Escape Room Challenge
Testimonials
Understands Motivation & Writing Intentions
Teacher Marcus is an amazing instructor who coached me in writing for several creative writing competitions, including the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and the BBC Earth Magazine Young Writer National Championship 2023. Thanks to him, I learned about elaborating on important details in a story and have been inspired to apply it to writing my own short stories. Teacher Marcus focuses on asking 5W1H questions about my stories. This helped me to fix plot holes and ensure that every important detail was obvious to the reader, so that they wouldn’t ask any questions about my story. This is a unique approach to editing writing. He is able to understand my intentions in writing and my motivations. I would recommend Teacher Marcus if you are looking for a responsible, creative, inspiring and approachable teacher who gives detailed and comprehensive suggestions for improvement on writing.
L. Xu
Raffles Institution, Integrated Programme (IP)
Develops Coherent Argumentation Skills
Teacher Marcus trained me to visualize the entire argument as an end product that was produced by structuring and stringing individual points, such that they each complemented and emphasized one another. Teacher Marcus displays reliable experience in literary analysis over a wide range of styles in the English Language and Literature – a list which includes but is not exhaustive to prose, poetry and plays. His in-depth experience in the field was further expanded and valuably utilized when helping me tackle my examinations consisting of commentary writing for unseen passages/poems.
When starting Secondary 1 in 2007, “Language Arts” was a new subject to me that I struggled to grasp and could not do well in, often resulting in borderline passes for my homework assignments. By the end of my International Baccalaureate examination, I had received a Grade 6 out of a maximum 7 for English, an improvement which I largely attribute to Teacher Marcus’ efforts and could not have achieved without.
B. Huang
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), International Baccalaureate (IB)
Focuses on Question Analysis & Mental Health
Thanks to Teacher Marcus, I learned how to answer questions in the right format and I can now get a 7 for Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS).
Teacher Marcus focuses on mental health and understanding on what they are asking for questions which helped me to understand how to think in a way that the examiners would mark me correct.
I would recommend Teacher Marcus if you are looking for Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) and if you have trouble understanding questions in exams.
D. Ong
Singapore International School (Hong Kong), International Baccalaureate (IB)
Private Tuition Rates
Writing Coach
Have a writing competition that you want to enter? Need a piece of writing to be polished to persuasive perfection? I’ve coached students in their writing, to help them achieve their dreams.
Each session is 2 hours long and I recommend online sessions.
For writing competitions, I suggest at least 10 sessions and to start 3 months before the competition deadline.
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10 sessions: $5,000
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5 sessions: $2,700
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1 session: $600
Motivational Coaching
Having been trained in motivating young learners for success, I’ve helped students gain intrinsic motivation to study – because they want to, not because they have to. It’s a skill that will help them throughout adulthood and life.
Each session is 2 hours long and I recommend in-person sessions.
It usually takes 6 sessions for meaningful change to be sustainable.
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12 sessions: $6,000
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6 sessions: $3,200
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1 session: $600
Private Tutoring
Having been exposed to teaching styles and curriculum philosophies at different enrichment centres, I’m able to customise my approach to the exact needs of your child.
Each session is 2 hours long and I recommend in-person sessions.
It takes at least 6 months for sustained improvement in grades and attitude for a subject.
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per session: $500
All packages are non-refundable.
Fun to be Smart 