Brianna was working through some HSC English essay questions with the student, and it was clear right from the start that she knew her stuff. She gave some great, insightful feedback, really helping the student grasp the material in a practical way. One of the things Brianna did that stood out was using a Venn Diagram to break down the three main themes they were focusing on—culture, language, and identity. This made the abstract ideas much easier to understand and connect. It was a super effective way to simplify complex concepts.
Brianna also shared her own study notes from The Castle, which was really thoughtful. It gave the student a new perspective on the text and some great ideas for structuring their own notes. This really helped the student feel more confident about their approach to the text.
They also went through a pre-written essay response from the student, breaking it down paragraph by paragraph. Brianna didn’t just point out what needed improvement; she also highlighted the positive aspects of the writing. Brianna also made sure to use constructive feedback throughout and minimised the use of negative feedback. For example, she used the word “weak” instead of “bad,” which I thought was a nice touch. It made the feedback feel more constructive and less discouraging. Brianna’s approach definitely kept the student engaged and open to suggestions.
It was obvious that Brianna and the student had a great rapport—they worked really well together, and the session flowed smoothly. Brianna made sure everything they did was aligned with the HSC rubric, so everything was super relevant and was sure to relate to the requirements so the student can achieve the most marks they can.
Honestly, Brianna did an awesome job. Her communication, teaching skills, and knowledge are spot on, and it’s clear she’s helping her student get better every session!

Demi Roussakis