Senior Architect at Arup, providing under/postgrad tutoring for Developing Design & Architecture Skills, portfolios, job interviews, software skills and admissions

Find out more about Chiok

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

  The role of an architect has always fascinated me, as it is a profession that helps build the main pillars of modern society, which is the construction of buildings. Most human beings will interact with buildings in some way or form every day, and at some point, an Architect may have had a hand in that construction. By working as an architect, I feel that I contribute to society by designing and constructing buildings that provide homes for people to live in or work in.
  
  There are other ways to contribute to society, however, and I think teaching is a really meaningful way. Throughout my career, I have always relied on the mentorship of people more senior and experienced than myself to navigate and overcome the challenges that arise. Now it's my time to pay it forward, and I believe private tutoring is the most beneficial way to do my part in society and help teach others.

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

  I teach architecture design for students in their Part 1, 2, or 3 university studies. The topics I cover include reviewing a student's Studio projects, Essay Writing, Job interviews, polishing their software skills in the Adobe Suite, AutoCAD & Revit, modelmaking, or RIBA Part 3 Exam prep.
  
  The topics that I am probably the least knowledgeable about are Architectural History, as that subject could cover architecture from different parts of the world in different time periods, which would be overwhelming to try to cover.

• 3) Did you have any role models, a teacher who inspired you?

  My favourite teacher in primary school worked previously as an Architect in his youth, and he recommended to me that following that career path would make good use of my skills and abilities. I can thankfully say that I made the right judgment call to follow my teacher's advice, as I find the career very fulfilling. He was very kind, smart, and had a keen eye for attention to detail, which made me look up to him and respect him a lot.

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

  It doesn't matter what the topic or subject is that a tutor is teaching; the main aspect is that they should be instilling confidence in a student. A lesson would normally start with a student presenting a problem or a topic they would like to explore. By the end of the lesson, the student should be equipped with the necessary skills and abilities to confidently solve the problem themselves.
  
  A tutor should be supportive, providing all the necessary help they can muster; they should set achievable goals and celebrate achievements. By nurturing a positive attitude and practicing assertiveness, a student can help boost their self-belief. Ironically, a good tutor is no longer needed when the student has built up enough confidence to be self-sufficient.

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

  I lived in Oxford for some time while I was studying architecture at university, and it's a beautiful city to explore and get lost in. Whenever I had a problem with my work that I couldn't solve, I would usually go on a long walk to process my thoughts. One time, after delivering a particularly bad presentation where my design work was completely roasted in front of everyone, I walked out of the university that day in a sullen mood.
  
  Just like that scene in Forest Gump, I decided to just start walking in a random direction to take my mind off things. While walking, I was observing the cars passing, people walking by, the birds flying overhead, and the fish swimming in the river. At some point, I had been walking for so many miles and for so many hours that when I stopped walking, it was nighttime, and I found myself in the countryside in a farmer's field surrounded by cows.

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

  Architecture is a creative subject, and it can be really easy at times to let your creativity run rampant, imagining all these wonderful designs. One thing that can hold you back, however, is the implementation of the design in a 2D drawing, 3D render, or a physical model. It can be frustrating sometimes when you have a really creative idea, but you can't quite land the physical output, leaving the idea fall flat.
  
  Throughout my university, my 3D visualization skills were acceptable, but they were never good enough to deliver the design I envisioned. Today in my career, I have a more managerial role, and so it has been years since I have done some serious 3D visualizations, as I simply don't have the time anymore. I understand and can teach the basics, but these days I just delegate this work to people much more skilled than myself.

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

  I have a real passion for exploring different cities as I'm the type to stop and observe how a staircase interfaces with a doorway, for example. I'm quite fascinated by how different designers can approach the same problem in building design with new and innovative solutions. How different materials interact in different spaces, or how people move between spaces, making their own routes. These observations are where my passion for architecture comes from.
  
  However, as earlier mentioned, teaching is also my passion, as you can spend a long time teaching a student the ropes, and there can be ups and downs, but it's all worth it for the eureka! Moment. When a student finally pieces together all the different concepts you explained to them and comes up with an innovative solution that can even surprise you. Well, that's what teaching is all about, witnessing when a student just 'gets it'.

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

  I believe teaching the subject is only half the journey when you're conducting lessons with a student. The full journey is when you teach not only the subject, but also teach the students themselves. By providing encouragement, motivation, and showing genuine care and empathy, this helps build up a student's confidence. My approach to teaching has always been to want a student to finish a lesson with more confidence than they had in the beginning. By making a student more comfortable with their level of confidence, it can help proliferate in other aspects of their lives. Teaching confidence is what makes me a Superprof.