Nai Lang

My lessons in psychology and sociology are personalised, interactive, and shaped around your goals. I work with university students, adult learners, and organisations seeking to explore these subjects in academic, everyday, or professional contexts. Whether you want to understand challenging theories, strengthen your academic writing, explore a personal interest, or develop knowledge relevant to your workplace, I aim to make ideas accessible and help you use them confidently.

**My experience and background**

I hold a PhD in Education from the University of Bath, with an interdisciplinary focus on psychology and sociology, and I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA). My doctoral research explored young Chinese women’s mental health experiences, examining how gender, culture, educational expectations, and wider social structures shape wellbeing and identity.

My teaching experience includes undergraduate and postgraduate seminars at the University of Bath, covering subjects such as Contemporary Sociological Theory, Race and Racism, Crime and Society, Research Methods, and Educational Psychology. I have also delivered lectures and guest lectures at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University on topics including mental health, education, wellbeing, and qualitative research.

Since 2023, I have provided one-to-one online academic tutoring across psychology, sociology, and education for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students. This has included helping students understand disciplinary literature, develop arguments, plan essays, and become more confident academic readers and writers. My university marking experience also helps me give specific feedback on the clarity, structure, and quality of written work.

**What our lessons will look like**

We will begin by discussing what you want to achieve, what you already understand, and where you need support. You are welcome to bring questions, course materials, assignment guidance, or a piece of writing you would like to work through.

A typical lesson combines clear explanation, discussion, and guided practice. I break complex ideas into manageable steps and use examples to connect them with familiar experiences. I will invite you to ask questions, explain concepts in your own words, and try applying what we have discussed. This helps me check your understanding and adapt the lesson as we go.

For psychology, we might explore a theory, examine the research supporting it, and consider alternative explanations or methodological limitations. For sociology, we might compare theoretical perspectives and use them to analyse education, inequality, identity, or other aspects of social life. I particularly enjoy explaining theory, including the work of Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu, while keeping our focus on your course content and learning needs.

My research experience also allows us to discuss how knowledge is produced: how researchers choose methods, interpret evidence, and justify their conclusions. I want you to feel comfortable asking both “What does this mean?” and “How do we know?”

**Academic development, adult learning, and workplace training**

For university students, I offer support with understanding course content, preparing for assessments, critically engaging with literature, and developing essays and dissertations. We can work on interpreting questions, connecting theory with evidence, evaluating research, and constructing clear, well-supported arguments.

For academic writing, we might examine a paragraph together or discuss the structure of a whole assignment. My aim is to help you understand why a change improves your work, so that you can apply that learning independently.

For adult learners, lessons can follow your interests without being tied to a formal course or assessment. We might explore a particular thinker, psychological concept, or social issue through accessible readings, examples, and discussion. No previous academic background in the subject is required; we can agree on a suitable starting point and pace.

For companies and organisations, I can tailor sessions to an agreed learning brief, drawing on my teaching and research background in areas such as wellbeing, identity, inequality, education, and social relationships. Sessions can combine explanations, relevant scenarios, group discussion, and reflective activities to help participants connect ideas with their professional experiences.

At the end of a session, we will review the main points and identify useful next steps. Depending on your goals, these might include further reading, a writing task, or a practical question to explore in your studies or workplace.

**My approach to supporting you**

Alongside teaching, I work as an academic mentor supporting neurodivergent and disabled university students. I help students develop approaches to reading, essay planning, organisation, time management, and independent study. This experience has taught me to be flexible: students benefit from different explanations, structures, and learning paces.

My counselling training and ongoing supervised placement have also strengthened my listening and paraphrasing skills. I am confident in listening carefully, checking that I have understood you, and creating space for you to express questions or uncertainty.

You can expect patience, thoughtful discussion, and clear, constructive feedback. You will be heard without judgement, and you will never be expected to share personal experiences when discussing sensitive topics. I warmly welcome questions and enjoy exploring ideas with students.

Above all, I want our lessons to help you become a more confident, curious, and independent learner, someone who can explain ideas clearly, evaluate evidence thoughtfully, and develop well-supported arguments of your own.