Philosophy is a subject that comes alive in conversation, and this strongly informs my approach to teaching the subject. I work to build students’ confidence in philosophical discussion by equipping them with the tools for critical thought, and then giving them the chance to apply them in conversations structured with one eye on independent philosophical development, and one eye on their goals, be they A-level success or a confident admissions interview. A conversational style allows classes to be flexible, adapting both to students’ individual learning needs, strengths and weaknesses.