Cambridge University graduate with a passion for literature and teaching; experienced helping students of all ages. Knowledge of US AP Literature and Language syllabus, as well as UK GCSE and A-level.

Find out more about Simon

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

  I have been fascinated by studying, especially English and history, for almost as long as I can remember - certainly as far back as my early school days in the UK. When it came time to choose my degree, I was really torn between English Literature and History, and I ended up taking my undergraduate degree in English, and then completing a PhD in history, which I suppose was the best of all worlds for me! I've always been excited to share my passion for these subjects with others, but I began formally teaching in around 2011, and have been doing so in various forms, both online and in person, for the past 15 years.

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

  One of the pleasures of teaching is that you are constantly challenged to think about and talk about new topics, depending on your students' focus and interests. That is particularly true of the AP qualifications in the US, where with something like literature, a student can literally be studying anything ever written! So I am really open to exploring and studying any topic related to history or literature, and if it is not something with which I am already familiar, I am happy to get up to speed. My particular passions and research interests are in C20 history and literature, so those will always be a particular favorite I guess!

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  I was lucky to have a number of really strong and inspiring teachers at school, but Mr Hart my history teacher, and Mr Lewis my drama teacher were probably the two that left the most enduring impression. What they had in common was a real passion for their subject, and an infectious excitement about what they were teaching, and I hope that I have just a little bit of that too.

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

  I think there are a number of things - of course, you have to know your subject, and that's pretty much non-negotiable. But more than that, you have to be able to explore and explain it in a way which brings it alive, as that's when we learn best. I think the best teachers have a way of taking what they know, and then tailoring the way they teach it to meet the needs and interests of their students. You can learn knowledge, but passion for the subject and rapport with students are what really set a good teacher apart.

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

  I remember one of my English teachers, in our first junior-year English class, setting us a challenge - to define the difference between "great literature" and a dishwasher manual. It sounds easy, until you start to get into the detail of it - and that's what made it interesting, as it forced us all to reflect on what makes a work of literature stand the test of time. I'm not sure any of us, as 16 year olds, had a very good answer to that question, but I've given it a lot more thought since. If you want to know what I think about this question now, feel free to ask me!

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

  History and literature both involve interpretation - of historical facts, or of texts - and the differences of interpretation are in large part what make the study interesting. I am still constantly challenged in my views by the interpretations which my students bring to what we study, and that's so refreshing as it forces me to keep my own thinking fresh. So that's a challenge, but a very welcome one!

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

  I guess my particular passion is the history of the First World War, which was the subject of my doctoral thesis. So if you want to really set me off on a discussion, ask me something about that!

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

  I'm not sure I am the best person to answer that; it's probably a question to put to my students. But I hope I bring real passion and enthusiasm to every class, and create space for the sort of lively debate and discussion in which the best learning takes place.