This is a transcript of an ‘interview’ published on Superprof to accompany my profile. ( Superprof took over web tutor pages last year). Many of the thoughts are explored elsewhere on Tusitala, particularly about shyness, lack of confidence in class and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
- Have you always liked English and wanted to teach it?
English has always been my passion. As a child, I preferred reading to everything else, especially housework! I always asked for book tokens for presents! Even at Easter. Looking back, I am sure that as a shy child, reading was also a way of empowering me. I loved visiting ‘places’ in stories. I realised the remarkable effect of words. The way stories befriend you. And help you understand others and of course, yourself.
When I was a postgraduate student at Liverpool University, I was asked to teach a course on Practical Criticism and realised I loved teaching. I had been a quiet student and wanted to give my students the opportunity to flourish even if they felt underconfident. I knew how I had been motivated by certain teachers and definitely wanted to help students attain their best potential.
I have loved all my teaching, whether at Bolton School, Liverpool John Moores’ or Bolton University. Now, as an Independent tutor, I still consider teaching English an honour. No other subject reveals so much about human experience, no other subject offers so much insight into why we are as we are.
After working full time for many years, I took a break to spend more time with my children and to write my novel.( Still a work-in-progress!) I missed teaching though so I started doing some Private Tutoring. I set up my website, Tusitala too, and started to write blog posts to help students with their English studies.
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 tutor from Entrance Examinations to postgraduate levels in English. At the moment, I am tutoring many GCSE students because of the new specification which is demanding, not least because of the 19thC.components. I have to say though, I love Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde! I have always been a huge fan of Victorian Literature and I hope my enthusiasm helps students who are less keen! I’m also helping students with UCAS personal statements because University applications need to be highly persuasive. And even though it’s the summer, I’m enjoying tutoring students who just want to feel more confident about speaking up in class.
3) Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?
Definitely, two stand out. I had a wonderful English Teacher when I lived in Marple and she gave me the validation that I needed to believe in myself, especially when other teachers were less enthusiastic. Enthusiasm matters! And at University, my tutor Steve never said a dull word. His tutorials were wonderful and showed me that thinking for myself involved courage and daring but made learning utterly special. I remember handing in a very worthy, ‘safe’ essay and when it came back he had written that writers were like ‘secret agents’ and that the reader cannot tell if they are actually on the side of good or bad. I had never thought about reading in this way. I felt opened up to another way of thinking.
4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?
A good tutor shows care and respect for all students. They listen properly. They listen actively. Have excellent knowledge of their subject. But prepared to say, ‘that’s a super question and I don’t know. But I will find out/have a think.’ A good sense of humour. And NEVER put a student down.
5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.
When I was a student at Liverpool I was in a group I was sure, knew far more than me. They were well spoken, articulate and confident. So I kept silent, week after week. It felt like Tuesday morning torture! I dreaded it.
But then one day ( we were studying Heart Of Darkness that week) I just didn’t agree at all with the discussion. And I sat there, silently fuming. Luckily my tutor picked on me.
’What do you think Janet? ‘ he said.’
So I burst out what I felt and my tutor smiled and said, ‘You know what, I think you’re right.’
I was flabbergasted and then realised that being silent was not helping anyone. Least of all myself and certainly not the tutor or the group. The dynamic was wrong. I remember this still. Learning needs courage. You have to dare to listen to your own voice and speak up.
6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?
There are always new texts to study. Particularly at A-level. And these require lots of work. And it’s a challenge to tutor a book I might not enjoy. This year I worked on Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale. That was a challenge. But in the end, I have really enjoyed, even admired though maybe I still don’t actually like the book.
And if I love a book and students don’t, then that is fun too! Interestingly, though students do take time to get to grips with Dr Jekyll, I really admire the way that everyone seems to enjoy it!
7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?
I love reading and I love writing. I have been lucky enough to take courses with Curtis Brown and Unthank Books. They have been terrific and really challenged me. I want to complete my two novels and get them published. It’s very good to be a student again too. Stops any complacency and gives very different perspectives. I am sure it’s really helped my tutoring too.
