Tom

Hello! I am an experienced teacher, writer and researcher living in London with a PhD in English Literature and Continental philosophy from the University of Glasgow. I am available to tutor online via Skype, Zoom, Removed Classroom and Microsoft Teams.

I work as a secondary teacher of English Literature and Language from KS3 to GCSE at a Montesorri school in London, teaching English Literature and Language (IGCSE) (2017 - present). Until recently I worked as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing and Literary Theory at the University of Essex, and before that taught undergraduate English Literature at The University of Glasgow for five years.

As well as tailor-made, student-led seminars and tutorials, I can offer undergraduate students in-depth introductions to key concepts across the Humanities. I'm also a specialist in editing, proof-reading and academic writing more broadly. I was a regional editor of The International Journal of Badiou Studies for a number of years and I'm currently co-editing a special issue of the Journal of British and Irish Innovative Poetry. My book of philosophy, 'Badiou, Poem and Subject', is published by Bloomsbury (January, 2020). I am also a published poet with three published collections and numerous publications across a range of independent journals and magazines.

Reference comments: 'Tom is outstanding. He took a top MLitt followed by a first-rate PhD, which I supervised. During his postgrad years I employed him as a second year university tutor and all inspections and reports reveals a teacher of remarkable sensitivity with extraordinary capabilities with students of every ability. I recommend him to you without reservation.'

As of December 2018 I have a five-star review from a parent on Tutorful wishing to remain anonymous:

"My son's performance in English for IGCSE has quickly improved since having Tom teach him. Tom has a very methodical approach to his teaching and communicates incredibly well with my son. He knows which strategies to apply to each question and introduced some strategies outside the specification for descriptive writing which were really helpful. Tom is very knowledgeable in his field and is an incredible tutor. I would highly recommend him." (Available on request).

And a further, more recent review from Tutorful: 'Dr Tom Betteridge is a humble and a polite philosopher. Tom tutored both English Language and English Literature to my son for a short while, a tremendous progress up to its maximum was done during that time. Tom has an incredible subject knowledge and he is a truly dedicated teacher. He is very thorough with the specification and always taught content relevant to the specification. Tom uses student led approach in teaching, this was fantastic as it enabled my son to build confidence in expressing and justifying his opinions effectively regarding literary texts. He gave excellent advice to my son to improve his essays. Tom has unique writing techniques. Tom is extremely good with poetry and taught poetry brilliantly. It honed my son's ability and skills to analyse poems. Prose, Play, Essay writing Descriptive writing all went very well and my son's results improved to their maximum. I never forget how Tom taught to describe the "Black Swan" It was so beautiful!
Thank you Tom, Or actually Dr . Tom Betteridge. We wish you all the best for the future.' (Available on request)

Tutoring Experience

I currently work in London as a secondary teacher of English Literature and Language in London from KS3 to GCSE. I also privately tutor students in GCSE English Language, English Literature, GCSE/A level Religious Studies and 11+ examinations.

Between 2011 and 2016 I worked as a teacher of undergraduate English Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Glasgow (2012-2016), teaching over 300 students overall across a wide range of undergraduate modules, and including course design and delivery, marking, feedback and administration, and the development of bespoke lectures and workshops in poetry. More recently, I worked as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing and Literary Theory at the University of Essex (2017-18).

In 2015 I was nominated for a University of Glasgow Student Representative Council Student Teaching Award in the category 'Best Postgraduate who Tutors'.

Tutoring Approach

I can provide student-led seminars and tutorials designed to help foster the enthusiasm and confidence needed to encounter challenging texts. I can also offer structured tutorial series to help students become acquainted with the details and nuances of 11+ and 13+ examinations, including elite comprehension and creative writing coaching.

I tailor all of my seminars to the needs of individual students whether they're struggling to read poetry for the first time, facing difficulty preparing for their 11+ exams, or encountering problems in their undergraduate coursework.

GCSE and A-level students will benefit from encountering in my classes approaches and methodologies used in the study of philosophy and literature at undergraduate level.