Thomas

My name is Tom and I have recently graduated from Keele University with a First-Class Honours in History with Competency in Japanese and an International Year.

I am looking to tutor History, English and related subjects. Having recently graduated from education, I understand the struggles of being a student and the individual problems one may have studying and revising. I have experienced these stresses and overtime developed solutions to overcome them. As a tutor I will offer insight into how to solve any of these particular issues (e.g. revision, essay-writing, time-keeping, personal management, general comprehension) while also providing necessary support and guidance.

In terms of History, I have a very broad historiographical knowledge: I have studied subjects such as Medicine and Nazi Germany at GCSE, Wars of the Roses and the Arab-Israeli Conflict at A-Level and I now possess a strong comprehension of global modern and early-modern history (including the rise of fascism, decolonisation in Africa, and English political history) at a university level. Additionally, I wrote my dissertation on Japanese modernist political theory.

In terms of English literature, at sixth form I studied numerous pieces in-depth. For example, I have studied plays from Shakespeare`s "The Tempest", to John Ford`s "Tis Pity She`s a Whore" and Alan Bennett`s "The History Boys". I have also analysed Victorian literature including Charlotte Bronte`s "Jane Eyre" and Thomas Hardy`s "Tess of the d`Urbervilles", as well as older literature including "Beowulf" and Murasaki Shikibu`s "The Tale of Genji". Regarding poetry, I have looked in detail at W.B. Yeats`s work, and more modern poets including Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage. The nature of my university work as a history student, has meant that I have continued to read and engage with written literature as well as develop my understanding of critical theory. Over my time at university, I have studied writers including Rudyard Kipling, Dinabandhu Mitra and Saadat Hasan Manto.

However, knowledge is not everything, technique is another important skill that is required by History and English students. Having written hundreds of essays and taken dozens of exams, I have learnt what works and what does not work. I have made the mistakes so you do not have to. Every student is different, however I can offer many tips on how to make studying History and English easier, and your exam/essay technique more refined.

Personally, I am an agreeable and committed individual who is always keen on helping as best as I can. I have experience working with others including being Vice-President of Keele University`s History Society, and Peer Adviser to the Keele University`s Global Studies Department. I have currently been hired for a teaching job in Japan, however with the Coronavirus outbreak my plans have been postponed until early next year, and so I wanted to dedicate myself and earn experience by tutoring here in the UK.

In terms of my personal hobbies, I enjoy reading and taking my two dogs on long walks. I am currently reading "Japan Story: In Search of a Nation" by Christopher Harding - it is a brilliant book and I would thoroughly recommend it.

An important note: while I do not currently have a DBS, because of the nature of my employment in Japan, I possess an ICPC which maintains similar standards. I am more than happy to provide evidence for this upon request.

Availability: I am available on both weekdays and weekends. Please contact me to discuss specific hours.

I can do both face-to-face schooling at my home or facilitate online tutoring.

Willing to travel: Home Only

Experience: Experience in an Educational Environment:

Keele University, Exchange Programme Assistant, 2017
• Helping Japanese students on a four-week exchange programme organised by university.
• Assisting the students in adjusting to British culture and customs.
• Aiding the students in their studies, and learning conversational English.

Keele University History Society, Vice-President, 2017-2018
• Organising meetings and events as part of team-working environment
• Taking leadership to orchestrate committee ideas
• Communicating and engaging effectively with History students to make them feel included in the society
• Designed and created unique society hoodies and conducted a successful selling campaign of them

Shinzen Kindergarten, Kyoto, Visitor helping with Intercultural Studies, 2019
• During my year abroad in Kyoto, went to a local kindergarten to assist teachers in educating their children about British culture.
• Gave a presentation to the young children in Japanese, ran a British culture themed stall, and played educational games with them in order to engage them.

Keele University, Global Opportunities Peer Advisor, 2019-2020
• Team-working effectively with a large and diverse team to promote studying abroad for the next cohort
• Organising events such as Open Days and Fairs
• Public speaking in lectures as well as conversing confidently behind stalls
• Being consistently informed and knowledgeable about my subject area

Keele University Japanese Society, Treasurer, 2019-2020
• Organisation of funds for the society bank account
• Consistently conducting various events and activities
• Knowledge of Japanese culture and language to promote Japan to a wide student audience
• Frequent interaction and coordination with Japanese people to arrange a variety of projects

Additional Awards and Qualifications:

• Level 1 Sports Leadership Award, 2014
• Empire: Controversies of British Imperialism, 2015 (online course by the University of Exeter via FutureLearn)
• Keele Excellence Scholarship, 2016 (awarded to those enrolling with higher grades than required)
• Christopher Harrison Prize, 2017 (awarded for best performing first year History student)
• Keele Bronze Volunteering Award, 2019 (awarded for contributing over 25 hours to volunteering)
• Keele Silver Volunteering Award, 2020 (awarded for contributing over 50 hours to volunteering)
• Wedgwood History Dissertation Prize, 2020 (awarded for best dissertation in History)