Becky Shaw Simms

MA (Oxon)

When I was a small child, I used to stay with my grandparents on a Friday night. My favourite thing to do was to sit on their big, squashy sofa with my Grandad’s big old atlas on my knees, turning the dusty pages to follow rivers and railways, cities and forests, mountain ranges and oceans. A fascination with the world and its physical and human characteristics has stayed with me, and after enjoying the subject very much  through school, I chose to take Geography as a degree. I was privileged to have the opportunity to do this at Mansfield College, Oxford.

It seems like a very long time since I graduated in 1999, and since then I’ve taken a City and Guilds Certificate in Delivering Learning, and have tutored lots of students at my home, at their home, at colleges and at revision courses. I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every minute. One size does not always fit all, and working as a private Tutor on a one-to-one or small group basis has meant I can get to know each student as an individual, to answer their queries in detail, and to ensure they fully understand the subject matter, whatever their level of prior knowledge or academic ability.

Geography is a vitally important study of ‘who and what is where, and why?’ It bridges the sciences and the humanities brilliantly and I believe it has something to interest everyone – my personal interests lie in the fascinating story of human population, and the social, economic, and environmental challenges this brings as over seven billion (and counting!) of us vie for space on our one and only planet Earth.

But whether you’re interested in rocks and rivers, weather and water, or people and places, I’m so pleased you’ve chosen to study Geography with Wolsey Hall Oxford. Wherever in the world you are, I’m here to help you make the most of your studies and, I hope, learn to love Geography as much as I do. I’m only a Skype call or an email away with any questions – however big or small.

As well as being a busy Geography Tutor, I work as an IT system trainer for a big publishing company in Oxford. But it’s not all work, I promise! In my spare time I enjoy baking, birdwatching, and visiting historic sites and houses. I also enjoy quizzes, and have recently been on the BBC TV quiz show ‘Mastermind’.

Subjects: Geography