Nina

Tutoring Experience

In my final year of Sixth Form, I weekly tutored Year 11 students in GCSE English Literature and Language, Spanish and Theatre Studies.

I ran sessions on the Oxbridge application process with Year 13 students of my previous school. I mentored a student in the Oxbridge application process on their personal statement, mock interviews and the ELAT entrance exam. They successfully gained entry at Magdalen College, Oxford doing English Literature.

While at Oxford, I have done outreach with my college in providing demonstrations of an English Literature Oxbridge interview for local schools. In a colloquial Study Buddy format, I have regular self-organised sessions with the lower years at my college to help mentor them in English Literature through discussing challenging texts, sharing notes and approaches.

Tutoring Approach

English Literature: I would focus on engagement with the student’s set texts, tailoring the approach to their desired outcome or areas of focus. I would look at combining close analysis skills, wider literary context and argument structure to create an approach they can apply to each text in both a class and exam environment. I would provide close analysis examples from myself and from the examination board as well as worksheets, and key quotations. I would set and mark any practice essays or work, discussing feedback and next aims with the student.

English Language: I would focus on terminology, structure and the application of close analysis to a range of different texts that may appear in the classroom and the exam. I would encourage a hands-on approach of practice questions and analysing texts that have appeared in past exams. I would help create a structured approach that the student can apply to any text and utilise in the exam to maintain an organised argument alongside in depth analysis. I would set and mark any practice essays or work.

Oxbridge Applications: I would use my personal experience of the admissions process to mentor a student on personal statement and interview preparation. I would use outreach resources from my Oxford college, example personal statements and my own gained knowledge to best tailor a student’s application to appeal to Oxbridge. I would do mock interviews and work together in preparing for a range of questions and topics in order to provide the student with the most confidence in their application and ability.

ELAT Entrance Exam for Oxbridge: I would prioritise practice work and essays as to best give the student preparation for the entrance exam. I would aim to reduce any stress around the ELAT and give the candidate an approach that would leave them confident and assured.