Elizabeth

I have a First Class Honours Degree in English Literature from the University of Warwick and a Masters with Distinction from Kings College London. I hope to commence my PhD at Kings College London in 2019 in their newly formed Creative Writing department or at the University of East Anglia.

I am a patient, playful and creative tutor who specialises in English Literature and Language (from early years to undergraduate level), Creative Writing, Theatre and Performance Studies. I studied Maths to A-Level and can comfortably teach to KS3. I have Grade 8 Piano and Grade 5 Music Theory and teach Piano to Grade 3 level.

For some years I have worked in publishing and for two years at an international NGO. My professional life has informed my creative and academic one. I’m practised at managing my own time, paying attention to small details and getting creative points across in succinct and understandable ways.

I have a deep and instinctive love of arts and humanities and believe that there should be no limit of access for young people. I try to instil the excitement I have with engaging with texts, with a wider sense of understanding of the cultural and societal value of engaging with the arts.

I believe that it is the one-on-one tutor’s responsibility to get to the heart of what could interest a child - be it an aspect of a subject, or merely a teaching style or method. I am open and positive and I feel strongly that my experience in different work environments means I am used to thinking on my feet to quickly resolve problems and situations which could potentially be difficult.

For students wanting GCSE/A-Level and Undergraduate-level tuition in English Literature, please see my focus areas below.

Gender Studies
Women’s writing of the 20th and 21st centuries
The Postmodern Novel
British Theatre since 1945
Ecological Literature and Nature writing
Romantic Poetry and Literature
Creative Writing
Playwriting and devising
European Theatre: Greek – 21st Century

Availability: I am available most weekday afternoons over the summer, and Sundays.

Willing to travel: 5 miles

Experience: As a tutor and practitioner I am patient and empathetic yet always task-focused. I like to listen to work out how each person ticks: what they feel they can’t do, and conversely, the aspects of a task or subject area which they are, or could be, naturally passionate about. I don’t just believe in making people feel unique, I truly am excited by the diverse qualities different brains can bring to a text, idea or challenge. I am rigorous without without being intimidating and firmly believe that there is no set way to teach or explain - only a million creative approaches to a problem.

I am adept, searching and perceptive at looking at a text and imparting ways to analyse or criticise it, and constantly excited by the ways texts are constructed and how this creates their meaning. I have studied on high-level creative writing programmes at the Royal Court Theatre and RADA and have a very solid grounding in creative writing techniques, and have understandings of both formal and creative ways of stimulating the imagination.