Tutor Profile

Aleksandra

Private English and History Tutor in Cambridge

I am currently at the University of Cambridge, where I have over the past couple of years specialised in English, reading for a PhD and an MPhil (completed with Distinction); providing instruction and dissertation supervision to undergraduate students; and assessing applicant entrance examinations. Prior, I read for a BA Hons at Utrecht University (completed summa cum laude, equivalent to a Double First with Distinction), studying comparative literatures, linguistics and languages, which also included research internships in Sheffield and Heidelberg, where I worked on archives in English, German and Dutch. In addition to literary and linguistic studies, I have regularly also crossed into art history, history, politics, philosophy, and related disciplines, including as part of roles at the Cambridge, Edinburgh and Amsterdam University Presses.

As a result, I can offer individually tailored assistance with a very wide variety of topics in the arts and humanities, up to levels including professional academic publication, and with developing critical, analytical, reading and writing skills which can be transferred across subjects and suited to different levels, including postgraduate and undergraduate dissertations and degree coursework.

At the same time, having both assessed university applicants and had the entirety of my own studies so far (including PhD, MPhil, BA Hons, and several academic exchanges) fully funded through a selection of academic scholarships, I am also aware, from both the tutor and student perspective, of what it takes to be offered not only a place, but the funds to take it up, at a number of competitive academic institutions (including Oxbridge, the Russell Group, Ivy League, and the League of European Research Universities), and am always happy to help with applications as well as entrance examinations and interviews.

Teaching Experience

At Cambridge, in addition to my own postgraduate research, I have for over four years also provided instruction and dissertation supervision to a number of first- through to final-year undergraduate students (predominantly in English Studies, but also extending into Comparative Studies), as well as assisted with assessing and moderating applicant entrance examinations and interviews (including the institution's proprietary CELAT and CMLAT). Outside of the Cambridge supervision system, I have at the same time worked for a number access and educational schemes (among them The Sutton Trust and The Friends of Youth) as well as offered individually tailored private tuition through various platforms (including FirstTutors, OpenTutors and others, across which I have amassed dozens of students and maintained a 5/5-star rating throughout), teaching from secondary school through to undergraduate and postgraduate university levels.

For those interested in advanced university-level instruction, my areas of specialism include English literature, language, and related social, cultural, political and philosophical developments of the period 1830–Present (including in relation to other European, predominantly Germanic and Slavonic, literatures, languages and cultures of the same time period) as well as critical theory and analysis. I can offer assistance within these areas, and in their accompanying research, critical, analytical, reading and writing skills, up to postgraduate dissertation level (including for the purposes of PhD and MA dissertations). For those interested in less specialised university-level instruction, or in earlier stages of education, I can also offer assistance within additional periods of English; additional, often closely intertwined literatures and languages, including German and Dutch; theoretical and analytical approaches to the study of literatures, linguistics and languages; and numerous adjacent disciplines which have featured prominently in either my education, employment or both, including political and social studies, philosophy, history, and art history (including for the purposes of BA dissertations, EPQs and other pieces of foundational independent research). Because academic skills are highly transferrable across the arts and humanities, over the years, I have been able to assist lots of different students in lots of different disciplines (including those studying for degrees that do not immediately seem particularly related to my own, among them PPE at Oxford, IR at Cambridge, Law at LSE, and many more!).

Tutoring Approach

Privately, I offer tuition to students of a range of levels, from secondary school (including GCSEs and A-Levels) through to university (including for BAs, MAs and even some PhDs).

As my work is cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural, I can offer individually tailored lessons in a number of subjects in the humanities (up to MA-level within my areas of specialism, which are in English literature, language and culture, and up to BA level in adjacent areas such as history and philosophy), as well as aid with critical reading, analysis, research and writing skills (up to professional academic level, having reviewed, edited, proofread and translated for several academic presses while also assisting students across a wide variety of assignments, from research-intensive PhD, MA and BA dissertations to emerging pieces of individual work in the form of EPQs and A-Level or GCSE coursework and examinations).

I am aware of students' different personal and educational backgrounds and learning profiles, and ultimately aim to structure my lessons around each individual. If a student is therefore able to provide previous of current syllabi, express particular interests, or else particular difficulties (whether due to a lack of experience, confidence, or a background that has traditionally been marginalised by schools or universities), this is always helpful for me to know. From there, I aim to structure my lessons so that they are both very active on the part of the student (drawing much from the Cambridge supervision system I am used to working within) and allow for frequent, detailed feedback (both in-session and outside of it, including in the form of assignments completed in-between sessions and submitted to me for detailed annotation and discussion in-session). This is all critical for the entrenchment of knowledge, understanding, and transferrable academic skills.

I am available for appointments online and in-person in Cambridge (depending on location), and can work very flexible hours around my schedule (from early mornings until late evenings on a number of days throughout the weekdays and weekends). I am also open to inquiries from those who require a more unconventional approach (whether last-minute appointments, late-night availabilities, or other unconventional circumstances often arising from abrupt and imminent deadlines).

Reviews

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NataliaFirst Tutors

Aleksandra is such an incredible tutor! She has a huge wealth of knowledge and experience that truly shines through when you discuss things with her. She has great insights and poses questions that make you think 'Wow! How did she even think of that!?' She has helped me so much in building both my confidence and skills in understanding and analysing texts, and gave me the push I needed to get my papers done. She was incredibly encouraging and supportive throughout, and always laid things out honestly so I could improve from her criticisms while still being optimistic and systematically laying out all the steps towards improvement so that I was never overwhelmed. She provided me with lots of resources, including guides for specific assignments and detailed annotations on all of my work in progress. She goes above and beyond and I really, truly cannot express how much I appreciated her help. Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best!

Tutor response

Thank you for the kind, detailed words, Natalia. I am delighted that tuition has proven so helpful and wish you all the absolute best as you continue to apply all your skills in the future.

AlistairFirst Tutors

Absolutely top-notch. Thorough, incisive, and very well organised.

Tutor response

Thank you so much for the kind words, Alistair. It has been a pleasure.

MichaelFirst Tutors

She is first-class. Intelligent and very thorough and thoughtful

Tutor response

Thank you so much for the kind words, Michael. It has been a pleasure.

EmilyFirst Tutors

My experience with Aleksandra has been wonderful and delightful. She is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, I was overwhelmed when I took a module in Philosophy, which I felt placed me out of my depth. However, with Aleksandra’s help - I have managed to turn that around and now quite enjoy the subject I have taken. I would recommend Aleksandra to anyone who is serious about improving their understanding of subjects.

Tutor response

Thank you so much, Emily. I am delighted you have found the appointments so engaging, and hope that some of what we have discussed can prove useful to not only your current work, but also all that is undoubtedly yet to come as you continue exploring your broad range of interests.

Silvia TeodoraFirst Tutors

Aleksandra is simply an amazing tutor. She is tailoring her approach to the specific needs of her students.I am impressed by her capacity to create interesting and engaging lesson content, and to address my specific needs. I believe I am learning from her much more than I would have ever expected. I would sincerely recommend her to other students.

Tutor response

Thank you so much, Silvia. I am delighted you have found the appointments so engaging, and hope they prove useful to not only completing your immediate work, but also all that is undoubtedly yet to come as you continue exploring, developing and pursuing all of your interests.

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