Hi, I'm Ally. I am a PhD student in English Literature at the University of Cambridge, where I teach undergraduate students English Literature. I have a starred first BA degree in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and a Masters Degree with Distinction from University College London (UCL) in Issues in Modern Culture.
My work is interdisciplinary, so I have expertise in multiple subjects throughout the Humanities. I am teaching English Literature and Language here at First Tutors, though I am very much open to enquiries from students in any Humanities or Social Sciences subject, particularly those related to Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology and Cultural Studies. I also teach Creative Writing to Primary and Secondary school students and would be delighted to hear from budding writers.
I have always been a very high attaining student despite experiencing difficult circumstances and I would love to share my skills and knowledge!
I am a supervisor in the English Literature department at the University of Cambridge, where I supervise dissertations and teach a variety of modules ('papers', as they are called at Cambridge). I am an experienced academic editor and I have a great deal of experience tutoring students at Primary, Secondary, GCSE, A Level, BA, MA and PhD level. I also have experience working as a research assistant for a variety of projects in a variety of disciplines.
I work very flexible hours so that I can be available at your convenience. My working hours are 8:30am-10pm. I do make exceptions if a student urgently needs to see me outside of those hours. I am often available for short-notice meetings and do not require a consistent meeting schedule.
I particularly welcome students working remotely and typically use Skype for online meetings, as it is free and reliable.
Although I am not proficient in any other languages besides English, I encourage those who do not feel confident in their English speaking and/or writing abilities to contact me - I understand that learning another language (especially English!) is difficult and will ensure that you are met with patience and understanding.
I also have experience with reviewing university personal statements, and would love to help with Oxbridge preparation and applications. I can also offer guidance and practice entrance exams on subjects within the Humanities.
I am particularly capable at improving students' critical capabilities and writing style. I would suggest that receiving detailed feedback on a piece of written work is the best way to gain those practical skills, which can be transferred across subjects and will aid in clarity and precision in exams and coursework alike.
I also offer writing skills advice and workshops, which allow my students to develop versatile essay-writing skills. I can provide documents for my students to take away with them and refer to so they feel confident applying these skills in the future.
I appreciate that not all students work to the best of their ability in an exam environment and I am committed to equipping those students with the tools they need to cope and succeed.
For university students in English thinking about contacting me, my periods of expertise are Protomodernism (1850-1900), Modernism, Post-Modernism and the Contemporary, but I can and do teach beyond those periods. My specialisms are in Critical Theory, Ethics, Emotion/Affect and Sensory Studies. I can discuss or provide feedback and advice on coursework essays, dissertations and exam technique.
I am happy to help students at all levels engage with complex academic material, such as journal articles, academic monographs or assigned reading. I can also instruct students on how to locate appropriate readings and materials for their course of study.
I am committed to fostering equality and diversity within Higher Education (and beyond!) and welcome students from all backgrounds to contact me.