Elsbeth N.
I was brought up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and attended Wycombe High School, a selective girls’ grammar school. Here I took my GCSEs and A-levels, achieving straight A*s in both sets of exams. In particular, I was awarded one of the top ten marks in the country for my History GCSE result and for my Chemistry A-level, I achieved the fifth highest mark in the country. In 2010, I was accepted to Oxford University to read Medical Sciences. I graduated last summer and am now completing my Clinical Training at the Oxford University Hospitals.
I started tutoring GCSE Maths and Science when I was a Year 12 student. In my final year of school, I was elected to the school Student Leadership Team, where I was made Head of Academic Pursuits. As part of this role, I ran the lunchtime tutoring scheme and I also established a system of Classroom Assistants – these were Year 12 students that attended lessons during their free periods and could provide one-to-one tuition for younger students. I have continued my interest in tutoring during my time at University. I have worked as an Academic Mentor on the University of Oxford’s Summer School for two years and was a Student Helper for the Pembroke College Admissions process in 2011. I have also started working for an Oxford charity, called Jacari, which provides home tutoring for children aged 4-16 who do not have English as their first language.
I have a relaxed but conscientious attitude to tutoring. I am extremely patient but am also eager that my students grasp key concepts comprehensively, in order that they are able to approach more challenging material from first principles. I find that this approach gives students confidence in their own abilities, rather than relying on more restrictive rote-learning. I am good at thinking of novel ways to approach difficult concepts and I am swift to tailor my teaching to a style that suits the individual student. I am also keen that all my lessons should be enjoyable as well as engaging.
Outside of Medicine, I have various sporting interests. I took up rowing when I started at Oxford and soon became Women’s Rowing Captain for Pembroke College Boat Club. I now train with the Oxford University Triathlon Club and am looking forward to competing in triathlons over the summer.
