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Online English Language Tutor Sarah
Sarah
Literature PhD
$59/hr
I am passionate about language and literature, and enjoy helping my students gain skills and confidence.
Sarah5.046 classes
Leeds University - Literature - PhD
I am passionate about language and literature, and enjoy helping my students gain skills and confidence.
| Recent Students: 4 |
| Total Hours: 59 |
| Last Online: |
| All-time Students: 4 |
| Total Classes: 46 |
| Signed Up: |
| Recent Students: 4 | Total Hours: 59 | Last Online: |
| All-time Students: 4 | Total Classes: 46 | Signed Up: |
About Me
I am a magpie in my reading tastes and formats, although I always come back to books. I have a list of authors whose work I intend to read that I regularly update.
I have neurodivergent teenage daughters and they tell me that English lessons in school are often boring, uncreative and formulaic. That saddens me because everyone has something to gain from reading widely and writing well; you lose much if your unique relationship with language isn't not developed.
Alongside tutoring I'm a published writer of non-fiction and fiction. Writing keeps me sharp as a teacher because I understand failure and the need constantly to improve my skills. I'm forever questioning word choices and asking what effect I'm trying to achieve - the essence of English GCSEs!
I went to Durham University to study English Literature and that opened the door to writers from countries like Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand, whose work I went on to explore. In my twenties I took a break from magazine journalism to return to university for a Master's and stayed to do a PhD, although I never expected to! I had an encouraging supervisor and felt passionately enough about my studies to support myself until I won a scholarship, so I know about the value of a good teacher and perseverance.
Tutor Experience
I'm versatile. I've taught in academia, prison and online, and worked as a writer and editor. I've taught Shakespeare, Critical Thinking, Feminist Writing and Canadian Literature to students in HE settings, such as the Universities of Leeds (UK), Calgary (Canada) and Huddersfield (UK), as well as Functional English Skills to learners in Norwich Prison.
As an Editorial Contributor for Edelman (UK), one of the world's top PR agencies, I drafted white papers and articles for corporate clients and put into action skills I've taught. So, I understand the relevance of my subject and how what you say and how you say it impacts the message.
For the past two years my job as an online tutor has meant engaging with students who struggle to produce the developed answers required to pass their GCSE English Language and Literature. Some have learning difficulties and I enjoy the close teaching relationship and challenge of adapting to suit the individual. Improvement takes effort but even in a relatively short time, those who work raise their scores by an average of two grades.
My hope is that students have fun while they're doing it 😊
Topic Expertise
English Language and Literature GCSE and iGCSE
English Literature A Level
While I'm most familiar with AQA and Cambridge International, I am confident adapting to other exam boards (Edexcel, OCR) and assessment criteria.
Shakespeare, 19th, 20th and 21st century fiction, drama and poetry in English.
Client Reviews
This was my daughters last session as Y11 and completed her English GCSEs.
We've only been with Sarah for a short while, 6 sessions. In that time Sarah helped and encouraged my daughter who was struggling with English, we've seen her grow in confidence and her understanding has improved greatly even over the few sessions.
Sarah took the time to really understand my duaghter and tailored the sessions appropriately, M really looked forward to and was engaged in each class.
Thank you Sarah, we wish we'd found you sooner!
Martha - English Language
Testimonials
Dec 2025
Hi, my name is Demir and I am a Turkish student who is doing A-levels in Physics, Maths, and Chemistry. I contacted Sarah last December because I needed extra support with my English in general and specifically in writing. I was required to take the GCSE English Language exam in order to start my A-levels.
In my original country’s education system, we never had any progressive experience with writing, as it was mostly focused on memorising. Hence, this GCSE English Language exam was targeting my weakest area, firstly because English is my second language and secondly because I did not have the ability to write academically.
Luckily, I had the best and most qualified teacher for this matter. Whether it was her talent in spotting my weak points or the simple motivation she gave me to keep going, I handled this exam as well as I possibly could. She gave the most beneficial feedback to help me keep improving and kept reminding me of the exam’s time-limit difficulties.
In our last weeks, we were doing mock exams together under time limits, and in fact, I felt the same feelings, pressure, and anxiety as in the real exam. This helped me prepare for the scenario and put me a step ahead of other students.
I passed with a 5! I feel very lucky and blessed to have met her. If she wasn’t my teacher, I don’t know what would have happened. She is highly qualified and experienced in preparing students for this exam.
"My daughter was getting 2s and 3s and Sarah was able to accommodate us at short notice in the lead up to the exams. Sarah focused on English Language and made my daughter feel very comfortable in the tutor sessions – she looked forward to them! – and my daughter felt far more confident going into her exams. When Rachel found out she had passed both Language and Literature (5 and 4) she was insanely proud of her results. She’s been accepted by her preferred college to do the subjects she planned to study at A Level. Thanks Sarah for all the help."
Gareth and Rachel
Tutoring Subjects
Background Checks
Verified
Qualifications
PhD (Leeds University)
MA English Literature (Leeds University)
BA (Hons) English Literature (Durham University)
A Levels: English Literature, French, History (A, A, B)
Availability
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