Shahana B
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
London School of Economics and Political Science, Social Anthropology: First Class Honours
Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong
English Literature (HL) – 7
Mandarin (ab initio) – 7
History (HL) – 7
Economics – 7
Chemistry (HL) – 6
Mathematics – 6
IGCSEs
English Language – A*
English Literature – A*
Mandarin (beginners) – A*
Mathematics – A*
Physics – A*
Biology – A*
Chemistry – A*
History – A*
Geography – A*
Art – B
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Love Learning Tutors
Common Entrance: English, Maths, Sciences
GCSE: English, History, Maths, Chemistry
A-Level: English, History
Volunteer English Teacher in Shanghai
Taught English for middle school students (basic vocabulary, grammar, sentence structures)
Writing Workshops at University
Help with articles submissions for departmental anthropology magazine.
SKILLS AND INTERESTS
Language Skills:
English (fluent)
Bengali (mother tongue)
Hindi (fluent)
Mandarin (intermediate)
Korean (beginner)
I love reading, and my weekend plans tend to revolve around checking out bookstores in London. I have a weakness for literary fiction with pretty covers, and my favourite authors include Margaret Atwood, Minjin Lee and Elif Shafak. In my spare time, I tend to knit, usually while listening to music or watching K-Dramas. I bought my first ball of yarn the day before the (first) lockdown, and have recently graduated from scarves and fingerless gloves to cardigans. I also write and paint, although that’s just a front to hoard stationery like a magpie.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Placement (Editorial) – Penguin Random House
I worked with the team at Puffin, completing editorial and administrative tasks such as writing book reports, proofreading, producing copy, etc.
Accessibility Data Collection Team – Sociability
I collected data on accessibility features of restaurants and cafes around London for an app, along with speaking to business owners about disability and inclusion in public spaces.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
When I was a teenager, I had to move to different cities and change schools a lot. It was a struggle to catch up with my studies constantly, often learn new languages, and fit into a new environment all at once. I remember how overwhelming and stressful it was each time. However, I was also incredibly lucky to have teachers who were kind, encouraging, and directly shaped my love for my favourite subjects today. I carry those lessons and skills with me even after university, and as a tutor, that motivates me to provide individualised help to students. From experience, I recognise the importance of people believing in you while also giving you the space to make mistakes and learn from them.
My first experience with tutoring was during a volunteering project for school, teaching English to young children from a local school in Shanghai. Even though the lesson times were short (half hour slots carved out of our lunch breaks), I looked forward to them each week. I enjoyed creating lesson plans, assembling stationery, making flashcards, and playing games with them. It was especially rewarding to see them remember past lessons, and watch them improve over weeks and months. I rediscovered this feeling at university, organising writing workshops for undergraduate students. Besides providing them with resources for technical skills (structure, tone, editing, etc.), it was also fun to speak with them about their approaches to writing, academic or otherwise. Additionally, the workshops were more about working past obstacles and learning to enjoy the process. In the end, I learnt a lot from both these experiences: about creating a balance between structure and flexibility, the necessity of personally engaging students, and the power of spider diagrams.
There are many reasons why one can struggle with a subject such as having trouble understanding a topic, needing revision and exam techniques, or just not finding a class personally engaging (which is normal and understandable). I look forward to supporting students on resolving or working around these issues. For instance, with essay-based subjects like English and History, being able to neatly present your ideas with clarity and confidence takes practice; it is an arduous yet ultimately satisfying journey.
