Sana Abou Ali holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the American University of Beirut and a BA in English Language and Literature and Qualified Teacher Status in secondary English from UWE Bristol. Her master’s research focused on ghosts in post-war Lebanese novels, and her wider academic interests include trauma, memory, and representations of war in literature. Her experience also includes a role as a tutor and instructor at the AUB Writing Center.

Sana has served as Head of Department and, on the Curriculum Committee, redesigned English curricula. She has six years of experience teaching IB English A: Language and Literature at Standard and Higher Levels. She has also been an IB examiner for five consecutive examination sessions, assessing Individual Orals, Paper 1, and Paper 2. Having taught and examined these components, she understands the struggle of moving beyond summary, developing a sustained argument, explaining the significance of a writer’s choices, and assessing significance. These are central concerns in her lessons, alongside careful preparation for each assessment.

Sana has also co-taught IB English A: Literature. She taught Theory of Knowledge to Year 1 and Year 2 students for three years and has provided individual support with ToK exhibitions. A French Baccalaureate graduate, she can also support students studying French literature and became familiar with IB French HL course components through classroom observations during her QTS training.

An enthusiast of the Harkness approach, Sana values discussion that gives students room to question, listen, and sit with their ideas. In individual tutoring, she brings that same spirit of inquiry to close reading and conversation, asking students to test their interpretations against the text and choose their evidence carefully. Lessons respond to each student’s needs, whether that means working through a difficult passage, organising an essay, or preparing for an oral assessment. She wants students to leave knowing both how to improve their work and why those changes matter.

My tutoring starts with what the student finds difficult. We might read a passage closely, work through an essay plan, or look at why an argument isn’t quite convincing yet. I’m a Harkness enthusiast, so I make room for students to ask questions and test their ideas through discussion. Drawing on my IB teaching and examining experience, I use examples and focused writing practice to make assessment expectations clear and help students work more independently.