Harpenden English (Foreign Language) Tutors and Harpenden English (Foreign Language) Tuition

Personal Description:
I am married with two sons aged 22 and 21. I completed a Languages in Business Degree in 1991 (German and French). I enjoy travelling, cinema, gym and hiking and spending time with family and friends

Teaching Experience:
I am a professional tutor having been tutoring since 2013. I tutor both children and adults in German and French from beginners, GCSE and A level and beyond. I am also a TEFL qualified ESL teacher willing to teach Young Learners, General English and Business English.

Tutoring Approach:
I work on a 1;1 basis at my home with pupils and believe it essential to have a patient and calm attitude with the pupils. It is essential to make the lessons enjoyable and to engage the pupils fully. We cover grammar and all topics related to the syllabus and also practice listening/reading comprehensions, translations, describing photos and general conversation. However, currently I tutor via the Zoom platform and will be doing so for the foreseeable future until the Covid pandemic is over.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified language teacher with 30+ years' teaching experience. My credentials include
MPhil, Combined Degree in teaching English and German, Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults - CELTA (Grade B), Cambridge Certificate of Achievement in Teaching English Online

I'm a highly educated native Russian speaker and
I consider English my second mother tongue (having been immersed in it since the age of 10 and having lived in the UK for over 20 years).

Having done a great deal of studying, reading and teaching through the years, I'm passionate about passing my knowledge to others. I feel that I have a lot to offer to those who're looking for extra help or guidance in improving their English skills.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching English as a foreign language at different levels since 1984, first in Russia and since 2001 in the UK.
I've worked with students of different age groups at a range of educational levels. My employers included mainstream schools, a Teacher Training Institute, an Academy of Economics and Management, and specialized language schools.

After completing a Cambridge CELTA course, I taught English to groups of international students at Brooklands College on General English, IELTS preparation, and ESOL Skills for Life courses.

My field of expertise and special interest is the Modern English Grammar. With my help, students achieve better understanding of how the language is structured and organised; with practice, their overall linguistic performance improves as well.

I'm currently teaching private students in these areas:
- General Conversational English
- English Grammar

I provide individual tuition online using Skype, Zoom, and WhatsApp, with support via e-mail or text/voice chat.

Tutoring Approach:
Throughout my teaching career I have always tried to adjust my teaching style and methods to the learners' individual needs and circumstances, my priorities being high professionalism and reliability.

As a dedicated teacher, I never stop learning and developing my professional skills, which allows me to offer my students the best in modern teaching methods.

Here is some of my students' feedback:
"I can highly recommend Galina as an excellent teacher. Her teaching materials are interesting and relevant with a lot of variety. She is always patient and her encouragement will help you to progress rapidly. Galina strives to bring out the best in every student and her experience and friendly manner will make this a pleasurable experience."
Lucy.
"Now 64, I have taken over 50 part-time and evening courses in arts, languages and computing during my adult life. Galina is one of the most inspiring and competent teachers I have had. I look forward to joining her more advanced class." Martin.

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Personal Description:
Recently returned to the UK to live near my family after teaching abroad for many years. I have 2 teenagers who no longer need my constant attention. I enjoy speaking other languages and love teaching, especially one to one teaching, where I can focus all my attention on the individual.

Teaching Experience:
1976-1987 EFL teaching in the UK and abroad. 6th form, secondary and adult. Also some ESL and home teaching.

1988- 2008. Primary teaching 3-12 year olds. I am trained in Early Years teaching. For 9 years I was the English Language Support coordinator in a large international school. My responsibilities included assessing children's needs, planning and teaching English as an additional language throughout the Infant and Junior school, improving reading skills and helping train other staff in the above. I have regularly tutored individuals and small groups of children after school.
I have recently completed a course in "Big Writing" with Ros Wilson of Andrell Education, focusing on improving writing skills from KS1 to KS3

2009- present. Nursery teacher and part time Modern languages/ Supply teacher in KS2

Tutoring Approach:
Each person's needs are different and my first job is to develop a trusting relationship so that I can quickly assess the priorities. Building confidence in prior knowledge comes next. It's important to pace the lesson so that there is just enough pressure but no stress. I like to work on all 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) whatever the goal of the class, and to that end use a variety of resources; books, cards, games, music, computer. I am a very good listener and have unlimited patience. I constantly make students aware of the progress they are making which builds confidence and speeds up learning. I set very high but reachable standards.

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Personal Description:
- PhD in English Literature from Durham University
- MA degree in English Philology
- Qualified Teacher Status
- 20 years' experience in teaching English as a Foreign Language
- 13 years' experience in teaching Polish as a foreign language
- online and F2F tuition

Teaching Experience:
- Private tutor of English and Polish since 2005
- 20 years' experience in group and individual teaching
- Tutor in English Literature at Durham University from 2011 to 2020
- experience working for language schools across both the UK and Poland
- experience in working with various nationalities
- experience in working with SEN students
- Enhanced DBS check
- experience in exam preparation, including ISE II and ISE III

Tutoring Approach:
I always try to make my lessons fun and my aim is to always tailor my method to suit the student's individual needs. In my language lessons I tend to focus on the student's oral communication skills. I start each lesson by revising earlier material (usually through a communicative activity or an interactive one) and then I move on to new material. There is always plenty of speaking and while I let the student work out the rules of the language themselves (I am in favour of the inductive method), I am always on hand to help and to explain.

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Personal Description:
I am a patient, helpful and responsible individual who enjoys tutoring students and helping them build confidence in their ability to achieve.

Currently my only available slot is Friday 5.30-6.30.

Teaching Experience:
I have 20 years experience working within a school environment, dealing with both primary, secondary age range and adults. I possess a Master's Degree in English together with UK Qualified Teacher Status.

At the moment I work as a Lead Practitioner in a local secondary school in the London Borough of Bexley. I am also tutoring Functional Skills English and ESOL.

I have marked AQA and EDEXCEL GCSE Language papers for the past 5 years, therefore I have excellent understanding of how the marks are awarded for each question in both papers.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that a key feature of effective teaching is balancing the pupils' success against the level of difficulty required to challenge them. Furthermore, I think to teach effectively you need more than good subject knowledge, something that develops with time and experience - professional knowledge and personal style. In my opinion, a teacher should give all the possible help to pupils to gain knowledge and become useful members of the society. Acquiring knowledge in a supportive, fair, friendly and not tense atmosphere is very important. A teacher should be a role model to students, who helps individual pupils to grow and deals with them in an objective way. In my opinion a good relationship between a teacher and pupils helps to overcome the difficulties that may arise during the learning process.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor. I have studied modern languages, art and design and I also have qualifications in law. I have had a varied career encompassing language teaching, translation, publishing and work in the charity sector. My wide interests and enquiring nature are invaluable assets in my teaching.

Teaching Experience:
English as a Foreign Language teaching experience in the UK and abroad, including for large schools and within companies, and private tuition 1-to-1. Adults and young learners.

Providing corporate training in Polish to groups of adult learners and also private tutoring to individuals.
I have been learning and translating Polish for 20 years, and I have lived and worked extensively in Poland. I have Polish family links.

Coaching for 11+ grammar school entrance exams. I have also provided general teaching support up to GCSE level in English and French to private students.

Tutoring Approach:
Friendly, encouraging and approachable, but thorough and focussed on successful learning. Very adaptable, and able to tailor lessons to suit individual learning styles, abilities and preferences.

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Personal Description:
I am a Polish native speaker who did a degree in Spanish at the University of Sheffield. I am passionate about foreign languages.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Spanish, English as a foreign language, and Polish for many years in high schools (as a Modern Foreign Languages Teaching Assistant), privately, and in further education centres. My students come from diverse backgrounds and have varying abilities and learning needs.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a passionate linguist with 20 years of experience teaching languages. I love learning languages myself, and I regularly read research to improve my teaching methods. I believe constant quizzing and active recall are key to effective learning.

I am very patient and understanding, and I tailor my teaching approach to each student. This varies greatly depending on their experience (often negative), learning style, and individual needs. Together, we discover the best way to teach and learn in order to succeed.

I have a wealth of useful resources, and I always encourage my students to do plenty of homework and speak as much as they can-without fear or embarrassment. I focus on speaking, reading, writing, and listening, though not equally, as each student has different priorities.

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Personal Description:
I am a fun-loving, chatty and bubbly person and committed to the success and achievement of my students. I try to incorporate humour into my lessons as much as possible as students are more likely to remember what they have learnt that way. I am out-going and always look forward to meeting new people. I am a native english speaker and CELTA qualified. I teach all areas of EFL but definitely prefer to teach conversational and business english.

Teaching Experience:
I qualified in September 2013 and have been teaching ever since then. I have got 7 hours class teaching experience but the rest and the majority of my experience lies with teaching adults in a 1:1 setting.

Tutoring Approach:
I tend to take a fairly laid back approach to teaching (depending on the student's requirements). I take a very pro-active approach and try and make the lessons as fun as possible, thus the student gains more from them and is more likely to remember what they have learnt. I encourage students to use what they have learnt outside of lessons, thus increasing their practice time and therefore improving their english immensely. I can set homework if I feel it is necessary but the responsibility to complete that work lies within the student. I motivate my students to go above and beyond the standard requirements. If the student is committed then this is always reciprocated.

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Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic, patient teacher, with a love of the English language, I teach English as a Foreign Language as well as English for exams. I have travelled extensively and have had a varied career.

Teaching Experience:
I taught around other jobs for over five years until I concentrated on teaching full time in 2014. I have taught all ages from 7 to 70 and lots of different nationalities including French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Indian. I teach all levels from beginner to advanced including business English. I have taught exam preparation for Kent test, GCSE language & literature, IELTS, TOIEC and Cambridge exams, amongst others.

Tutoring Approach:
Student led, I adapt to individual students using the most appropriate method. I begin with a test and needs assessment, identifying areas of focus ensuring lessons are specific and manageable. I cover all elements of the English language ensuring improved ability in all areas.

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Personal Description:
I have 10 years experience of teaching and tutoring at all levels up to university (lecturer for 5 years) and have all 5 star feedback. My tutees get great results (93% As and A*s this year) and most importantly, show outstanding improvements in both understanding and confidence.

I am really passionate about science and teaching: during my academic career, I have been fortunate enough to have plenty of opportunities to combine the two at a variety of levels. I come from a very large family and have been involved in work with children from a young age - from riding instructor to homework 'buddy' and in the last 10 years tutoring and teaching. I love the moment that you see the light of understanding come on in the person that you are working with - I got into science for these moments myself and to be honest, it's almost as rewarding to see them in someone else! It is particularly exciting when you see someone go from frustration to 'getting it'.

I'm extremely patient, calm and focused. I work best with individuals or small groups of 2-3 students.

Teaching Experience:
All exam boards plus IB
GSCE: This year's students achieved cracking results in biology, chemistry, maths, physics and geography. Almost all As and A*s - I was very proud of them!
A-level:
Again, almost all As in biology and chemistry. Most came to me with predicted Ds so we were all delighted with the results.
Primary level:
My own children were partially home-schooled so I have copious experience there!
11-14:
I currently tutor in maths and science, I used to run a weekend biology group for adolescents and have taught English as a secondary language at this level
University level:
Range of subjects including biology, biochemistry, nutrition, aquaculture, fisheries economics, thermodynamic engineering

Tutoring Approach:
The foundation of my approach is to building confidence and enthusiasm in my pupils. I use a combination of exam questions and structured sessions. This allows the student to become familiar and comfortable with the format of questions, and to more easily identify what the examiner is asking. It also allows me to focus the effort on where there are gaps in the knowledge or understanding.
I am extremely patient & able to come up with new and innovative ways to help my students overcome whatever problems they experience in the subjects I teach. I like to see the students put in some effort because I think the best results are achieved that way but I am always supportive.

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Personal Description:
I'm 30 years old and born in Sheffield, UK. I've travelled to many countries and I'm very used to meeting and working with people from different countries.

Teaching Experience:
I have over two years experience teaching English in South Korea and Thailand, both in schools and private lessons working with children, teenagers and adults.

Tutoring Approach:
My style is to discuss the expectations and goals of my students and then plan the lessons that are suited to want the student needs to improve their English.

I'm a very friendly and down-to-earth teacher and I believe the best way to teach language is to know my students well.

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Personal Description:
Hello and welcome to my profile! It's great to have you here!

OK, so I'll tell you a little about myself… My name is Aman. I am a qualified EFL/ESL teacher and I have been working abroad for the last 16 years in different countries from Thailand to Dubai.

For the last 5 years I was working with the British Council as an academic manager in Qatar. Here I was managing educational programmes and a team of teachers, which I loved! I provided training for teachers and worked on curriculum development.

When I am not working, I love movies, music, socialising and meeting new people and learning about new cultures! I am also a big coffee drinker.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 15 years experience teaching English as a foreign language.

I have taught students of all levels from beginner to advanced and have worked with students from all over the world helping them to improve and develop their general English language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking by designing lessons to bring out their full potential.

In addition to teaching general English, my ELT specialism for my Cambridge DELTA was Exam Preparation Classes. Therefore, I have solid experience and knowledge of helping learners prepare for the IELTS exam and get the band they want by focusing on the strategies needed in each module. Moreover, I can also help you prepare for the Cambridge First (FCE) exam.

Tutoring Approach:
Although, the heading states 'Approach to Tutoring', I look at it as 'Our Approach to Learning'.

Together, we will look at YOUR English language goals, and the best way to achieve them, as every learner has different needs.

Lessons are learner-centred, that means I do not teach in a 'lecture' style, but provide opportunities for you to produce and practise language and then look at ways to further develop and improve that language. It is important for me that you feel comfortable and relaxed in these sessions. Lessons should be enjoyable and engaging for you (and me!).

There is error correction throughout lessons, but this is where you will self-correct with my guidance making you more aware of which areas need more focus.

Depending on your level, I use a range of materials from coursebooks, internet, newspapers, magazines to podcasts and videos.

I will give you regular homework, which will help to reinforce what you have learnt and give you more independence in using English. My aim is for you to feel more confident in any situation where you have to use English.

Feel free to contact me and let's talk about what you need. You can ask me any questions and I'll be happy to explain.

There is no obligation and don't worry, I don't bite!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Aman

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm half Finnish and half Irish and currently studying management at The University of Stirling. I love teaching English as a foreign language and can also teach Italian for beginners. I am doing this to earn some money alongside my studies as well as gain more experience.

Teaching Experience:
Last summer, I worked in a summer school where I was teaching English as a foreign language for six hours a day for six weeks to Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese students.

I have also done one-to-one tuition in Italy for three months.

I have never taught Italian before but willing to teach those who want to learn beginner Italian as I lived in Italy for 5 years so do know the language quite well!

Tutoring Approach:
I take either a vocabulary or grammar topic and combine it with two of the four language skills; speaking, listening, reading and writing. I mix things up but keep it fun and enjoyable.

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Personal Description:
I am a language lover who has travelled and taught in many different countries. I live in London but I travel a lot too. Exercise and healthy eating, tv and books, theatre and movies, good food and animals.

Teaching Experience:
Starting in 2005, I have over 13 years experience teaching English. I have taught every nationality and language speaker. I have taught all ages and all levels, students to professionals. I have been a personal Cambridge exam teacher for university students, and I have taught business English to traders in the stock exchange.
I have also been a teacher trainer for many years and have spoken at international teacher conferences many times.

Tutoring Approach:
I have studied methodology and materials for years, the result is that I teach using techniques and methods which come from studying how the brain works. I use this to help learners really understand the language. I believe that speaking is the only way to measure language and so I focus on improving speaking in my learners

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Personal Description:
Having been in Academia for almost ten years, with a BA in Sociology and Psychology, and a MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, I am all too aware of the mental effort and stamina required by tertiary education. Further, I am a CELTA qualified teacher, and having taught English for the past 4 years to non-native speakers, I am well equipped to help students get the best out of their academic pursuits.

Teaching Experience:
4 years - English to non-native speakers - Adults, Adolescents and Children - Exam preparation, BULATS, IELTS, Cambridge, PET, Business Language - Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing - CEFR A1-C2

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring style is eclectic, however primarily based on the Communicative approach. Therefore, I use a range of teaching styles, depending on the learning style of my student. My academic background in Sociology and Psychology also equips me to target specific teaching and learning strategies that are best suited to my student.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified (CELTA) English Language teacher who has been teaching in Taiwan, Poland and the UK since July 2017.

I have studied Chinese, German and Spanish so I fully understand what it is like to learn a foreign language. I like to keep my classes informative, useful and enjoyable, and I will tailor them to suit you and your needs.

I read and write extensively during my free time, and I aim to encourage others to see the positives in both reading and writing effectively. I also enjoy football, travelling and gardening.

I am dedicated to improving my knowledge and skills, and I pride myself on being a strict and dedicated teacher who encourages every student to reach their full potential.

Teaching Experience:
Since completing my CELTA in 2017, I have taught ages 3-65 from levels A1-C1 in General English classes, but also IELTS, FCE, CAE and PET exam preparation classes. My favourite classes are IELTS and Intermediate levels, but I am comfortable teaching anyone who is willing to learn.

I have always received strong ratings from my students (school / teacher feedback) and often receive emails from previous students, asking me for help or support with their English.

Tutoring Approach:
I aim to teach all skills equally, but can tailor my lessons based on your strengths and weaknesses. I want to help my students develop a wide range of vocabulary and enable them to understand and use every day language, such as ordering in a restaurant or buying a train ticket, discussing the news or giving their opinion on a political situation.

I always include vocabulary and pronunciation work and believe that correction is a vital part of every lesson. I encourage my students to self-correct, especially in writing, and often find that after a few lessons they are able to make progress in this area.

My classes include games (kahoot, board games, cards, hangman...), social media when relevant, BBC / radio programmes and other interesting activities that will help students increase their English skills in a useful way.

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Personal Description:
A patient and friendly TEFL qualified teacher with a bachelors degree in English Literature and Drama from Cardiff Metropolitan University. I have over 2 years' experience tutoring a range of students from differing ages and backgrounds. I tailor bespoke sessions to an individual's needs and I find creative and innovative solutions to learning.

I have a unique professional background living and working in London in Marketing, Publishing and TV Production. This has allowed me to bring a wealth of experience and personality to my teaching style.

I am a creative person with a love for acting, TV and Film. I enjoy all forms of storytelling and have explored my passion through music video production, radio broadcast assistance, acting and comedy.

My other passions in life are writing, reading, self-development, yoga, running and travel. I have recently returned from a 6-month travelling trip around Asia!

Teaching Experience:
I have a passion for learning! I am experienced in online tutoring both adults and children in Academic English, Business English, pronunciation, general English grammar and vocabulary, and conversational English.
I also tutor students in KS2 and KS3 English and KS3 and KS4 Drama studies and tailor a bespoke and individualised package for each student.

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring approach is kind and patient. I understand that no two people have the same learning style. This is why I tailor my teaching to the individual's needs and preferred learning style. I work with the individual to provide an enjoyable lesson that achieves the desired outcome. Whether that's confidence building in your child, gaining a higher grade in school right through to teaching children and adults mindfulness tools and techniques. I bring my unique background to my lessons to provide a memorable learning experience.

Due to our current situation, I tutor online via Zoom. I am also able to provide students with small homework tasks after each lesson which help retain what they've learned with me. I try make my lessons fun, entertaining and variable so you/your child enjoys the lesson and comes away feeling happy and stress-free!

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Personal Description:
I am Dr. Muhammad, a London-based educator holding a PhD in Education and over six years' experience as a university tutor and visiting lecturer. I specialise in adult literacy-particularly reading and writing-bringing a rigorously evidence-based approach drawn from my published research and advanced training in specific learning needs (including dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, and social-emotional support). I design bespoke programmes underpinned by robust qualitative and quantitative methodologies (SPSS, NVivo) and UCL-accredited practices, ensuring each session is tailored to your goals and learning style. Whether we meet face-to-face or transition online, my commitment is to clear progress benchmarks, detailed feedback, and building your confidence so you achieve measurable improvement in every lesson.

Teaching Experience:
I have over a decade of hands‐on teaching and leadership experience. For the past ten years I served as Principal of Jannah Education Complex in Pakistan, where I designed, managed and delivered the full KS1-KS3 curriculum-coaching students extensively in reading, writing, mathematics and science, leading a staff of 12 teachers, and implementing data-driven assessment strategies to boost outcomes. From August 2018 to February 2023, I was a Resource Person & Tutor at Allama Iqbal Open University, conducting courses in Assessment & Evaluation, Educational Psychology and Philosophy of Education and providing individualized learning plans with formative and summative feedback ​
. Concurrently (Jan 2019-Dec 2022), I served as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Education at Sargodha University, teaching Foundations of Education, Comparative Education and Research Methods-integrating innovative, learner-centred approaches and overseeing curriculum updates to align with academic standards ​

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring philosophy is grounded in a student-centred, evidence-based framework: I begin each partnership with a diagnostic assessment to identify strengths, gaps and preferred learning styles, then co-construct clear, measurable goals. Sessions are structured around bite-sized objectives-whether delving into phonics and comprehension for KS1-KS3 learners or honing advanced reading and writing strategies for adult students-and built on interactive, scaffolded activities that promote critical thinking and metacognition. I employ regular formative checks and use data-driven feedback (leveraging tools like SPSS and NVivo) to adjust content and pace in real time, ensuring every lesson moves you closer to your targets. Whether face-to-face or online, my aim is to foster a supportive, confidence-building environment where progress is transparent, sustainable and genuinely transformative.

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