Alva French Tutors and Alva French Tuition

Personal Description:
Born in London, I was educated in the UK and Hong Kong. I currently reside in Oxfordshire with my husband, where we both enjoy the outdoors in the Cotswolds.

Teaching Experience:
I have many years' experience in primary and secondary schools and home education in the UK, Hong Kong and Germany.

I teach in a school in Burford, Oxfordshire, and also provide home tuition to primary and secondary pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
To encourage your child to gain confidence and enjoy learning, I draw on my personal warmth and humour in lessons. I aim to help your child gain good exam results through:

lively engagement with your child's creative intelligence
continuous assessment and feedback of your child's progress
learning using a wide variety of resources

I believe learning comes alive through building on the child's immediate experiences and their curiosity for the world around them.

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Personal Description:
I was born into a French-speaking family and have spoken French my entire life. I have a BA from the London School of Economics in French and Linguistics. I have also lived in France for several years. I have taught French privately for over 20 years and many of my students achieve very high standards. I am very dedicated to my students and try and get the best out of them and build their confidence. I can turn the most hopeless student in French into a budding linguist. French is a challenging language and I can make it a simple one using tried and tested methods.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching privately French for over 20 years from beginners to University students as well as adults has given me a great deal of experience across different goals and varying levels. I teach spoken French for those who only want to simply speak the language as well as grammar for those who need to take exams. I work with University students to achieve top grades in dissertations and essays or oral exams. I love French literature so if you are studying a piece of literature, I will be able to guide you through the book. I sing with some of my students as I find singing is a wonderful way of learning a language especially where vocabulary is limited. Other students need to listen to French radio in order to accustom the ear to current spoken language and we work together to understand what is being said. I will be the best French teacher you will ever have. Try me!

Tutoring Approach:
I begin by assessing the pupils strengths and weaknesses and then plan lessons to suit the individuals needs. The most important aspect is for the pupil to enjoy the lesson so learning French is a pleasure and not a chore. I also spend time teaching exam techniques as these are as important as studying the language itself. I move away from parrot fashion teaching and ensure that the individual has the rudiments of French and is able to create sentences and has the confidence to put pen to paper.

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Personal Description:
I am a native French speaker, born and educated in Paris, but I have been living in England for over 30 years and married an Englishman. I graduated from the Sorbonne University with a view to teaching English there but when I came to England as a French assistante. A year later, having completed my Master's degree I cam back to settle in England and soon qualified as a French teacher. I have been working in that capacity until 2012 when I retired from full-time teaching to dedicated myself to private tuition. I am thus very experienced at all levels consider myself an extremely dedicated teacher, eager to see the students progress and enjoy learning about French culture at the same time as they improve their command of the language. I believe that the most efficient way of learning other than total immersion is the one to one approach which has often allowed me to enable the students willing to invest the extra time to progress exponentially, get motivated and achieve their potential.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught French and English to adults (managerial staff and trainees) in the private sector, in small groups and individually.
Subsequently, I have taught French from KS3 to KS5, full-time on permanent contracts for nearly 30 years in total. At the same time I have tutored my own son to passing his French G.C.S.E. with the top mark in the country, and his French A Level with flying colours. As a result he is now reading French at Oxford University and he continues to call on my expertise whenever needed. A few years ago, one of my A Level students whom I tutored privately obtained the top marks in the country in every module of the Edexcel exam. I am extremely experienced in coaching students to success in their G.C.S.E. and A Level French exams and the overwhelming majority of my students systematically achieved their potential or better. For over 10 years I took on virtually all the A Level French teaching at my last school and have always acted as teacher-examiner for both G.C.S.E. and A Level. This year 2017 all the students I prepared for Oxbridge achieved the grade required to fulfil their conditional offer.

Tutoring Approach:
First, I assess what each student is aiming to gain from the private tuition, whether it be coaching for written and/or oral examinations, building confidence in communicating within a given context, improving pronunciation,mastering the finer points of grammar, studying French literature etc. I also quickly evaluate the level and ability of individual student through gentle probing and questioning. I go on to prepare an appropriate programme of study and gather material such as PowerPoint presentations, tailor made practice exercises, Past Papers, relevant websites, use visual and aural aids to add interest. I set homework and can give feedback on line between lessons to maximise efficiency of personal contact time. Basically it all depends on what the student wishes to achieve.Because I know the subject so well I can be extremely flexible and can instantly fine tune my approach according to the need of my student at any given moment. Thanks to my long experience I have become extremely responsive to the all-important feedback

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Personal Description:
I have around 15 years of teaching experience ranging from French, English as a Foreign Language and both practical and theory of music. I teach from home for a relaxed and friendly lesson style.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored numerous pupils towards ABRSM, AQA and WJEC exams and teach both children and adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I teach from home for a relaxed and friendly lesson style.

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Personal Description:
I am a Professional Tutor with over 30 years of experience in teaching French, Russian, English as a Foreign Language (ESOL, IELTS) at Universities, Colleges, Schools and privately.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 30 years of experience in teaching French, Russian, English as a Foreign Language (ESOL, IELTS) at all levels: from the beginners up to the advanced. I am also preparing students for exams in academic IELTS.

Tutoring Approach:
I am teaching all the aspects of the language: speaking/listening, reading/writing. My teaching is grammar based as without the knowledge of grammar it is impossible to make up correct sentences. I am using authentic materials in all the languages I teach. There are a lot of activities resulting in improving speaking skills. My students always get higher results at the exams than they were initially hoping for. There is always a good rapport with the students. The students get all the help they need. My lessons are always well structured, lively and meet students' satisfaction.

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Personal Description:
Julia is a supportive yet challenging tutor, bilingual in French and English. I was Director of studies for an international language school based in Oxford for 13 years and prior to that, spent 15 years living and working in Paris and Toulouse. I graduated from UWE in 1988.

Teaching Experience:
Julia has over 25 years in education management and language training. I am CELTA and DELTA qualified. DBS checked. I have extensive experience preparing students for IELTS, FCE, CAE, CPE etc. I can support teachers undertaking the DELTA and CELTA qualifications. I teach Business French and English to adults.

Tutoring Approach:
Julia is a supportive yet challenging tutor able to motivate you to achieve your language goals. I am also a qualified Life Coach, able to help you overcome learning obstacles and increase your self-belief.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I live in Sevenoaks and I am happy to come and teach you at your home or at mine during week day, mornings, afternoons or evenings.

Teaching Experience:
I have 17 years experience, I have been teaching in Primary school, Secondary Schools, Adult Educations, Privately and in Private French Companies.

Tutoring Approach:
I will cover every kind of fields with my teaching, listening, speaking, reading and writing.

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Personal Description:
Ciao! I'm a native Italian speaker fluent in Italian, French and English, with a First-Class Honours degree in Humanities, specialising in History and English Literature. Since 2014, I've been helping learners of all levels develop confidence and fluency in English and Italian-from beginners taking their first steps to advanced learners refining their mastery.

I bring more than just expertise to my lessons-I bring a deep love for language and its structure. My teaching is tailored to each student's goals, pace and interests, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. I believe that great teaching is a two-way exchange: both tutor and learner grow through the journey.

Whether you're preparing for exams, brushing up your conversational skills, or simply exploring a new language, I'd be delighted to support you!

Teaching Experience:
Ciao! I'm a passionate educator with over ten years' experience helping learners grow in confidence, language skills, and exam success. I hold a First-Class Honours degree in Humanities (English and History), a TEFL qualification, and I'm currently training towards a PGCE in Lifelong Learning-giving me the tools to support both young learners and adult students alike.

For GCSE students, I provide clear, structured support in English Language and Literature, helping learners approach exams with confidence and clarity. My sessions are tailored to your goals-whether it's mastering unseen poetry, tackling tricky grammar, or refining essay technique-with an emphasis on building skills that last beyond the classroom.

For Italian-speaking adults, I offer a warm, welcoming space to build your English or Italian skills at your own pace. Whether you're learning for work, travel, or pleasure, I bring patience, cultural insight, and a flexible approach to make language learning enjoyable and rewarding.

Learning with me means engaging lessons, a supportive atmosphere, and progress you can feel. 📚✨

Tutoring Approach:
"I take great pride in helping learners-especially beginners-gain the confidence to understand, speak, and truly enjoy the Italian language. My lessons go beyond grammar and vocabulary, offering a gateway into the richness of Italian culture, history, and daily life. I aim to create a welcoming, engaging environment where curiosity leads the way and progress feels both natural and rewarding."
✨

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Personal Description:
Welcome! A freelance tutor and singer, I give "Personal tuition in the right key". I can help you get the highest grades in exams, and study in the "key" that best suits you. Like the right song choices, I often inspire my students to succeed.

- Which subject(s) do you teach?

French, Spanish, Latin, Ancient Greek, English as a Foreign Language, Creative Writing, Singing, Oxbridge Interview preparation.

- Tell me about your qualifications.

Master of Studies in European Literature (Spanish) from Exeter College, Oxford University;
Master of Arts in Classics and Modern Languages (French) from New College, Oxford University;
PostGraduate Certificate in Education and Qualified Teacher Status from the Department of Education, Oxford University;
Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Spanish Diploma) from Salamanca University, Spain;
Advanced Certificate in Careers Education and Guidance from Canterbury Christ Church College;
Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Level 5, CELTA equivalent, 140 hours) from EDI and i-to-i Volunteering.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts ("Working for 21st century Enlightenment")

- Where do you teach?

I teach online via FaceTime and/or Skype from my home and at students' homes. I live in Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, in the UK, and am prepared to drive up to c30 miles from home if online lessons are not possible, to include nearby towns such as Oxford, Wantage, Bicester, Henley, Reading, Newbury, Thame, Wallingford, Marlow ... I teach pupils online anywhere in the world, latterly in UK towns such as Northampton, Cheltenham etc. and abroad in Hong Kong, Russia, Kazakhstan ...

- Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.

I use Skype or Apple FaceTime. The video feed can be switched off at my student's request, or if it degrades the sound quality. Tests and exercises are sent to the student and returned to me for marking by email.

Teaching Experience:
- What kind of experience do you have?

Two years teaching Scholarship Latin and Greek in a local prep school (Cothill House);
Previously spent 25 years in the classroom in independent and state schools in the UK, France and Peru, teaching all ages;
Sometime Head of three academic departments (one of which I founded at Abingdon School);
c10 years one-to-one private tuition to all ages, latterly often online or through local agencies.

- Do you have an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly CRB) Certificate?

Yes - fully listed on the DBS update site.

- Where and with whom did you train?

University of Oxford, New College and Exeter College;
University of Oxford Department of Education;
Salamanca University;
Christ Church College Canterbury;

- Do you belong to any professional organisations?

I am a member of the General Teaching Council, the Association for Language Learning, sometime Chair of the Oxford Education Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Academy of St Cecilia.

Tutoring Approach:
"David has been tutoring our son via Skype for the last year, since his Spanish teacher said she did not want to put him in for GCSE Spanish as she thought he would fail. David has been marvellous with coaxing and coaching him and giving him confidence. Just the one to one attention has been hugely beneficial, and the bonus that "tech"� was involved, and that there was no time lost in driving to and from lessons has been a real godsend too. David is incredibly supportive and encouraging without being at all patronising, and really strikes the right balance to get the best out of his students. Can recommend unreservedly."
Mrs F, Gloucestershire,

"Our son has flourished under David's tutelage; the balance and content of homework and classwork has been very carefully gauged and enabled our son to progress rapidly, with great enthusiasm for his studies. The weekly reports David submits have been of immense value to us as parents trying to support our son's learning, as has the clear structuring, marking and regular review of work." Dr M. and Mr E.

"David has provided my daughter with an excellent grounding in Spanish prior to her starting the subject at school. He has guided her through the basics in a clear, thoughtful and well-informed way and has formed a very good relationship in which she has felt engaged, supported and motivated." Mrs W.

"My two children (ages 9 and 10) have progressed rapidly in their French learning with David. His lessons with them are focused and thorough, and his approach is patient and clear. He has great enthusiasm for languages and significant experience in teaching them, which show through in his lessons. My children both very much enjoy their lessons and are even happy to do the homework! David is also very helpful in working with us to find the best ways to support their learning between lessons. " Jenny T

"Dear David, Thank you so much for all your help and guidance when I applied for the Chaplaincy. It was good, too, to see you there when I went for interview" Revd. Michael P"

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Personal Description:
I am a French native speaker with extensive experience as a French tutor. I am currently working as a researcher at the university of York investigating how to improve second language teaching methods. I have always loved helping people learning French as I am myself a passionate language learner. I can also help with German since I have been learning it for more than 10 years.
Given that I love learning languages myself, I am highly aware of the difficulties one can face in this journey. Moreover, I have a strong background in grammatical knowledge because I studied linguistics and literature in the past (and latin!).
Finally, I am a very friendly, enthusiastic and engaged tutor.

Teaching Experience:
I have a long experience in tutoring with students of various ages and various learning goals.
Below is a list of the positions I have had:
-French trainer, Educom GmBH, Vienna, Austria: I prepared and conducted weekly French lessons for a group of adults at beginner level (2 months).
-French tutor, Lernkurve institute, Vienna, Austria: I tutored various pupils in French (aged from 12 to 18-year old).
-private French tutor in Vienna, Austria and in the UK: I helped an 11 year old boy, a 13 year old girl and a 16 year old girl with their French homework once a week and helped them getting ready for exams during two years. I started to teach French from zero to two younger girls (6 and 8 years old). Finally, I designed personalised French lessons during 8 months for an adult student who wanted to start learning French.
-French conversation: I regularly met an adult student (advanced level) to have conversations in French.
-French corrections: I have helped university students of French writing essays in French.

Tutoring Approach:
I like keeping French tutoring sessions as interactive as possible. That is really the only way of learning languages!
Depending on the students' language level and desires, I can teach French from scratch, help with homework, have conversations or prepare intense exam revision sessions if the student tells me in advance what he/she has problems with.

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Personal Description:
Hello,
I am a 50 year old French woman who enjoys providing one to one support following my client/pupil's curriculum.
I have been in the UK since 1993 and worked as a Personal Assistant for 17 years, I am also a Personal Trainer.

Teaching Experience:
My experience to teaching is mainly through being an aunt to a 10 year old boy and an 18 year old girl - tutoring them English following their school lessons but giving more details, examples and lights on the rules of the languages and their exceptions, always aiming to reach the conversation level.

With my experience as a personal assistant and personal trainer, I know how to tailor exactly to the person's needs and requirements and also to foresee the next necessary step.

Tutoring Approach:
Once again, I very much adapt to the person but I am always warm, friendly, professional and driven.
I can come to tutor to your place providing that it's not above a 20 minutes drive, otherwise I am happy to tutor at my home in Hamble (not in the evening).

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Personal Description:
My name is Ngum-Agnes, I am 18 years old. I live in Cardiff and am currently studying Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and French at A level.
I received all As and A*s at GCSE and A Levels and all A*s in the subject I am tutoring in.
I like to think of myself as friendly, polite and patient.

Teaching Experience:
I have had tutoring experiencing in the UK for over a year now in French, English, Mathematics, and Science.

I recently volunteered at children's orphanage in Africa where, among other things, I taught the Ethiopian children English. Doing so taught me the effectiveness and importance of patience and empathy when tutoring, as well as giving the pupil time to think through things in their own way.

Tutoring Approach:
I make sure to explain things slowly yet effectively and take time to understand the pupils way of learning and adapt my teaching in that way. I ensure that I am patient and friendly when tutoring and try to create a relaxed and calm but attentive atmosphere. I like to create a bond with my student so that they feel comfortable when learning but also eager and unafraid to ask questions when they do not understand.

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Personal Description:
I am a French native speaker. I am DBS checked.
I am successful as a tutor of all ages as I am very enthusiastic, calm and encouraging. I also have high expectations of my students.

Teaching Experience:
KS3 AND KS4
I started teaching in Birmingham as a French Assistant in 1990 and completed my PGCE in 1995.
I have taught in 4 different schools and was Head of a Modern Languages Department for 7 years.
As a teacher in mainstream schools, I have come across a very wide range of abilities, and have always adapted to the needs of my classes. I know what is required at GCSE and the progression needed from KS3 to KS4.
TUTORING ADULTS
Tutoring is something I greatly enjoy.
I had given private lessons to adults in the past and also to secondary school students, but in January 2019 I decided to create my own tutoring business.
In this last year, I have had the joy of seeing adults with very little knowledge of French blossom into confident learners.

Tutoring Approach:
For me, learning grammar and especially tenses is crucial if you want to become successful language learners.
I also have my own method for teaching pronunciation and this produces great improvements.
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I have recently suscribed to an online teaching platform which enables me to use video conferencing, upload resources, listening tasks, PowerPoints to make my lessons truly interactive. This platform makes the lessons accessible on tablets, computers and even mobile phones.

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Personal Description:
Hi my name is Sonia, I born in France and lived in Tunisia, the french is my first language as the Arabic too, I speak fluent Polish too, I'm located in Carlisle and I'm happy to give lessons at home, helping students for their homework, or making conversation with adults who are interested to learn the French language.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught couple of people in Poland, and a polish family that used to live in France ( mother and two kids 4 and 7 years old).

Tutoring Approach:
It's according to the needs of the student.

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Personal Description:
My name is Neil and I'm a polyglot who speaks many languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic etc.

Teaching Experience:
I've been teaching languages 1 on 1 and in classes for around 4.5 years, and running my own language school since January 2020.

Tutoring Approach:
I use scientifically proven memory techniques which are both fun and highly effective to help people easily learn and remember vocabulary and grammar in a foreign language. I also give you conversational practice as well as show you how to read and write in the language

I am very patient and I explain everything clearly and concisely. I believe language learning should be fun and not stressful.

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Personal Description:
My name is Pierrette and I provide excellent French and Spanish tutoring for kids and adults based around London and Essex. I am A-Level and GCSE qualified with over 20 years of experience teaching French and Spanish. I create interesting lesson programmes and my material is based on your current skills. I

Teaching Experience:
Are you getting ready for that long deserved French vacation or Spanish holiday? Perhaps you are starting a business that requires a lot of travel and foreign language skills will make things so much smoother and easier? Or you just want to learn a new language so you can add an impressive skill to your resume but you think it might be too difficult to learn? Let me show you how easy it can be to learn French or Spanish.

Tutoring Approach:
will be more than glad to work with you to discover how beautiful French and Spanish languages are. I am very patient and friendly, and I will ensure to help you progress and become fluent in speaking French or Spanish. I can also easily help you with test preparation and essay writing, as well as, reading and homework. I enjoy teaching and I always strive to be the best teacher that I can be. Be more confident in speaking French and Spanish - give me a call now, and I'll make sure to teach you in a creative way and make your learning experience an enjoyable o

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Personal Description:
First-class graduate of the University of Cambridge, I have tutored professionally since January 2023 and have worked in secondary schools in the UK between March 2017 and July 2018 full-time, working supply between February 2023 and July 2024.

I have tutored 4 students thus far, from Year 10 or 11 until their GCSE exams. My students have had great successes: my first student climbed 2 and 3 grades in their English GCSEs, passing them and allowing them to move on to sixth form without resits; another student achieved 8s in both English GCSEs, way higher than expected, and climbed grades over time in Maths; whilst another student also passed GCSE English Literature first time, with a Grade 4, well above his initial starting grade when we began tutoring.

My secondary school experience includes time as a full-time Cover Supervisor (March - July 2017), full-time Learning Support Assistant including sole teaching of KS3 SEN Literacy classes (September 2017 to July 2018), as well as supply LSA, Cover Supervisor and Exam Invigilator work.

I work with whoever, whatever your current grade, and I always aim to listen and understand who you are and what works well for you. Perhaps you're creative and into drawing; perhaps you are more analytical; perhaps you want to cover the basics. I always ensure my teaching is bespoke - I pay attention to what works and what does not.

My references attest to my good nature and personable qualities, as well as real results in helping students improve their grades.

At a fundamental level, any student of mine will tell you I am reliable, engaging, caring, fun, honest, and, equally, challenging and encouraging. I also offer a reasonable rate compared to other tutors in the area.

Please get in touch with any queries. I can tutor online, in person, and, within a certain distance, at your home.

Best wishes
Laurence,
Brighton and Hove

Teaching Experience:
- Private Tutor since 2023
- Full-time Cover Supervisor (March - July 2017)
- Full-time Learning Support Assistant including sole teaching of KS3 SEN Literacy classes (September 2017 to July 2018)
- Supply LSA (February 2023 - July 2024)
- Supply Cover Supervisor (September 2023 - July 2024)
- Exam Invigilator work (2023 and 2024 exam seasons)

Tutoring Approach:
- Person-centred
- Engaging and fun
- Reliable and caring

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Personal Description:
Native French speaker based in London who genuinely enjoys helping people I split my time between my coaching practice and tutoring, and both come down to the same thing: helping people feel more confident in what they're doing.

Teaching Experience:
I've tutored French for several years, working with adults needing workplace fluency and students preparing for exams. I recently helped a Chinese professional in Paris refine his business French - emails, reports, and presentations with noticeable results that impressed his colleagues and his management.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor every session to what you actually need. Whether it's exam prep, conversational confidence, or polishing your professional French, we'll focus on practical progress. As a stress management coach, I know how to keep things relaxed and judgment-free whilst staying focused on results

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