Honiton French Tutors and Honiton French Tuition

Personal Description:
I'm a French native speaker with over 15 years tutoring experience.

Teaching Experience:
I currently teach adults from beginners to advanced and prepare local students for their GCSE, IGCSE or A-levels. I have students attending a variety of schools among which City of London Freemen's, The Glyn, Roseberry, Epsom College, Tiffin Girls, Kingston Grammar, The London Oratory, Coombe Girls, Wilson's school for boys, Guildford high for girls, etc...
I have experience with all the different examination boards (AQA, OCR, Edexcel...)

I currently offer online tuition only while the Coronavirus is at large and use Google Drive and online Video tools such as Skype or Zoom.

In 2019 all my GCSE and IGCSE students got a 9 and A's or distinctions for their A-levels.

I also offer lessons to businesses but please contact me for specific pricing.

Tutoring Approach:
I adapt my teaching methods to the needs of the tutee: adults learn differently from teenagers, one is focused on conversation while the others are quite honestly more focused on passing an exam ;)
I'll try to follow as much as possible what is done in the classroom if the child already has French at school. Otherwise, I'll adapt my lessons to what the parents are expecting from me (whether the child's parents are French and would like their child to discover French litterature for example). I can also create lessons for a special objectives like spending holidays in France with friends and family we'll then concentrate on specific vocabulary and situations.
For adults: there again it all depends what you expect from those lessons. Do you already have some prior knowledge of the language or not? Do you have some specific objectives like buying a house in France or spending your holidays there? I'll adapt to your needs. We may most likely concentrate on vocabulary and situations and include grammar in as we go along.

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Personal Description:
I am married and have two children in their twenties, both in Higher Education. I am a qualified teacher, hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate and am up to date with current safeguarding training.
I love music, cinema and theatre and have spent part of my working life in professional theatre and television both as a performer and in production. I am widely travelled and well-read.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced teacher, having worked in Somerset as both a full-time KeyStage 2 class teacher (including 4 years of SATs experience) and as a Supply Teacher. I also taught pupils on the One to One Programme. My Level 5 (TQUK) Qualification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a useful skillset to draw upon when teaching English to SATs level pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
Often the barrier to learning is a lack of confidence and self-esteem. It's also important to be clear about what is being learned and why, what's expected of the pupil and how success can be achieved and celebrated. Above all it must be fun!
My tutoring is personalised to the individual. A positive approach, balancing the correct level of challenge with a clear set of achievable next steps should motivate a learner, create a sense of progress and should foster the desire to continue to want to learn. Be positive, Build confidence, Enjoy challenge, Celebrate Success.

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Personal Description:
I am a native French speaker and I recently graduated in Mechanical Engineering. I have always been passionate about Maths and Physics. I like to share my passion with people, especially those whom I can help, and make these subjects accessible to all. I also love promoting my language in as many ways as I can.
I understand that it is very important to tailor learning to individual needs and I adapt myself to any situation.

Teaching Experience:
I have been giving casual tuition at secondary school level as well as University level to friends and family. I also explained Maths and Mechanics to university fellow students and friends when they needed help to understand topics I had mastered.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is to find interesting ways to explain when the student is confronted to a problem he cannot solve. I make a point of leading my students to their goal while setting good working standards. I like to transmit my dedication to my pupils.

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Personal Description:
My mum was from Germany, and my frequent childhood trips to Germany fuelled my love of languages, leading me to study French and German at university. I have a wide range of interests, including sport, music, current affairs, reading and travel, which enables me to find areas of common interest with my tutees - this is particularly helpful at a more advanced linguistic level, when discussion and conversation play a greater role. I am friendly and sociable and love helping students achieve their language goals by finding ways of learning that work well for them.

Teaching Experience:
I achieved a First Class Joint Honours degree in French and German from Nottingham University, where I spent the third year of my degree as an 'Assistante' in a school in St-Lô in northern France. I then completed a PGCE in Secondary German and French at Manchester Polytechnic. Since qualifying I have worked in secondary, primary and adult education, teaching all ages and levels, including GCSE and A-level. I have also tutored privately, again with a variety of age groups and levels.

Tutoring Approach:
I am enthusiastic, friendly and conscientious and believe that good relationships are at the heart of effective teaching and learning. My experience in different sectors of education means I have developed a wide range of teaching styles which can be adapted to the needs of each individual learner. Whilst every student is different and requires a tailored approach, I aim to create a relaxed and open atmosphere in which students are given encouragement at every stage and feel able to ask about anything they do not understand. I review with the tutee on an ongoing basis how they feel things are going and whether their needs are being met.

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Personal Description:
When I was a boy I was taught by people who were larger-than-life characters who dominated the classroom. They made clear to us boys what was expected of us and that if we didn't make the effort we would simply not achieve the rewards.

As a teacher, I share the same ethos. I expect pupils to follow my lead and work to the best of their ability.

I spend a lot of time reading and thinking.

I think it was George Bernard Shaw who said that 2% of people think, 3% think they think and 95% would rather die than do any thinking at all!

Sadly, I think that over the last thirty years dumbing down and inflated grades have shown how accurate Shaw's assessment was.

I see my role as one of reversing the tide of apathy and mediocrity and encouraging pupils to value themselves as individuals each with unique potential.

I finally achieved my educational potential because I came to see intellectual growth as the only sure path to happiness and fulfilment.

Helping pupils reach the same understanding about their full intellectual potential is my vocation and the foundation on which I build all my one-to-one tuition relationships.

Teaching Experience:
After teaching in the UK Primary and Secondary sectors as well as managing English and History departments in three international schools overseas, I now devote my time exclusively to private tuition.

My experience includes 12 years teaching English and History to GCSE and A level in the UK secondary system and eight years teaching the same subjects to the same levels in international schools in Italy, Egypt and Kenya.

During this time I have always had a number of students on my books for home tuition to provide extra help in Primary, Secondary and University level subjects.

My English GCSE students last year all achieved A-C grades and my A level History student achieved an A (predicted C after Year 12) and is now at university. In previous years, my A level History students have never achieved less than a C and in 2014, I had a student who reached A* and is now studying the subject at Exeter University.

Tutoring Approach:
My experience has led me to believe that one-to-one tuition is the best way to educate pupils. It brings them to the realisation that the whole point of education really is to set us free. It's not easy for a student to discover this when confined every day in a class of 30 or more others! Learning to think independently as an individual, and to read and write fluently enables pupils to participate fully in society, to achieve their full potential and thereby become happy, confident adults. Once the student is enthused and inspired by a tutor to think for themselves there is only one way forward.

I like to encourage pupils to develop independent thinking and logical analysis. Too many schools are teaching the children WHAT to think when they should be teaching them HOW to think. Naturally, many pupils become disengaged and even some of the most talented are simply going through the motions rather than actually studying. This lack of motivation together with highly inflated grades means that many of our youngsters are leaving school with minimal reading and writing skills. Indeed, few now have the aptitude for doing much reading, thinking or writing at all.

I like to build up the student's confidence by establishing their strengths first. Thereafter I identify weaknesses and gauge the student's awareness of them and motivation to put them right. Above all, I encourage my students to read widely and with full concentration. My best students learn to read closely and publish their reviews on Amazon. Aside from the huge adrenaline run, the boost in confidence and proficiency students get from seeing their writing in print is awesome to behold!

To put it simply, when they're reading they start succeeding!

Homework set weekly by me will always involve reading, thinking and writing. My feedback will always concentrate on reinforcing the idea that the writing process never ends with the last full stop. I expect students to read back their work to ensure that their writing communicates their meaning clearly and fluently. Editing with the focus on making the right word choices, organising sentences with the words in the right order and structuring longer writing assignments into coherent paragraphs are all priorities schools are increasingly neglecting thereby greatly hindering the life chances of their pupils..

Once the student and I have agreed which areas need improvement we use lesson time to extend the student's competence and skills by undertaking thinking and written assignments that allow the student to develop these.

Weekly homework set will advance and reinforce the skills the student has been encouraged to bring to the lesson.

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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:
Bonjour !

I am a French native tutor with 7 years experience of teaching French to pupils of various ages and levels of expertise.

As I am back to France, I deliver now online lessons and conversations through the internet.

What you will need is very simple: a computer with Skype on it or Zoom or Google Hangout, earphones and a good Internet access.

So, if you haven't yet found your French teacher to help you with your learning or if prefer to learn in the comfort of your home and spare the travel time, please contact me!

Teaching Experience:
ADULT
2011 - now: varied experiences in one to one or two to one tuitions:
- from survival to intermediate + GCSE exam preparation, A level exam preparation.

2011 - 2016: group class in a company, Trend Controls, Horsham- A1/A2 level
2012 - 2016: group class in a company, Trend Controls, Horsham- A0 level

CHILDREN
2015-2016: Maitresse for lespuces, Horsham, Early years French Clubs
2013- 2014:
- French teacher for Year 1 (KS1), Kingslea Primary School, Horsham (Volunteering)
2012-2013:
- French teacher for Reception (Fundation), Kingslea Primary School, Horsham (Volunteering)
- Private tuition with a 4 years' boy.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that having a native teacher is a huge advantage for students of the French language wanting to perfect their pronunciation, improve fluency and knowledge of both proper and currently spoken French.

My tuition is tailor-made and flexible, according to each pupil's needs and requirements.
I ask the pupil to do homework, as there is no learning without personal work.
Depending on the level, I prefer to follow a book, for example Façon de parler 1 for absolute beginners. I of course add exercises, explanations, texts and resources to the book.


Please feel free to contact me for any enquiry: I am available for weekly lessons or for a one-off session!

Alors, à bientôt j'espère !

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Personal Description:
I am a french native speaker, teaching french. I am a very enthusiastic person who love contact with people and I enjoy teaching my language to others. I also speak Spanish.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for 21 years in an independent school and I am also a Team Leader and examiner for Edexcel Pearson and AQA exam boards. I am checking , marking and assessing exams at GCSE level and I teach at all levels. As well as teaching my classes on site, I do teach my lessons via video conferencing using zoom, Skype or Teams, the delivery of the lessons online are as good as being in a classroom. Virtual classes are fun and are an easy way to learn from home.

Tutoring Approach:
Very calm and smooth approach with lots of speaking, listening, writing and reading activities to enable students to develop their skills. I also work on the grammar and the verbs which are a huge part of the learning, all students can learn according to their own abilities and develop at their own pace. Grade guaranty.

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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:
I was born in the Dominican Republic and my family moved to the USA as a young teen where I finished my High School and university education.
I have lived in many different places like Florida, Jamaica, Curacao, Suriname and now London.
I absolutely love to teach languages. It brings me great satisfaction to help my students learn to communicate in the language of their choice.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught EFL and Spanish for 12 years 1:1 and in groups at a corporate level. I have also taught High School Spanish and French in USA. I have tutored students in Spanish, English and French at all levels, for A levels, GCSE, business or pleasure with great success.

Tutoring Approach:
A teacher should be able to make his lessons dynamic and interactive, always engaging the student and learning about their learning style. In a group setting it is important to differentiate and in 1:1 lessons it is vital to tailor the lessons according to the needs of the student.

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Personal Description:
Bonjour et bienvenue ! My name is Solenne. I am a French native from Paris and I have been teaching French in the UK since 2014. Holder of a Master's degree (Universities of Paris La Sorbonne and René Descartes), my education also includes the DAEFLE of the Alliance Française de Paris (Teaching French as a Foreign Language Advanced Diploma) awarded with honours in 2014.
I offer tailor-made French courses as a reliable, qualified and patient tutor to students of different ages, levels and nationalities.

Whether you are:
- a 16+ student taking a degree in French (AS/A-Level and University degrees ; DELF-DALF or NATO exams) and needing confidence for your exam,
- a professional willing to have a proper conversation with your French colleagues or clients,
- or just an adult learner with a passion for languages and wishing to brush up your French,
I will pay close attention to your learning project and I will help you to achieve your language goals.

I have an updated French Police Check and DBS Check.

*Update - 17/06/2024*
JUNE 2024: SUMMER SESSIONS (Adult learners - A-level students - University students).
I have had new slots become available for tuition cycles, revision sessions and preparation for the academic year 2024-2025.
Please contact me for further information. A bientôt !

Cancellation Policy:
There are times when advance notification is not possible and I am willing to adapt myself as much as possible to students who face circumstances beyond their control.
However, I require a minimum cancellation period prior to a lesson.
- If I am not notified (by phone or by email) of a cancellation 48 hours prior to the session, I will fully charge the amount of the session.
- In case my student(s) and I can find another convenient time slot within the week, the lesson will be postponed and will not be charged.
If you contact me prior to this window, thank you for your courtesy!

Teaching Experience:
This is my twelfth year as a French as a Second/Foreign Language (FLE) full-time Tutor. I feel equally comfortable with beginners, intermediate or advanced students. I am also a French language Instructor and Assessor for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) and a Tutor for the National Crime Agency (NCA).

I can provide an extensive amount of reviews from present and past students.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring is not just guiding students through their learning but also giving them confidence and enabling them to experience lessons in a relaxed, friendly and yet result-oriented way.
That is why I tailor my lessons to the students` needs and pace (one-to-one or small group tutoring on request), in order to teach the French language effectively as well as to raise awareness to the French culture.
My approach is action-oriented, based on the ability of students to communicate (speaking ; listening ; reading ; writing) in authentic situations, according to the Common European Framework of references for Languages (CEFR).

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Personal Description:
An advanced skills teacher in French, Spanish and German and a French native speaker, I also speak fluently 5 languages. I have been teaching in London secondary schools since 2010. In previous years I have also worked as second in charge and Head of French in an MFL department. However, I chose never to become head of department as this would have distracted me from perfecting my role as a teacher.

I pride myself on excellent exam results and students WILL CONSISTENTLY progress from the very first lesson. If students are not satisfied with the progress they have made in their first lesson, I am happy to refund the cost of that lesson.

I follow a new revolutionary teaching method which demistifies languages and make them so much simpler. Generally after one year my GCSE students can write independantly a level 9 piece of writing - if they are not on track to achieve this, parents will be warned as soon as this becomes apparent.

In our school we used to have 3 or 4 students taking languages at Alevel, this has now reached 20!

To primary school students, I teach a language in the same way a toddler learns their mother tongue and generally, by the time they reach year 7, we can work on GCSE materials and look at taking a GCSE a the end of year 8, worst case scenario at the end of year 9.

Amongst my greatest success are helping a student increase her grade from a 3 to a 7, this same student is now taking French at Alevel and intends to pursue its study at University.
I have also helped a number of students pass the MLAT exam for Oxford. I have also helped young people increase by to 2 and sometimes 3 grades at Alevel and reach countless 9s at GCSE.

As a practising teacher, I have prepared hundreds of students for their exams and have therefore a good understanding of not only the different exam requirements for all skills, but also a good knowledge of the wide array of exam revision techniques and exercises available. I use a wealth of resources which I have collected and developed over the years and I also call on, if necessary, the help of native French students to help break speaking barriers. I closely monitor progress and keep parents/guardians informed every step of the way.

If you would like to know how I would approach your particular needs, please do not hesitate to contact me, I look forward to hearing from you.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching since 2010 in various London secondary schools.

As a proven linguist, I have taught French, German and Spanish to GCSE and A level.

Over the years I have prepared hundreds of students for gcse, Alevels, IGCSEs And IB

Tutoring Approach:
I can summarise my approach by saying that I make languages seem easy to learn! Which they are, given the right approach.

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Personal Description:
My name is Maria and I come from Italy. I have always been passionate about foreign languages and I got a Diploma specialising in English, French, German and European Certificates (C1 Advanced level ) in English and French.
I have recently graduated at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama getting my MA in Advanced Theatre Practice, i also got a BA in Drama, Film and Media Studies in Italy.
I am a positive and friendly individual, professional and responsible. I chose becoming a tutor because I really care helping other people and I like sharing my knowledge.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Italian, French and English for 4 years assisting students of any nationality and age.

Tutoring Approach:
My classes are friendly and tailored, I try to make my students feel comfortable, enjoying my classes and feeling that they can always have a person to count on.

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Personal Description:
French lessons with French Native speaker.

Learn with a patient and experienced French tutor based in Reading. I am also a professional translator for French and German.

Passionate about teaching French and German, I have extensive experience teaching Foreign Languages.

I am easy-going and encouraging, but also believe in challenge according to your own confidence, requirements and ability.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching French and German in the last 10 years to children, teenagers, and mostly professionals and adults.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching approach is first and foremost student-centered. I believe that each student grows at their own pace. Therefore my methodology is based on patience, persistence and set on progress.

The material that we will use has a progressive approach and will focus on your needs and interests. Attention is placed on pronunciation, conversation, grammar as well as writing skills if required.

It is suitable for both everyday life or business.

The learning pace is your pace. Just contact me and let's talk French or German together!

Not fussy about timing. Length of the lesson depends on you. I am available mostly evenings and week-ends.

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Personal Description:
I am a 25-year-old London-based Oxford graduate looking to help secondary school students with the study of Latin and/or French. My working hours are highly flexible and I would be willing to approach the subjects from whichever angle one prefers; whether a student wants to practise his/her spoken French, learn Latin grammar only or simply needs help understanding the syllabus.

Teaching Experience:
During my secondary school and university years I tutored younger students in both Latin and French. I have also contributed to teaching elementary Russian to children, being a fluent Russian speaker.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very happy to tailor my sessions according to every student's personal needs - whether this means focussing on an aspect of grammar, a particular book, an essay, conversational French or pure translation. This also applies to the question of homework: I will set it according to whether or not the student and/or parent guardian wants it.

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Personal Description:
I'm French living in England. I studied 5 years in an engineering school in France. I learned science, communication, and project management through marketing courses, management courses and a lot of personaI developpement.
I'm actually based in Reading.

To speak about my personality, I'm playing rugby since I am 9, I love drawing and I used to play guitar in France.
Since I am in England I'm working in a restaurant and I travel around the country during my days off.

I look forward to speaking to you and to share my knowledges with you.

Teaching Experience:
I have hard skills in self directed learning for I learned English in 4 years by myself and with the help of many tools of self directed lear ning. Taking me as a tutor means that after few hours you will be able to learn by yourself with real learning targets to reach and useful ressources.
I was coach of a femal team and a male team as well for 2 years in my university so I can understand how people learn according to their personalities.

Tutoring Approach:
About my approach to tutoring, I will evaluate your level during the first courses and find the right courses for you according to your difficulties.
Little by little I will give you some exercice and tools about self directed learning as well as ressources in order to improve your french when we don't have courses together.
Moreover, I will let you choose subjects you want to work in and adapt my courses, so that apprenticeship stay a pleasure for you.

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Personal Description:
For me, languages are a vital component of a rounded education. I have always loved to travel and being able to communicate with people in different countries in their own language has always thrilled me. Teaching languages allows me to help others to enjoy their language learning, too.

I am a mum of 2 primary-aged children. We love visiting parks, going for a walk, swimming, scooting and playing. We also love making things, painting, and they love to help me with my little craft projects.
I am based in Herefordshire, and we have lived here for 13 years. We love the outdoor lifestyle and the peace and quiet.

Teaching Experience:
Before becoming a private tutor 5 years ago, I had taught in secondary schools for more than 20 years. During my teaching career, I have been a classroom teacher, a Head of Department, an Advanced Skill Teacher and an Assistant Headteacher. My favourite role remains that of teacher, helping and supporting young people to understand languages and, I hope, enjoy them.

Currently, I work as a private tutor, teaching 1:1 lessons to GCSE and A level students. I also have adult learners, who are complete beginners, and I run a Spanish club at my children's primary school.

Tutoring Approach:
A private tutor can play a hugely important part in building confidence and self-belief for students. It is my job, not only to support them to make progress, but also to help them to feel comfortable and confident with their work.

Every student will have different strengths and areas for support, and I prepare individual lessons for each student that I teach, ensuring that they are interesting and engaging, and that they help them to progress. Also, students will often have areas which they would like to improve. I will take account of these in the preparation of my lessons.

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Personal Description:
I have over thirty years experience of teaching Latin, English, French and essay-writing skills, both in schools and as a private tutor. I specialise in helping students write their Personal Statements when applying to university or to postgraduate courses.

I am the mother of five grown up children, three of whom went to Cambridge, one to KCL and one to Oxford, and I have also guided many other students into achieving offers from top universities, including many to Oxbridge.

After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in English and Classics, I taught for 2 years before going to Drama school, then moved to Granada TV as a researcher and presenter. The next 14 years were spent working for various TV companies, while also writing for national newspapers and magazines.

In 1992, I moved with my family to Salisbury and went back to teaching, first in a college of Further Education, then at a prep school, and subsequently in independent schools: nine years at St Mary's Calne from which I retired in 2015. I was then invited to , come out of retirement to teach at St Swithun's in Winchester and The Oratory School Oxford.

I no longer teach in the classroom, but continue to offer tutoring in Latin, English, French and Writing Skills. A particular speciality is Personal Statements - helping students with their applications to university. I have helped very many students (both pre-university and postgraduates) write successful personal statements for their chosen courses.

As well as the academic subjects mentioned above, I help with any writing task from an A level or IB essay (especially Theory of Knowledge) to university theses and dissertations. I specialise in Oxbridge help, including suggestions for reading, preparation for entrance tests and interview practice. So far I have helped over 20 students gain places at Oxbridge.

Teaching Experience:
Personal statements

I have helped very many students write their personal statements for application to university - both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This does NOT mean writing the statement for the student - I do not have the breadth of knowledge to write about Astrophysics or Zoology, but it does mean helping the student clarify his or her thoughts, explain what has prompted the interest in the subject, how he or she has developed this interest, what extra-curricular choices have been made, and why, and how current A levels (or degree subjects) have prepared the student for this application.
For many students, the Personal Statement is the first time they have have to talk about themselves, and for many, it is bewildering knowing how to approach it and what to include and what to leave out.

I help the student by asking him/her to fill in a preliminary questionnaire, (Why this subject? What sparked the interest? Why it's important for the student and for society etc). Next, I ask for a first draft - it doesn't matter how bad or poorly expressed this is. Then, I work with the student - either at home or by Skype/Zoom, talking through the first draft and suggesting adjustments, improvements etc. Next the student writes a second draft, and the process continues until the students is totally happy that the statement says exactly what was intended, and show the student at his/her best.
I have many testimonials from happy students (including over twenty five to Oxbridge) which I would be happy to share on request.

Latin
I teach Latin at Latin Common Entrance, GCSE, A level, and university level. The great majority of my students achieve 9s at GCSE, and As and A*s at A level. Many have gone on to read Classics at university.

English
I teach English literature and language - both critical analysis of texts and and writing skills - from GCSE to university level and beyond. Many students whom I have helped with A level essays have come back to me for help with their university dissertations, applications for Masters, or covering letters for postgraduate job applications.

Essay writing
As well as helping with A level essays in all the humanities (RS, Philosophy, Psychology, History etc) I am an experienced tutor for IB Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essays. I have also advised and guided many students with their EPQs.

French
I teach French to A level and

I teach Classical Greek to GCSE.

Tutoring Approach:
1. My first priority is to let the student know that they are not alone - I am here to help. Just being told this can be immediately reassuring, especially if the student has been worrying for about a subject or project for a long time.

2. The next step is to establish exactly how much the student already knows. Nothing surprises or shocks me, but I have come across students seeking help who haven't got a copy of the relevant book or haven't read beyond the title page. I understand this - life is busy.So I am never critical or judgmental, I am always on the student's side. If necessary, I will provide a copy (years of teaching and a large family mean I usually have several).

3. The next step is to encourage the student into thinking of the subject as interesting. This may mean overcoming any resistance, by chatting, discovering how much they already know (always more than they think - another source of encouragement) and relating it to other areas of interest. One ideas have started to flow the student will begin to realise that not only might this subject/essay not be as bad as feared, it's possible they might find something enjoyable about it.

4. Now we look at the project and ways of approaching it. The key here is structure. Quite often the student's lack of confidence has led to panic and accompanying lack of organisation. So I help sort out files, help put notes in order, and encourage the student recognise which bits of paper are/aren't relevant to their work. This is mental housekeeping - and once order has been established, the student is in a better frame of mind for doing the work.

5. The next step varies according the to the subject.

LATIN.
I ask the student translate until he meets a problem. I then explain the topic- taking care to base it only on what the student already knows and feels confident about. If there are big gaps in knowledge, I start filling them, teaching vocabulary, grammar and syntax in an orderly way and asking the student to record what we have covered in his own written file.We then continue the translation, making sure the student has understood everything we have covered so far. This process is designed to lift the fog and give the student the tools needed to translate confidently

WRITING.
If it's an essay, I encourage the student to look at the title and think about (a) what is it really asking and (b) what ideas can he or she think of in response? These can be written down in any order - at this stage it's a question of getting the thought processes going.
We then discuss how to organise the student's thoughts into a coherent whole. This can be painstaking process - it involves teaching essay structure, and and sometimes even working backwards - going from conclusion back to introduction - but we always finish by knowing exactly what direction the essay is taking.
The final step is to ask the student to write something for next time. It doesn't matter if it's short or badly-expressed, and I always make it relevant to school work. The reason I ask for a piece of writing is
a) the act of writing enables a student to know what he/she wants to say
(b) seeing a student's writing shows me how to approach the next lesson. I can see what element of the writing need work, and plan my lesson accordingly.

OTHER IDEAS FOR READING ETC
I often recommend extra-curricular ideas to make the subject more engaging - films, YouTube extracts, magazines, even books - the student doesn't have to read a whole book - even dipping in and out is helpful and there is nothing more deadening to the love of books than being told you HAVE to read them.

STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
. I do not only help academic high-flyers. I am also offer warm and sympathetic help to students who - for whatever reason - find academic study challenging. I help develop study skills, suggest organisational strategies (for student and parent) and above all, restore lost confidence by showing the student that he really can tackle - and overcome - any problem - just by taking it slowly and making sure he or she understands each step before going on to the next.

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE.
, I'm a great believer in the comforting powers of a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, as well as the presence of my 2 cats (who, despite being to every lesson I've given, are still rubbish at Latin). For allergic pupils, however, the cats are banished to the garden.

Subjects