Ilminster French Tutors and Ilminster French Tuition

Personal Description:
I am an experienced and successful assistant examiner for a major exam board for A Level French and have marked German and French GCSE in the past. I am an experienced, enthusiastic and friendly tutor, with a high success rate with GCSE and A level students of French and German. I love what I do, particularly helping to build student confidence and helping them achieve their best, in a fun and supportive way.

More recently I have been teaching English as a Foreign Language to Russian, German and French students. I love teaching my native language and helping students to gain confidence in it.

PGCE - University of Newcastle Upon Tyne 1998 (Secondary Teaching Qualification)
I am a fully qualified teacher of Languages and English as a foreign language, with 18 years' experience of teaching all levels.

My work as an assistant examiner for a major exam board, has given me an excellent insight into what is required by the exam in order to gain a good pass.
I love languages, teaching, music and travel.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught and supported students at all levels and for different purpose: GCSE, A Level, Holiday French and German, Primary French and German.

I have been an assistant examiner for a major exam board for A level French speaking, listening, reading and writing for the past 8 years, so can help to support students for exams and help them to become very familiar with the techniques and knowledge required to gain a good pass.

I have a 100% success rate with students. Last year, all 3 GCSE students gained A* and A (French and German) and my 3 A Level students gained A (French), and 2 C's (from a grade E/U in German).

I have taught online for Learndirect/myself, am computer literate, and have had success with students learning long distance via Skype.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a fun and enthusiastic approach to teaching and I am able to guarantee success at all levels. I have lots of success with all levels, and have been successful due to a variety of techniques, knowledge of exam papers/common difficulties when learning a language and teaching experience.
I am able to get the best out of students, by identifying their learning needs and styles.

Adult learners: I have a very successful and unique approach, which allows adults to understand how a language is constructed and which allows them to grasp the basics of a language and then 'play' with the language by adding new vocabulary and phrases. You will feel confident wiih the pronunciation of the language from the beginning, which is essential to make progress quickly and effectively.

What my previous students have said:

E - July 2012 - Intermediate Adult: I needed a quick few lessons to help me pass a resit at University, I realised this was a pressure on Sarah to help me pass but I had learnt more with Sarah in a total of 6 hours than I had in a whole year. I would highly recommend Sarah to anybody, Thank you Sarah for your help, you helped me pass with flying colours! E.

R - May 2012 - GCSE last minute help online - My daughter says " Sarah is really friendly and helpful and she gave me lots of techniques I can use to revise". Sarah has been brilliant at giving a late boost just before the exams, which was exactly what we wanted. We found her incredibly helpful and responsive and are sure she has been a major part of boosting my daughter's confidence - her grades as reported by school have gone up two levels in the last two months and Sarah has been a definite part of this

S - July 2011-May 2012 - Adult Casual - After having lessons for a few months now I can say that Sarah is a very effective teacher and has the ability to explain things in a simple and easy to understand way. I feel I have made significant progress in my learning and would not hesitate to recommend Sarah to anybody wishing to learn french.

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Personal Description:
Recently made the decision to take voluntary redundancy from Volvo Truck and Bus where I had been employed both in accounts and as P A to the MD for 26 years. I wish to concentrate on teaching languages which I enjoy so much.

I have a 21 year-old daughter living at home with me while studying medicine at Glasgow University.

PLEASE NOTE
Due to recent confusion, I wish to clarify that the rates quoted per hour are for tuition in my home in Barrhead. Travel to a student's home and/or additional pupils will incur extra charges.

Teaching Experience:
I have a degree in French and German and have been tutoring both children and adults for many years, although my enthusiasm has never waned.
I attended a TEFL course two years ago and am still improving those skills through an on-line course. I find this very easy and enjoyable as I come from the generation who were thoroughly taught correct English grammar and spelling.

All my pupils who take exams achieve excellent grades and I can supply references to testify to this.
Languages are fun!

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a thorough method of learning languages - not the 'phrase-book style' fashionable for some years. As much speaking practice as possible is essential.

Having so many years' experience, I have many practice papers and CD's for school exams and excellent courses for adults.

Any parents considering additional help in the lead-up to exams should try to start this as early as possible. I may be expert and dedicated but I don't have a magic wand to work miracles over the last couple of weeks before an exam!

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Personal Description:
I am a Master of Arts graduate of Choreography and a Bachelor of Arts graduate of French language and literature. My mother tongue is greek but I am also a native speaker in english because I was born in Australia. I live in London and don't mind travelling within London. I am friendly, communicative and very outgoing so feel free to contact me for any tuitions :)

Teaching Experience:
Teaching is one of my favourite activities because it is a way to share my knowledge with young people and also with adults. I have been teaching various subjects since 2006 which include dance, french language, greek language and english language. I always have my classes organised to achieve the goals that my students have in a specific amount of time, not time-wasters please:) I am currently a Visiting Lecturer in Universities.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring for me must have a methodology and a structure. It always depends on the needs of the student, the goals and the time available. As long as you know your aim, we can work around it together.

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Personal Description:
My name is Lenka and I am an experienced and qualified language teacher. I am passionate about languages and I love teaching. I have traveled a lot and lived in different countries. I studied Spanish and French literature at an Italian university and lived in Spain where I studied Spanish language, culture and journalism. I qualified as a secondary language teacher at Lancaster University and worked as a teacher in the independent sector for 7 years. I am a native Czech speaker. I am currently working as a freelance tutor for a language agency as well as teaching private students. At the moment I am available during the weekends and Monday and Friday afternoons. I tutor in Seaford and surrounding areas.

Teaching Experience:
• tutor in a language school teaching all year groups and individuals
• teacher in two comprehensive schools teaching KS3, KS4 and Sixth Form
• language teacher in an independent boarding school (13-18) teaching Spanish, French and Italian at GCSE and A-level
• tutor in adult education
• vast experience with private language tutoring

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching philosophy is that a thorough knowledge of grammar as well as the ability to communicate is essential for learning a language successfully. I advocate a communicative approach and I teach in a relaxing atmosphere so that my students feel at ease and not afraid of communicating in a foreign language and at the same time they can learn by assessing their own mistakes.

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Personal Description:
I am a passionate linguist and teacher of Modern Languages.

Teaching Experience:
I am a highly qualified and experienced teacher of Modern Languages, able to teach Spanish, German and French. I have vast experience of teaching all three languages (Spanish, German and French) from Primary through to GCSE, and German through to A level and beyond. I am confident in teaching students of all abilities and in recent years have taught students who have progressed to study languages at Oxford and Cambridge. I am an experienced examiner for AQA and I have examined the GCSE German writing component for the last 6 years. I am also able to offer language tuition for adults and businesses.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a strong understanding of the GCSE and A-level courses which enables me to coach the students in a way for them to achieve their full potential at all levels.

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Personal Description:
Experienced tutor both face to face and online sessions. I am at present a part time languages teacher. I have been teaching for 20 years in secondary schools and I have 7 years experience of teaching adult education. I specialise in French and have been mainly responsible for GCSE and A level teaching. I am able to help students with set texts and films such as L'étranger, un sac de billes, l'auberge espagnole, No et moi, entre les murs and la Haine they are studying and I can provide extra guidance and help with this aspect of the new A Level course. I have a detailed knowledge of exam criteria for a range of exam boards and I can offer personalised tutoring for all aspects of the course. My teaching style is very engaging and interactive and I adapt my teaching to get the very best out of students. All of my tutees who took their exam in summer 2025 increased their overall grade by at least one grade.
I am able to provide targeted intensive revision sessions in the holidays to boost exam success .

Teaching Experience:
20 years secondary school experience teaching KS 3 French and Geman , KS4 French , KS 5 French and beginners Italian.

5 years experience with a local city council teaching adult French and Italian.

8 years tutoring experience teaching a range of levels.

I currently mark for one of the major exam boards at GCSE level.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor sessions to the needs of students and their learning styles. I aim to create a safe environment for learners where it is ok to make mistakes and try to be creative. I use a range of teaching resources to make lessons varied and engaging.

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Personal Description:
I am 20 years old, I'm a native speaker of french. I moved over to France at the slender age of 12 and I lived there for 7 years, I have taken my french equivalent GCSE's and A-level's in France. I am currently working as a teaching assistant in a high school for Key Stage 3/4 and I provide extra french curriculum activities for the student's depending on their abilities and their age. I'm also currently at Open University getting my French degree.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently working at a High School in Dewsbury as a Teaching Assistant with Key Stage 3 and Key stage 4 student's. Once a week I have French activities put in place after school for those who want help with their french homework or have course work or would like to improve on their French.

Tutoring Approach:
I know myself how hard it is to learn another language, so depending on their age and abilities, I will provide a different range of fun activities/lessons that will help them to progress in French. I always try to keep the lessons/activities as fun and enjoyable as possible so that they are learning whilst having fun but also they are staying concentrated and engaged.

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Personal Description:
Hemananda (Ravi)
Motivational and patient tutor with 25+ years' experience in IT and education. I simplify complex topics using real-world examples, interactive Q&A, and tailored practice. My lessons build confidence, clarity, and lasting understanding. With international exposure and deep technical expertise, I guide students through software engineering, programming, databases, and business concepts with precision and empathy. I'm currently writing a book to make Software Engineering more practical and accessible for learners and professionals alike.

I am well versed with the following development tools, databases and software:
- Python, Numpy, Pandas, R
- Machine Learning (KNN algorithm, Naïve Bayes, Neural Network, Decision Tree, etc.)
- PHP
- Visual Basic .Net, ASP .Net
- Oracle Apex
- Oracle Forms 6i, 9i, 10g
- Oracle Reports 6i, 9i, 10g
- Oracle SQL Loader
- Oracle Designer 6i, 9i, 10g
- Oracle Discoverer 10g (Discoverer Plus 10g, Discoverer Viewer 10g)
- Visual Basic 6.0, C, C++, 4D, Windev, Forms Designer, Prescribe, HTML, Java, Javascript,
- Microsoft Front Page, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Flash, Image Composer, XML, Seagate Crystal Reports, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint
- Microsoft Access, Oracle Database 8, Oracle Database 8i, Oracle Database 9i, Oracle Database 10g, and Ms SQL Server, Oracle Database Express Edition

Teaching Experience:
I have been offering private tuitions since 2001 for a side income as well as for charity purposes. My students were:
1. Primary students (Mathematics, English, French, Computer Studies/IT)
2. Secondary students (Mathematics, Statistics, Accounting, Economics, Computer Studies/IT)
3. Tertiary students (Mathematics, Accounting, Computer Studies/IT), including British Computer Society (BCS) students
Notes:
(a) I am very pleased that one of my BCS students topped the Software Development module including the Database Management Systems module examinations in Mauritius.
(b) I have assisted more than 50 students in their final year IT project (including the analysis/design/development of the system).
(c) I am also proud to say that after more than 3 failed attempts in renowned institutions, I have succeeded in getting 8 BCS students to be through the Software Development module examinations in their first 6 months being tutored by me.

I have equally provided training courses on programming (to name a few: Visual Basic, Oracle SQL and PL/SQL, etc..) for at least 8 years.

Tutoring Approach:
Every new batch of tuition starts with getting to know more about the students. It is at the same time important to give the students enough space to familiarise themselves with me. A discussion will then follow to scope down what will be covered in the syllabus. A work plan is also devised with the aim to complete the syllabus well before the examinations, so as to have adequate time for revision. The following steps outline the process of each tuition session:
1. Initiate the subject or topic based on discussion of a real life example / scenario
2. Introduce the theoretical part of the subject or topic
3. Explain how the theory links to the real life example / scenario
4. Work out and explain some examples
5. Immediate evaluation of student's understanding through questions and answers
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until satisfactory response of the student (steps 1, 2 and 3 may also be repeated if required)
7. Give homework and a brief discussion on what will be covered in the next tuition session

Note: Each tuition session starts with the correction of the previous session's homework and explanation of any problem areas, including a summing up of what was covered in the previous tuition session.

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Personal Description:
I am a native German speaker and I am passionate about teaching and I love people. I have a PhD in protein chemistry.

Teaching Experience:
I am teaching since 2012 and I have taught 31 private students so far. I have taught 17 Science GCSE and A-level classes in schools and Colleges. I also have taught 23 German, French and Italian evening classes.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is student and needs centred.
My language lessons can focus on speaking and listening, essential grammar and writing sentences and essays.
In science lessons all weaknesses can be discussed, school homework and exam paper questions.
A typical lesson with me is one hour per week with one additional hour of homework for the following lesson, however this is entirely up to the student.

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Personal Description:
Qualified teacher, experienced tutor and seasoned exam marker. I also do speaking exams for private centres each year, covering all the different boards at GCSE and A Level.

Some students come to me for additional help with their school courses and I can work on specific areas and give pointers for improving grades. I also tutor home educated students who want me to help them through the whole syllabus

I usually do a combination of grammar and other skills during a lesson. I find online tutoring is an efficient way to teach. Student and tutor have to be very focused, and we need to have the lesson planned carefully to make sure we have access to documents, so no time is wasted finding materials or deciding what to do. I also set homework if parents want this, and it does help to maximise the lesson time.

Teaching Experience:
After my degree in French and Spanish, and PGCE, I went on to teach in a secondary school. After this I started out as a private tutor, working with students from a range of backgrounds and Amis. I have taught both French and Spanish from lower secondary to A Level, including board era and overseas students.

I know the different syllabuses extremely well fue to the range of students l have.

Tutoring Approach:
Organised and serious but friendly and approachable. I work alongside students to help them achieve the best grades possible.

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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 I'm an 18 year old political science student at a belgian university and I'm in Cambridge with my mother for the holidays. I'm a sweet and enthousiastic person with a real passion for the french language! I'd be glad to share some of my favourite french books or movies with you so we can talk about it together during our tea break!

Teaching Experience:
I used to regularly help my little cousins with their french and math lessons but I was not paid for it, so this would actually be my first time giving paid lessons. I'm therefore really looking forward to this first experience and have already prepared my tutoring approach. I hope you'll trust me and enjoy sharing this experience with me!

Tutoring Approach:
I will adapt my tutoring approach to the needs of the student, but I suggest participatory lessons. I will explain the lesson of the day during the first half hour and make sure the student has understood it by giving them a fun oral or written exercise to do during the last 20min. It can be a conversation, a story to write, a sequence from a series to translate etc... it could be anything! Of course, I will make sure to meet the student's needs and will pay attention to their personnality to make them feel as comfortable as I can.

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Personal Description:
I'm French, my family lives in Paris as well as the South of France and I've been living in UK 10 years.
I have a degree in Modern Languages and I enjoy travelling and discovering new cultures.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring French and Spanish to all levels from primary pupils to university students as well as Adults for the last 6 years.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor lessons to my students' needs in a relaxed session. We will work together towards goals we set together.
I aim to help students over the long term by also discussing revision strategies and memory aids to ensure that topics covered in sessions will remain fresh and exam ready.

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Personal Description:
I moved to the UK in 1989 and have stayed ever since. I spent 2 years as a French Assistant in High Schools in Leeds and Harrogate and then completed a one year HND in International Business at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Following three years as 'Conference Organiser' for businesses in Dewsbury i decided i wanted to teach and returned to Leeds Metropolitan University to complete a degree in Secondary Education.

Since then i have worked as a French Teacher in Secondary and Primary schools in Yorkshire and Merseyside. Whilst bringing up my family i took the opportunity to offer private French Tuition and have been doing so ever since.

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience in private French Tuition 'one to one' or in small groups and have tutored students from 5 years of age to 60+ either in French conversation; school support; or preparation for GCSE; A Level and Undergraduate Degrees in French.

I am very proud of my French heritage and culture and I am keen to share my love of the French language and all things French with others.

Tutoring Approach:
I recognise all students learn in different ways and have different levels of confidence and i make sure that i always personalise the learning to meet the specific needs and ambitions of each and every student. I also want students to enjoy their learning and have some fun with the language and i endeavour to make my lessons a fun and interactive experience.

I am pleased to be able to say that every student who has taken up the opportunity to have private French Tuition with me has made significant progress. I have included a sample of testimonials below ...


Testimonials:

"Sabine was invaluable during my French studies, and I absolutely loved our lessons together. Sabine is a patient teacher who helped me to speak French naturally and fluently and to master difficult grammar structures. With Sabine's help, I was able to achieve an A* at French A Level, with full marks for my final year speaking and writing papers."
Emma

"Sabine has tutored both of my children for GCSE French, and she has been fantastic. Sabine worked wonders with my son and daughter: her support really boosted their confidence and they both made rapid progress. Sabine has an excellent knowledge of the exam requirements and enabled my children to revise in a more effective manner. I would not hesitate to recommend Sabine to anyone looking for a French tutor."
Louise (Parent)

I would definitely recommend Sabine for tutoring, I have had the most wonderful 4 years with her, always making me feel confident with my work and pushing me to achieve my full potential. Thanks to Sabine, I was inspired to do A-Level French which she taught with such enthusiasm and made it a fun yet challenging experience. I am more than grateful to have her, and you can always rely on the fact that she will go through every method until you fully understand, no matter how long it takes!
Maeve

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Personal Description:
I am a very experienced teacher with a Bachelor degree in French and Greek literature and linguistics, a Master degree in Performance and Socio-cultural studies and a PhD in Arts and Pedagogy.

I am very approachable and friendly and I live and breathe my subjects, which I love teaching in a structured yet fun way.

I am passionate about motivating my students to excel and surpass their expectations of themselves.
I specialise in children and building their confidence and in nurturing their love of learning. I can also offer guidance to teenagers, direct them towards the right subjects and suggest appropriate university courses or help them with their applications. I teach essay writing skills that are essential for all university studies.

Teaching Experience:
Over 25 years of experience in private tuition, teaching as a qualified teacher in primary state schools and in an independent French school where I teach GCSE. I have over 8 years experience as a lecturer in Dance and Drama departments in British academia (Roehampton University, University of Middlesex, University of Surrey and Goldsmiths College).
I am also a visiting lecturer for the University of Malta.

Tutoring Approach:
Interactive, and inclusive teaching student, completely student-focused and taking into account my student's interests and hobbies.
I design fun lessons with the aim not just to cover material and guarantee success in exams, but to create a learning foundation for life and impart study skills that are transferable to all fields.

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Personal Description:
I studied French and Japanese as part of my degree in Applied Language and Translation Studies at Dublin City University and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. As part of my degree, I also studied linguistics, and how to learn languages most effectively, given how the brain retains language. I have also taken the Irish Leaving Cert Japanese exam (A-Level equivalent) and Japanese Language Proficiency tests, so I have plenty of resources geared towards exams if that is your goal. If you are a more casual learner I am happy to make the lessons more fun and conversational, based on your preferences :)

Teaching Experience:
This year, I have taught my younger brother a 2 year higher level Japanese syllabus in 6 months for his Leaving Certificate exams, as he only found out in January there was a foreign language requirement for the course he wants to take in university. This was achieved through clever resources and study plan. With only 6 months tuition (one quarter of the usual 2 year syllabus time), my brother passed higher level Japanese with a grade equalling between 50-60%.

Other language teaching experience:
While in Japan I taught Japanese students English as a Foreign Language, from ages 4 to 20; in Ireland I gave casual English lessons to a Lithuanian woman who already had conversational English, but wanted to better understand certain English grammatical points; I also have a TEFL 160 course to teach English as a Foreign Language.

Other teaching experience:
I teach beginners piano every week from home.

Tutoring Approach:
Using the concepts learned in my Linguistics degree for language learning (L+1, Optimised Intervals for Repetition and Content Exposure for Memorisation Incentive), we will put a study plan in place with clever resources to ensure language learning is both fun and effective! We want our lessons to be so effective that we spend less time studying, and more time learning :)

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Personal Description:
I am French and lived in Spain for five years. I have a three year French university degree in Spanish, a European postgraduate degree in teaching foreign languages and the PGCE. I also qualified to be an examiner-corrector for the CEFRL (level A1 to C2) for French.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring for more than 20 years, one to one, small groups, after school clubs and classes in teaching organisations and businesses.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring depends enormously on the students' age, wishes and needs. I encourage them to take part in a negotiated syllabus, but also insist on accurate production. For the adults I use mainly methods that are created by native linguists (written only in the target language), which I complement by using reputable text books and authentic material.
For online tutoring, I use Zoom, BitPaper, an interactive whiteboard, a platform dedicated to French learning and other online platforms.

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Personal Description:
I am very passionate about tutoring,as I enjoy passing on knowledge to others in a way that makes them interested in what they're learning,that being foreign languages. I consider myself fairly patient,and I am always eager to help others in need whenever they're struggling. I am more than open to questions and I always listen to feedback to improve my classes

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English as a foreign language for a non profit organization called fundación melior in Spain to students with learning disabilities.

Tutoring Approach:
I try to organize games to teach basic vocabulary to my students,such as flashcards and quiz tests. I also try to organize my lessons by engaging in speaking activities about various topics,ranging from sports,games,books and so on. Sometimes,I also bring books to practice reading comprehension.

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