Kilmacolm French Tutors and Kilmacolm French Tuition

Personal Description:
Experienced language tutor with excellent proficiency (oral/ written) in 3 languages.

I am an experienced tutor in teaching French (up to GCSE and IGCSE, A'Level and International Baccalaureate and beyond). I also teach German and Italian up to GCSE/IGCSE level.

I also teach conversation and practical French for adults looking to use the language for holidays/buying/maintaining properties in France as well as business French or just for general use

Have valid CRB disclosure

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for the last 10 years at all levels and have consistantly produced good results in my students at A' Level/IB as well as GCSE/IGCSE.

I am fully conversant with all Exam Boards and GCSE/IGCSE/A'LEVEL/IB etc. syllabuses

I have also taught French to adults at all levels for example who have just wanted to be able to converse comfortably while on holiday, use French to purchase a house in France. I have taught those who want to learn from scratch as well as those who are already at a reasonable level and want to improve their oral and writing skills for business or pleasure

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is firstly to assess closely where the gaps in my pupil's knowledge are and then build on closing them through grammar and vocabulary. I therefore give my students the building blocks to construct their own sentences in writing and speech.

I will work with them sometimes using their own text books but also I provide my own material to make the lessons more interesting. I will use games/quizzes as well as focussing on past papers and oral exams to help them gain confidence in the language.

I engage well with all my pupils and they always enjoy their lessons with me so that their time with me does not feel like just another extension of school

My conversation lessons with adults are always fast-paced and fun and my pupils widen their vocabulary and gain confidence in the new language very quickly

Subjects

Personal Description:
With nearly 15 years of online and in-person tutoring French Common Entrance/13+, Westminster Challenge, Winchester entrance, GCSE, IGCSE, A-level, Pre-U, and SAT, I`m a 50-year old graduate of the excellent University of Sussex languages course with a First Class Honours degree in French and Russian. I lived for four years in Paris where I mastered the language and the accent!

I have also acted in plays in French, taking on the role of Alphonse in a production of The School for Wives, and touring to schools abroad to perform in front of students learning French elsewhere in Europe.

I like to stay abreast of French culture and society, read Le Figaro everyday, and regularly watch French TV news and discussion shows.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored students at all levels, from 13+ entrance exams, including the Westminster Challenge, to most UK exam boards at GCSE, IGCSE and A-level, and I have also helped prepare students for their SAT in French and the DELF exam. I've taught adults who are complete beginners, or have some vague memories of what they learned at school, as well as helping several students gain entry to Westminster School via their Challenge exam

Since the switch to mostly online teaching, I have become an expert in making the most of the resources available, particularly the collaborative tools provided by Google, among others, which are particularly good for working on exercises and explaining grammar in a clear, helpful way.

Successes from the last (2019-20) academic year included: an two As at A-level, and two 9s at IGCSE, as well as entrance to Winchester College via their own exam.

For A-level students, I have already taught Camus's L'Etranger, Françoise Sagan's Bonjour Tristesse, Joseph Joffo's Un Sac de Billes, and Zola's Thérèse Raquin, and am very familiar with all the other set texts. Au Revoir Les Enfants, Intouchables, Entre Les Murs (The Class) and La Haine are the films I am best acquainted with from a teaching point of view.

Here are some comments from a few previous students - originals available on request.

'We could not have asked for a better result - A*s! He got full marks for the reading paper. Thanks so much for all your help, and patience.' - Margaret (parent of home-schooled GCSE student)

'Henry won a scholarship to Westminster. Exactly what he was aiming for." (Leslie, student's mother)

`Thank you so much for all your patient hard work - you taught her exactly the right stuff and there is no way she could have done it without you! I really didn`t think it was possible to teach the whole year 7 curriculum in a week but somehow you managed it. Tiffin Girls is one of the top state schools in the country and rather competitive. Chatting to the other parents outside the exam, most of the competitors went to good independents or had been tutored over a long period of time. You really knew not only what to teach but how to teach it, which shows you have exceptional skills.` - Anoushka (pupil`s mother)

`Just thought I should let you know I got an A! Thanks for all your help` - Helena (A-level student)

'I ended up with an "A"... thanks for all your help, both my spoken papers improved, over my previous efforts.' - Philip, mature student sitting AS and A2 French

Tutoring Approach:
It is important to tailor lessons specifically to a student's needs, but my general method is to engage him or her at a level just above their 'comfort zone'. Learning is about challenging yourself to do better, and it is crucial for a tutor to be supportive and encouraging, and also to keep the bar high.

Lessons can be conducted entirely in French, or in a mixture of English and French. I can work alongside a student's existing course (that is, from a textbook a student is already following), or we can use course books that I recommend.

Where the level allows, I like to draw upon material from contemporary sources such as French news magazines.

For "conversation classes", I find it is useful to base the discussion on an article or a book to help build vocabulary, and also think that incorporating grammar instruction (where appropriate) can be a good idea.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a University of Glasgow Biochemistry, Glasgow Caledonian MSc International Project Management and INSEAD Executive MBA graduate. I'm a French and English bi-lingual. I'm a lovely person, very dynamic and love the one-to-one of tutoring. It makes me really happy to help someone achieve something they have worked so hard for.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring privately for 20 years and have seen my students grow in confidence, understanding and knowledge of their chosen topics. I saw a girl who I tutored for 7 months go from getting an 'Unclassified grade' in her Biology AS Level to a B in her A2. I have never seen a student of mine's grades stay the same post-tutoring and I am very proud of that.

Tutoring Approach:
I approach tutoring different ways depending on who the student is. I ask them questions about themselves, hobbies, favourite subjects etc; and then using that to better understand how they learn, I talk to them about their private learning and revision and the method of approach to that and to exams. And then I teach them using the method appropriate to their style of learning. I also set plenty of work and get them to do past papers which I send to them in the first week. I then take these away and mark them in my own time and return with a deeper view of where they are going wrong after they have been taught. I do 2hr concentrated sessions either weekly or fornightly and have seen great results not only in grades but also in enthusiasm for learning. I am also on hand to discuss career and university options too, which helps ease the daunting choices the students have to make.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over 13 years of experience teaching languages, and hold a PGCE & Master's degree in teaching from the University of Oxford. I have taught French and Spanish to GCSE and A-level, always securing excellent results for my students. Outside of lessons, I keep fully up-to-date with the cultures of the languages I teach through my love of travelling, reading and the cinema. I am also a keen student of Japanese.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught for over 13 years in Good and Outstanding London secondary schools, and also work as an exam board marker, ensuring I am fully up-to-date with all exam specifications at GCSE and A level. I also have experience training teachers at one of the UK's leading universities. I have extensive experience as a tutor delivering online lessons. I am able to offer lessons that cover the following:

- Key Stage 3 French, German & Spanish - to boost progress and lay excellent foundations ahead of a potential GCSE course
- GCSE French, German & Spanish - grammar, vocabulary, translation, speaking and writing strategies, examination skills
- A level French & Spanish - grammar, vocabulary, translation, summary writing, speaking exam preparation, cultural components (i.e. the book and/or the film)
- Adult learners who wish to pick up the language for fun or for specific purposes

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching approach is flexible and always adapted to suit the needs and objectives of my students. Motivation is key, and for this reason I prepare bespoke lessons to engage and interest my students, making use of authentic resources wherever possible. My approach caters for the balanced development of all four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a teacher of French, Italian and Spanish in St Ninian's High School, within East Renfrewshire. I graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a joint Honours degree in French and Italian (language and studies). I also have a Masters in Marketing which I also obtained from the University of Strathclyde. I spent a year abroad in Lyon, France, during my fourth year of university, where I worked as an English Language Assistant in two high schools. I am extremely patient and understanding and have extensive experience tutoring both young children and teenagers, in all three languages, as well as helping with reading and literacy skills. I am passionate about working with and helping others and find it to be a most rewarding experience and I would love to pass on my knowledge and skills, in my specialist subjects, in order to help develop the skills of the tutees I will be working with. I am a very driven, confident and enthusiastic individual and I give 100% to everything I am involved with, and I am passionate about achieving results and helping others to do so also.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified French & Italian teacher in secondary education with 13 years experience delivering BGE, National and Higher courses. During my fourth year of University, I worked in two high schools in Lyon, France as an English language assistant, teaching children, teenagers and young adults, from the age of nine to twenty three. I was responsible for helping them with all aspects of the language, and developing their reading, writing, listening and verbal skills by preparing and working on a number of different activities. I also taught them about British culture, history and lifestyles so as to help develop their knowledge of Britain, particularly Scotland, in general. I ensured that I worked differently with different individuals, depending on their style of learning and I took a different approach accordingly. I aimed to make my style of teaching both informative and fun so that they enjoyed learning and I believe this is something I am always successful in as many tutees I have worked with have commented on my positive and helpful way of teaching.

I have tutored many pupils, both in French and Italian, with a great focus on exam preparation and the skills that they needed to do well on class tests, with a great success rate.

Tutoring Approach:
I take a different approach to my tutoring depending on the individual I am working with. On my first session with my tutee I will find out the areas that they are experiencing the most difficulty in, and what their strengths and weaknesses are, as this will help me to develop an effective and helpful way of teaching. I prepare various worksheets, practice tests and activities which are interactive and will allow for valuable learning. I will ask the tutee what their preferred way of learning is and look at ways in which they successfully learn in other subjects and try to incorporate this in to my way of teaching. I encourage tutees to ask questions wherever necessary and to state if they wish me to try a different approach. I believe communication is the key to successful learning and I pride myself on my friendly and approachable nature and my ability to achieve results in my tuition. On the whole, I am aware that my way of teaching has to be of benefit to the tutee so I will tailor my approach to suit their wants and needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Teaching Experience
I am a professional qualified part time teacher as well as online French teacher, currently based in Tonbridge Kent . I hold a BA from the University of Canterbury, and a Celta., with my Mindfulness and Breath-work qualification. Teaching is my full-time profession as well as teaching Breath-work and mindfulness because it is what I truly enjoy, and my students appreciate learning in a structured, motivating, and supportive environment.

I have over 30 years of experience teaching French for a wide range of specific objectives, including:
• Home-schooled students
• Scholarship preparation for prestigious independent schools.
• All major UK French exams: 11-plus, Common Entrance, GCSE, AS-level, A-level, Pre-U, IGCSE, IB, CNED
• All UK exam boards: AQA, OCR, Edexcel, CIE, WJEC
• US high-school French exams such as AP
• Preparation for official certifications: DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF-including for French citizenship
• Regular conversation classes for learners wishing to maintain or refresh their French, including frequent travelers

In addition to exam preparation, I regularly design long-term, tailored learning programmes for home-schooled students, adult learners, and younger children. My approach is very personalised, structured, and adaptable, ensuring that every student progresses with confidence and clarity, so you will be able to appreciate your progress.

Teaching Experience:
I worked in Chiddingstone , Horsmonden, Pembury, Fosse Bank, as well as Adult Education in Tonbridge,
Tonbridge Girls Grammar and Wrotham Secondary School. I was also for 3 years a Modern Foreign Language coordinator in Tunbridge Wells supporting 8 primary schools to implement languages. I am a qualified teacher and in my teaching career I was able to cater for the needs of primary secondary and adults students, covering the basic language, from common entrance, GCSE, A-level, IB, to adults. I enjoy teaching all of those levels because it has allowed me to bring lots of creativity to all the level and create a wide range of resources that can be adapted to all my students.I have been working in Rochester independent college for 13 years now, and I also teach Breath-work and Mindfulness.

Tutoring Approach:
All my experience has allowed me to be very creative in my teaching. Integrating ICT, books, worksheets, power points, videos, and interactive games to insure a broad variety of teaching methods are implemented. I always ensure that all skills are covered.
I will provide my students with a medium term planning, and personalise learning experience.
We can discuss your needs, and I will be able to assess your requirements, whether you are an auditory
Visual, or kinaesthetic learner, I will find a strategy that will result In success.
Whatever your goals; exams, pleasure, business, holiday in France, I will ensure that you will progress and give you all the support that you need.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Paola
Online lessons nationwide and face to face based in Aberdeen.

I am a native Italian speaker with British nationality and fluent in both English and French.

I have a long working knowledge of English, having worked for several years as a librarian in Aberdeen and for the oil & gas industry (GE and NOV) for 8 years. I also worked for RGU prior to start teaching full time.

I offer Italian, French and English tuition at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced.

I studied English language and literature with French and Italian at La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, where I obtained my PhD.

After graduation I spent a long time working in France in Disneyland Paris. This gave me the opportunity to hone my French language skills.

I have experience teaching students of various age and nationality, both school children and adults who need to pass exams.
I have a PVG check.

Teaching Experience:
University of Aberdeen
Rosemount Community Centre, small groups - Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen language department
Tutoring agencies

Tutoring Approach:
I offer distance learning tuition via Skype for all beginners, intermediate and advanced learners.

I describe myself as enthusiastic, friendly and patient.

I am committed to delivering high quality tuition by offering tailor-made classes to suit different students' needs.

I think that a good tutor should guide the student towards the learner's goal with confidence and be able to explain clearly and in a friendly manner.

I am committed to bridge the gap between the textbooks and the demands of modern learning making the learning process fun and adaptable to each student.

Learning a new language should be fun. I am passionate about creating activities for the learners and make them feel at ease and comfortable during the class.

I have experience teaching school children and adults one-to-one, one-to-two, and small groups for different organisations across the UK such as private schools and community centres.

I offer flexible hours so my students can arrange the classes according to their needs and availability.

Learning a new language is a great opportunity to discover the culture of another country.

Cultural awareness is part of the language experience. Therefore, I love sharing the culture of my country and my knowledge of other cultures with my students.

For my teaching, I use different techniques and media. I love sharing online resources such as videos, articles and podcasts for listening activities and guided speaking exercises.

I can prepare for school and university exams, including GCSE and National 4 and 4 English, French and Italian and EFL exams.

For learners who take regular classes I can correct short written exercises.

During the first class I can assess the student's level in order to plan a suitable course tailor made to the learner's needs.

I am enthusiastic for using new technologies to add to the learning experience.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am 54 years old, I am married with four children. I have a degree ( Joint Honours, 2.1 in Agriculture with Agricultural Economics) and a Cert Ed. I am a member of the Institute for Learning. I have taught a wide range of subjects over 28 years and am able to coach you to success whether you are looking for science, geography, Excel spreadsheets, English as a Foreign Language or even French and German ( I worked in both countries when I was younger)

Teaching Experience:
I can help you prepare for exams in Geography, Biology, Ecology, French and German. I have taught English as a Foreign Language over many years. I can also help you with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, particularly for Business. I am a patient, enthusiastic and committed teacher with 28 years experience particularly with post 16 and adult education. I have taught agriculture and related topics over that time, and very much enjoyed diversifying my teaching portfolio as new courses arose at the college. I have taught a range of biology and geography related topics, including plant and soil science, crop science, crop production, livestock production, environmental issues, ecology, woodland management. In business I have helped many people develop diverse enterprises, preparing carefully costed cash flow projections. I very much enjoy seeing people develop confidence with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, which are an invaluable tool.

Tutoring Approach:
I am convinced that one-to-one tuition is by far the most efficient way in which a person can progress and gain confidence. Often someone can grasp a topic in 5 minutes of one-to-one that would have taken 2 hours to cover with a larger group. Once you are confident with a topic, we move on rapidly to the next one. A current A level tutee of mine told his father "I learnt more in that 2 hour session than I have all term at school" and his headteacher wrote to congratulate him on his improved grades. (The reason for this is not that his teacher is bad, far from it, but a tutor can give you personal one-to-one attention, concentrating on the bits you need) I always ensure that the learners are confident with each step before progressing further.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My background is in languages and performing arts. I began studying
English at age 8, French at 13, German at 15, and have been
self-taught in Spanish since age 10. I come from a family with a
long tradition in teaching and have always been encouraged to study
and learn, while at the same time inheriting and developing a strong
capacity to explain, train, and encourage.

Teaching Experience:
Since graduating from my Master's course in 2011 I have been working
as a self-employed language tutor in and around London and have
always received more than positive feedback from my clients. My
tutees' ages range from four to seventy-four and I constantly
endeavour to improve myself and adapt my teaching method to my
clients' needs.

Some client reviews:

David
21/03/2020
5/5 Rating

"I`ve been doing Romanian with Maria for a few months now,
initially face to face and now via Skype. I enjoy my lessons
a great. Maria has excellent teaching skills, prepares well for
the class, and provides me with good feedback. Aside from that,
the lessons are fun and I look forward to them. Would definitely
recommend."

Toni
20/09/2018
5/5 Rating

"Only had 3 lessons but I`m loving the way Maria breaks everything
down and explains it. She fills me with confidence by focusing on
the positive from the lessons. Thank you for everything so far :)"

John
14/05/2018
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor, already 2 lessons in and I am picking
up the basics quickly!"

Rebecca
01/04/2018
5/5 Rating

"Prompt, organised, professional and a great teacher!"

Arshad
22/02/2018
5/5 Rating

"Very professional tutor
Highly recommended"

Otis
26/12/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor. She is very knowledgeable and her
lessons are always well structured and enjoyable. She has a genuine
passion for languages which is evident in her thorough preparation
for each lesson. I would recommend Maria."

Polly
24/10/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria has been great so far!!!"

Tracey
22/05/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria is an excellent tutor. She is very punctual and happy to be
flexible with the times we can meet. She is very patience and her
explanations are concise and clear. I would have no hesitation in
reommending her."

Mihaela
14/11/2016
5/5 Rating

"Maria is a very punctual and organised tutor and my daughter is
making good progress. She is friendly and supportive and I would
definitely recommend her."

Phillip
31/03/2016
5/5 Rating

"Absolute great tutor, who was professional, personable and patient!
Highly recommended."

Evita
05/11/2015
5/5 Rating

"Maria is teaching German to me and my 7-year old daughter both had
no previous knowledge and I can suggest her as fast progressing
learning teacher. She is strict and well prepared. It`s been a
pleasure working with her."

Luke
23/08/2015
5/5 Rating

"Amazing tutor, highly professional and well qualified! worth her
weight in gold!"

Spiros
07/08/2015
5/5 Rating

"I THE LIKE THE WAY MARIA GOES THROUGH THE LESSON, AND SHE EXPLAINS
EVERYTHING, ALSO SHE IS ALWAYS ON TIME AND FLEXIBLE WITH THE HOURS
SHE DOES.
VERY PLEASED, THANK YOU."

James
20/07/2015
5/5 Rating

"Maria is efficient, focused and hardworking. My 14 year old
daughter enjoys her lessons with Maria."

Teresa
10/02/2017
5/5 Rating

"Maria tutors my daughter and me together in French. Maria is
extremely patient and we are enjoying her lessons. She is really
helping us."

Deborah
12/09/2016
5/5 Rating

"Very patient with lots of energy! Really good with my 6 and 7 year
old girls learning German."

Tutoring Approach:
Although I learned all my foreign languages through a rigorous method very much based on writing and grammar, I am happy to adapt my method to my pupil's needs. Personally, I believe that conversation is the key to becoming fluent in a language, but at the same time I do not neglect the importance of writing and reading comprehension. I therefore aim to split my lessons as evenly as possible between speaking, reading, listening comprehension, and writing assignments.

Subjects

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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello there! My name is Tanyel and I am an undergraduate student at King's College London. I study BA French and Management and will be entering my second year in September.

I am available to tutor over the summer 2013 starting immediately, with a possibility of continuing this for when I am back at university.

Teaching Experience:
I have a wide range of tutoring experience. This originated from when I was in Sixth Form and developed a knack for explaining things to my classmates and friends. Since then, my enjoyment in tutoring has led me to be involved in two tutoring projects. This is both privately in my local area and also voluntarily, the latter being with my university and an organisation called Team Up ().

Tutoring Approach:
We would work through a main textbook (CGP range seems to work best) and I provide explanations in a clearer, more interactive manner to clarify understanding. I then set homework tasks based on what we have learnt. I can connect with all my students on a friendly level in this way, pausing to answer any questions, whilst ensuring progression and focus at all times. I have seen this approach work countless times in my experience. In some cases, students enjoy it so much they ask me to set them even more homework!

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an intelligent, responsible and empathic person with an extensive background in teaching. With excellent communication skills and a tremendous enthusiasm for teaching my aim is always to allow my students to grow and learn for themselves.
My principal goal is to constantly improve as a teacher and for this reason I am undertaking both Spanish and French courses with prestigious institutions like Cervantes.

Teaching Experience:
2009 - 2014
- Substitute phylosophy for the regional government of Catalunya (Spain) and the regional government of Valencia (Spain).
- Private classes in philosophy with High School students and teachers.
2006 - 2009
- Private classes with children with emotional and learning difficultes.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that a teacher should have a good knowledge I awareness of psychology and personal development. With this in mind, many of my additional and special skills have been obtained in this area.

Subjects

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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I taught French for 10 years in a school in Cardiff and left to concentrate on my educational website. The site, which is used by teachers in schools, provides interactive activities for language learners. After I gave up my job as a school teacher, I started tutoring in my free time as well because helping pupils was a side of my work that I really missed.

Teaching Experience:
1991 - 2002: I worked as a French teacher in Llanishen High School in Cardiff, Wales. I taught pupils from Year 7 all the way to Year 13

2003-2004: I worked as a consultant for a couple of training agencies, running IT courses for MFL teachers.

2001-2018: I created my own company "Language Skills", dedicated to the creation of activities for language teachers and students to use online


2001-2018: I've been a French tutor for GCSE and A 'Level pupils as well as adult learners from complete beginners to advanced level.

At the moment, I am tutoring an engineering lecturer who love speaking French and who has general conversation sessions to increase his vocab and his confidence. I have worked with him for 5 years.
I also tutor an 11-year-old pupil who I have helped for the past 4 years.

Tutoring Approach:
I know how hard and frustrating it can be to learn a new language. As a native French speaker, I had to learn English as a second language myself.
My approach is centred around the leaner and I will adapt my teaching methods to suit your needs, whether it be by preparing you for an exam, helping if you are struggling in class or just giving you the confidence to speak French.

Subjects

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.

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Personal Description:
Experienced & Qualified Native French Tutor (all levels)

Teaching a language is not only about teaching vocabulary, grammar, and conversation - it's also about understanding the culture of the student. Having taught around the world and passionate about languages, I have mastered my teaching techniques by learning about my students' cultures and their native languages.

Teaching Experience:
I taught at the Alliance Française of Wellington in New Zealand to children, teenagers, and adults from one to one tuitions to groups. I've also taught English and French in Europe, South East Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America.

Tutoring Approach:
First, we will begin with a level test and assess together your goals (ie: business, traveling, living in France).

Your first lesson will be in French whether you're a beginner, intermediate or at the most advanced l level - this is the most efficient way to learn. I use the best techniques to teach French as a Foreign Language.

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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:
My name is Alice, I am French from Paris, and have lived in the UK for the past 9 years. I am currently based in Stirling, Riverside. I offer tutoring for all levels, whether online or in-person.

Teaching Experience:
I have experience teaching French to various ages and levels and using different approaches - whether more theoretical or conversational.

Tutoring Approach:
If you decide to start lessons with me, we will first discuss your needs and expectations. I will then propose a plan for lessons going forward. The lessons can be online, in-person or a mix of both. I adapt my method to each pupil's requirements and will ensure that you get a clear understanding of the French grammar, vocabulary and are at ease with your pronunciation of the language.

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