Wigan French Tutors and Wigan French Tuition

Personal Description:
A native speaker from France, I gained a master's degree in Business at a prestigious university in Paris after completing a one-year Erasmus exchange programme at the University of Birmingham. After graduating, I spent a year travelling around South America and then started my career as a project manager in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Living abroad and subsequently being exposed to other cultures and languages had a significant impact on my choice of career and that's the reason why I decided to move to London in 2005 to qualify as a secondary language teacher and share my passion for languages and travel with young people.

In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, cycling and going camping with my family. I am also an FA qualified football coach and run football training sessions for both children and adults on a weekly basis. I am passionate about French literature and international cinema, and I take part in chess tournaments whenever possible.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently the Head of Modern Foreign Languages at a prep school based in Hampstead. I also work as an examiner and deliver workshops at various teacher training events. Since I became a teacher, I have delivered over 500 hours of 1-1 French lessons for learners ranging from 5-year-olds to corporate executives. I particularly enjoy supporting students reach their full potential and excel in examinations such as the 11+ and 13+ school entrance papers, GCSEs, Pre-U, A Levels and IB.

Below a non-exhaustive list of the senior schools for which my students achieved Academic Scholarships over the past few years:
Aldenham School
City of London School
Eton College (2 King's Scholarships)
Haberdashers' School
Harrow School
Highgate School
Merchant Taylors' School
Mill Hill School
North London Collegiate School
St Albans School
St Columba's College
St Paul's School
St John's School
Westminster School (2 Queen's Scholarships)

Tutoring Approach:
I see myself as more of a mentor than a teacher, helping my students set reasonable goals while encouraging them to become lifelong language learners. I therefore endeavour to introduce culture into most of my lessons, whether through educational videos or magazines, French songs, or news stories from various French-speaking countries.

I find that experiencing culture is a key aspect of learning a foreign language as this can boost language receptive skills (listening and reading), which will, in turn, reinforce language productive skills (speaking and writing), all of which being needed to communicate well in the language.

I am extremely passionate about my subject and committed to understanding and engaging with each student's learning needs. I therefore tailor my teaching to ensure that all my students are able to stretch their comfort zone and move confidently towards their academic goal.

As an experienced teacher, I understand young people can feel nervous and find learning grammar and speaking another language a little daunting. However, I believe any child can learn to enjoy these given the right approach. For this reason, I have developed my own teaching method that I like to call 'Less is more' and which is based on a list of 100 high-frequency French words. It has proven to be a great tool for my students to understand how to write accurate and advanced paragraphs in the foreign language, and achieve better grades as a consequence.

During these unprecedented times of school closures and virtual learning from home, I believe young people need to build their independence and self-direction more than ever. This is why I strive to empower my students to be in charge of their own learning and become independent learners. For instance, I encourage them to create their own lists of key vocabulary on websites such as Quizlet or Memrise.

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Personal Description:
I was born and raised in Barcelona by a Spanish father and a French mother. I developed a strong interest in languages from a very young age as I learnt three languages as a child; Spanish, French, and Catalan at school. My mother who is a French teacher inspired me with her passion for teaching to further my studies to become a language teacher.

I am a patient and encouraging teacher.

I obtained a Certificate of Teaching Languages to Adults at Goldsmiths University in London and completed a teaching placement at the Instituto Cervantes in London.

I combine language teaching with my other passion, music. I regularly perform at events with a Swing and Latin Jazz band.

Teaching Experience:
I began tutoring for Uk tutors in 2013 and enhanced my knowledge of the Spanish and French GCSE and A-levels exam board requirements and methodology.

I have been tutoring full time since 2016 and have taught a number of Spanish and French GCSE and
A-level students who have subsequently successfully achieved top grades in their language exams.

I am currently preparing several students for AQA, Edexcel, IGCSE Cambridge boards and teach Spanish A-level lessons at Southover Partnership, a leading special needs school in London.

Tutoring Approach:
Spanish/French GCSE and A-level: My lessons involve analysing the exam topics and reinforcing all the essential aspects of the language; Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. I use up-to-date language resources to meet the different exam board requirements and language objectives.

Spanish/French adult learning: My lessons are tailored to suit individual student's needs. My objective is to help my students to achieve their personal goals for learning a language.


I will help you to develop your conversational skills and reinforce the grammar and vocabulary to converse in any setting. I offer general Spanish lessons and business lessons.

I also offer online lessons via Skype. These one-to-one video lessons are
dynamic and highly beneficial for students who need flexibility within their schedule and/ or who live outside my one-to-one teaching area.

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Personal Description:
Confidence is often the stumbling block for learners, and I always encourage all of my students to feel an early sense of achievement. Enabling students to see real progress quickly is essential to the building of self-esteem. I am very approachable and my style of teaching is relaxed and friendly. I love my job and hope that my own enthusiasm inspires my students to excel. Recently I have added French to my repertoire, for absolute beginners. I am sure French will be as popular and exciting as English and Maths have been.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a teacher since 1976. I have taught all age groups, from nursery to A Level. Teaching is a wonderful and totally satisfying vocation. I moved across to tutoring as I felt I could offer all of my experience in this role. Being a teacher is definitely something I was born to do, and I love it.

Tutoring Approach:
Students can learn by either visiting my home or at a distance using Skype. Every student is assessed as an individual and the content of their course tailored to their needs. I test my students periodically to ensure progress is going smoothly; also testing is a good way for students to observe their own progress. We use a variety of materials: books for writing and reading in English, and for revision in Maths; the computer for visual skills and games, listening and speaking is a major part of the programme for EFL students. Children learn in different ways, and I like to offer my students visual, auditory and kinetic tools, we can see which is most comfortable for the individual. The speed of learning is not as important as the confidence of the individual and their inspiration and motivation to progress.

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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.

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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.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher in languages and I am also a French native speaker. I can teach French up to A level.

I have many years of experience in the education profession, and provides private French and Spanish tuition to individuals including pupils, students and adults throughout Aylesbury and the local area.

Teaching Experience:
My teaching experience include working in a grammar school as well as working in a private school.
I have also worked with classes ranging from Y7 to Y13. I am using authentic materials including CD's, textbooks and magazines.

Currently I am working in a Primary school and specialise in private tutoring coaching students for their exams (GCSE and A Level). I have had excellent results and can provide testimonials from past students.

I have plenty of experience of teaching groups of students as well as individuals. I am able to offer One to One tuition as this is a very good way to learn languages at a fast pace.

Tutoring Approach:
Personally, I enjoy teaching and I always ensure that students enjoy the learning experience. I can offer general conversation and encourage students to speak in French and Spanish. I am offering top quality one to one French and Spanish tutoring at times convenient to the pupil.

Tailored to your needs, the classes are the most efficient and cost effective solution designed for:

- French exams (GCSE, A Level)
-Spanish exams (GCSE)
- French or Spanish for children (primary school)
- Ideal if travelling or planning to live in a French or Spanish speaking country

I am able to work from my home but I can travel to your home within the local area.

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Personal Description:
I am a native Arabic speaker from Lebanon with french as a second language.
I have a Degree in Law from the Lebanese University.

Teaching Experience:
I have 3 years of teaching experience, teaching students at high school in Lebanon, and over 10 years of online or from home tutoring. I taught Arabic and French to students at all levels.

Tutoring Approach:
Speaking, reading, grammar* and writing are part of the Arabic and French lessons. The lessons are tailored to the student's needs and wishes. Ensuring students are learning and understand the lessons with pleasure.
*Arabic Grammar including iierab (إعراب).

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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!

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified language teacher (French and Spanish) who became a professional tutor after the birth of my children.
I am passionate about making French and Spanish accessible and enjoyable to my students whilst giving them the skills which will help them achieve the highest grade at their examinations as well as the confidence to use the language effectively. A lot of my students achieve a higher grade at their examinations than the grade they were predicted.
I am a native French speaker and I tutor students of all ages, from students working towards their GCSE or A level examinations to undergraduates and adults wishing to learn French or Spanish from scratch or improve their existing competence in order to travel or have a more complete experience if they visit or live in France or Spain.

Teaching Experience:
Since obtaining my PGCE, I have taught languages in secondary schools for 13 years; French to A level and Spanish to GCSE.

I am an examiner for one of the country's leading examination boards and mark examination papers. In the summer I conduct speaking tests in schools for the A level examinations. This experience is invaluable when teaching GCSE or A level students.

I also tutor adults who have no previous knowledge of a language and want to learn French/Spanish for pleasure or to communicate more effectively on holiday. I also tutor adult students who are already very competent but who want to take their knowledge to a higher level.
I also tutor language undergraduates and students who need support or wish to improve their grades at the GCSE, A level and DELF examinations.
I started tutoring online two years ago and am teaching students anywhere in Great Britain but also abroad. I find on-line teaching a very effective way of teaching as I can share documents, play games, consolidate grammar using Powerpoints and videos, which enhances the way I teach.

Tutoring Approach:
I am friendly, very approachable, patient and have a good sense of humour and tailor my lessons to individual needs.
My aim is to build confidence in speaking and using languages by using a variety of materials and making learning enjoyable and rewarding whilst focussing on accuracy.
I make topic mats which help my students see what they need to know at one glance, or almost!
I systematically revise tenses with exam students and consolidate grammatical structures with Powerpoints and games, when appropriate
.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Lucy and I am a mum of one, teacher and lover of all things French! By nature, I am diligent, reliable and good-humoured and love my job as a French teacher. I have lots of experience in dealing with young people and tutor on a regular basis.

Teaching Experience:
I have 20 years experience as a teacher and have taught French to all age groups and abilities, from toddlers to adults!
I have always given private tuition, an aspect of teaching that I particularly enjoy. I tutor both on a one-to-one basis and to small groups. I currently teach French to little ones through music, drama and games - there's never a dull moment!

Tutoring Approach:
I assess the student's requirements at our first session which is free. I also like to get to know a little of his/her personality which I consider paramount in order to develop a good rapport from the outset. I try to pinpoint as early as possible the area of difficulty and work on this as well as having an all-round approach to the language. Above all, I always try to be attentive towards my student.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm currently a student at the University of Buckingham but also a qualified french teacher. I use very friendly methods to teach. I can help you in both speaking and writing. I'm sure you'll be satisfied with my service quality.

Teaching Experience:
I use a friendly approach to tutees.

Tutoring Approach:
Tackle the problems and make sure I reach satisfaction from the tutee.

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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:
I have many years of tutoring behind me and am currently studying for the Diploma in English Teaching to Adults.

I'm widely travelled and have spent many years living abroad. This has contributed to a high degree of fluency in Spanish and French. I acquire languages easily, being open to the cultures in which I find myself.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught exclusively in continental countries. One year in Finland, six years in Spain and two in Germany. In all cases the teaching took place in private schools or in company offices. Much of the teaching was 1 to 1, the rest being in small groups.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that language acquisition takes place when the learner is relaxed and so my approach may be considered informal. The choice of materials is a joint decision. Good classes can take place with or without them.

I also favour a communicative approach, which entails giving a needs analysis to all my learners.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Penny and I'm glad you've stopped by!

I'm an encouraging, patient tutor helping unsure or low-confidence learners build skills at a steady pace. My lessons are collaborative, warm, supportive, and low-pressure - ideal if you want reassurance and extra encouragement to cheer you on, and if you value human rapport over fast-paced drills and strict targets.

GCSE:

With my experience as Head of Languages at a secondary school, I'm well-placed to help students with French and German GCSEs, focusing on the essential skills and success criteria - whether you want to grow in confidence or receive clear guidance on working towards higher grades, all without the pressure.

PRIMARY:

I bring learning to life with interactive, hands-on activities, using a fun and dynamic online platform that goes beyond the typical learning tools. With digital infographics, quizzes, games, puzzles, videos, storybooks, and role-play, students have an engaging and immersive learning experience.

ADULTS:

I help learners progress from absolute beginner to intermediate level (CEFR A1-B1). I focus on learners **up to B1**, to gently build confidence with the foundational essentials - whether handling chats in shops, restaurants or at work. B1 is a great milestone and you'll be able to handle most everyday interactions with ease.

I'm best suited to learners who are open to practical, thoughtful ways of learning, using simple strategies and small daily habits to build confidence and overcome anxiety - making language learning efficient and enjoyable for those who appreciate guidance and insight.

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I offer French, German and Italian lessons, with flexible pricing from £36 to £60 per hour, tailored to suit your needs. 30 and 45-minute lessons also available.

Having also lived in France, Germany and Italy, I bring a global perspective to tailor lessons to different learning styles and cultural contexts. Speaking four languages (French, German, Italian and English) while learning three more (Swedish, Polish and Arabic), I know how rewarding, but scary, language learning can feel. I therefore focus on helping learners feel comfortable and encouraged every step of the way, without the pressure.

With the right support and steady practice, you'll be surprised how quickly you can reach your goals.

Teaching Experience:
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

- Qualified Modern Languages Teacher & Head of Modern Languages (PGCE secondary French & German)
- 12 years' languages teacher and tutor experience
- GCSE exam preparation for AQA & Edexcel
- BA in European Languages (French, German & Italian)
- TEFL with Distinction
- Fully DBS checked
- Excellent track record - More information can be found on my website

Tutoring Approach:
OUR NEXT STEPS:

Recognising that each learner is unique, we begin with a setup session (20-60 minutes, £20) to discuss your needs. This is an opportunity to see if we're a good fit before moving forward with lessons.


Step 1 - Your Goal Setup Session (20-60 minutes, £20) - Required.


Step 2 - Lessons.

***

For companies seeking staff language training, progress reports are available upon request.

Take the first step and get in touch. I'm excited to help you achieve your language goals :)

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Some wonderful words from my students and their parents:

"I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone thinking of booking sessions with Penny to do it and do it now! As a trained actor, I came to Penny with a very unique request. Having very little knowledge of speaking German…. within a week we had a monologue translated, memorised and ready to present to an audition panel. Not only did Penny help me reach my goals but she gave me the upmost confidence to get there. I'm certain I would not have got there if it was not for Penny's support and extra efforts to help me achieve them. Not only that, but her teaching has most definitely inspired me to continue with my language learning. I would 100% recommend working with Penny. Don't hesitate - she is one of the best!!" Adult learner.

"Penelope has been very professional, organised and engaging . My son enjoys his lessons and has started to develop interest in German within first few lessons". - Parent of a Year 11 student.

"Miss Penelope is a wonderful teacher. From the very first day she motivated my son to study French more. She is very punctual and professional. Just after one month my son's French has improved significantly. Exactly what I wanted." - Parent of a Year 11 student.

"Penny is an excellent communicator and teacher. She is very supportive and is always enthusiastic. We are very pleased how well she is able to explain aspects of the German language and is always engaging. We are very happy to recommend her." - Parent of a Year 11 student.

"Penelope is a professional German tutor; she tailors the teaching material so that it fits the student's needs. I had German lessons with her for over three months now and I feel my language skills have improved significantly. I also add that She has a nice personality and her classes are really enjoyable. I definitely recommend Penelope to people seeking to improve their language skills in a structured manner!" - Adult learner.

"Lovely tutor. She makes my daughter relax and actually enjoy learning German / French. I highly recommend her." - Parent of a Year 9 student.

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Personal Description:
I am French but have lived in Britain for years (both my children, who are in their 20's, were born here). I have also lived and worked in Spain and am fluent in the language. I then taught adults in a language school (Inlingua) in Germany, Italy and London. I came back to this country and got a job in a private school where I was the teacher in charge of Spanish. After working in this school for 21 years, I have just retired but miss the excitement of teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught languages all my life, first in a Welsh comprehensive school (for 8 years), then abroad. In Spain, I taught French and English in a primary school and I then taught adults French, Spanish and English as a foreign language for Inlingua. When I returned to Britain, I taught French and Spanish to GCSE and A level in a private school. I have just retired after 21 years there and I now help a private Open University student. I enjoy teaching and would like to do more tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
As I have a wide experience of teaching languages, I am able to use different kinds of approach to language learning and can apply the best suited one for each student. I enjoy teaching linguistially minded student as well as those who find it a challenge to learn a foreign language. Through working for a long time in the Bristish educational system, I am aware of the requirements of different GCSE and A levels examination boards. From the student's point of view, I think that learning a foreign language should be fun but also challenging and rewarding.

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Personal Description:
I am a French native and I have been living in the UK for the last 25 years. I have had a very successful career in Sales in financial services and had a change of career in education ten years ago. I am very hard working, enthusiastic, reliable and professional.

I am currently teaching adults (individual and group) during the weekdays, GCSE pupils after school and Saturday and I work in a secondary school at a local state boarding school teaching Year 11 to Year 13.

My adult pupils tend to be families with a house in France, people with the desire to buy a house, retired people who would like to learn a language, people with a French partner, business people learning French for work etc... Whatever your needs, I can help you!

Teaching Experience:
I have been a Language Assistant at a local state boarding school for GCSE and A-LEVELS since 2021
I have 8 years language teaching experience at primary school
I have ten years experience tutoring adults and GCSE students at home

Tutoring Approach:
I can teach different levels from beginner to advanced depending on your needs.

I always do an assessment in the first lesson to find out about the pupil`s strengths and weaknesses. We agree together on a plan and objectives. The plan is reviewed regularly to assess improvement and get feedback from the pupil and the parents. I assign homework every week.
I have high expectations for my students and work really hard with them to achieve the best they can. I aim to give them confidence, praise and numerous skills to progress and to maintain a love for languages. I offer each of my students a tailored made approach.

I use various media from textbooks, grammatical books, videos, roleplays, games, vocabulary lists, past papers etc...

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Personal Description:
A 32-year-old French native from Normandy, I've been living in Manchester for seven years. Prior to that, I worked as a qualified English teacher in France until I decided to move back to Manchester, where I now work as an English-to-French literary and specialised translator.

I've been passionate about languages from a very early age, taking relish in studying and comparing the idiosyncrasies of French and English - from idioms to slang to past participle agreement! Training in translation and working as a translator has made me an expert linguist with a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of the French language and a perfect command of French grammar and spelling.

Teaching Experience:
My language teaching experience includes:
- 2 years working as a qualified English teacher in French secondary schools
- 2 years working as a French Language Assistant near Manchester (including Stockport Grammar School, where I tutored AS- and A-Level students)
- 9 years working as an English teacher (with French students) during two-week language summer courses in England (University of Essex, University of Cambridge, Devon)

I have also taught and run workshops in various other contexts (drama workshops, translation workshops and conferences, reading competitions in primary schools, etc.). My diverse experience not only means I'm comfortable teaching learners of any age but it has also made me an adaptable teacher who's aware that everyone has a different way of learning.

My qualifications:
- Master of Arts in translation (English-to-French/French-to-English), with distinction (University of Salford, 2012)
- CAPES (equivalent to PGCE) in English
- Bachelor of Arts in English (University of Rouen, France)

My translation portfolio includes work for Parisian publishers (novels and essays) as well as for English and French translation agencies alike. Most recently I have translated a number of psychological thrillers such as Michelle Frances' The Girlfriend and The Temp. Recent clients include Air France, Deliveroo, Estée Lauder, Ipsos, Porsche, Kedge Business School, Pernod Ricard, Sony, Swarovski, Uniqlo, Universal, etc.

Tutoring Approach:
I happily offer private or 2-to-1 French conversation sessions to learners with prior knowledge of French (B2/near-B2 level or higher). These can be:
- Casual learners (adults) with a penchant for French and French culture who are willing to broaden their vocabulary range, hone their grammar skills and further improve their fluency
- University students willing to achieve greater fluency, further hone their language skills and/or prepare for their oral exams
- A-Level students willing to prepare for their oral exams (based on a list of themes studied and/or on the topic chosen by the student for his/her individual research project)

Conversation sessions can be mostly informal and primarily aimed at helping you achieve greater fluency. However, should you require it, I'm also happy to tackle grammar points and help you regularly expand your vocabulary range through exercises and systematic revision of the new words/phrases taught.

The first session (45 min) is free so that we can make sure we get along and everything runs smoothly. It will also serve to define precisely what your expectations are so as to ensure every session is tailored to your needs.

Depending on your preference, sessions can be:
- run entirely in French: any grammar points/unknown vocabulary will be explained/paraphrased in French
or
- run predominantly in French, with grammar points being explained in English/unknown vocabulary being translated into English when necessary.

Sessions can take place in a cosy café in Manchester city centre, at Manchester Central Library or at your place if you live in Manchester city centre.

I'm available mostly in the evenings and at weekends; however don't hesitate to let me know about your preferred times as I'm pretty flexible.

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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