Cradley Heath Italian Tutors and Cradley Heath Italian Tuition

Personal Description:
I am an Italian citizen living in London since 1996 ; I came to London as a research student, sent by Rome University, to study and work for Westminster University.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a tutor for 24 years (I still teach Spanish/Italian to private students. I was a teacher in Italy (Spanish/English) and a bilingual assistant from 1996 to present in London (Pimlico School/North Westminster/Churchill Gardens/St. Vincent de Pau); I have a PGCE in MFL (Spanish/Italian/French) KS 3 and 4 and a Master in translation (English vs Italian and vice versa).

Tutoring Approach:
I do see each student/pupil as an individual and while teaching/tutoring I take into account their personality/skills/interests as well as age/sex/religion.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been studying Spanish, French and Italian for many years and have gained numerous qualifications. Living in several European countries has also enabled me to develop my language skills to the extent that I am now confident in my ability to teach these languages to others.

I am currently studying for a TEFL course to update my teaching skills.

Teaching Experience:
I am approaching the end of my first year of language tutoring and have enjoyed the experience. I look forward to continuing my tutoring through UK tutors as well as other bodies. I have had one or two lessons to teach and wish to gain more experience by doing more. My aim is to become a freelance tutor.

Tutoring Approach:
I would be interested in teaching TEFL Spanish, and French to either young children or adults. I make use of the latest technologies that will make it a pleasure for you to develop new language skills.

I will help you develop skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing as I think these have an important part in every day life in foreign languages.

I am flexible, approachable and patient and will tutor you to whichever level you need.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I was born in Italy and have been in the UK for 30 years. I have worked and finished my studies in this country, including a BA in English & French, and an MA in Translations English/Italian. In 2001 I attended a course for Teaching a Foreign Language to Adults.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching since 2002 in Adult Education Colleges, Companies and Private Students at their homes, as a self-employed tutor and through agencies in the South East. Since 2020 I only teach online with Zoom.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that one-to-one lessons are the best way for a student to learn, as everybody has a different learning pace, so the lessons can be arranged according to the individual needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, I am a professional Italian teacher with 16-year work experience in a variety of contexts.
I love travelling, reading, listening music, my passion is making mosaics and painting mural that I try to do in my free time.

I graduated in Literature and Philosophy, I hold a degree in Oriental Languages and Cultures and also a qualification in Italian Language Teaching at CIS (Diploma) Italian for Foreigners Center, University of Bergamo, which is equivalent to DITALS

Teaching Experience:
I have taught Italian to immigrant adults and to foreign young people in public schools in Italy. Then I moved to London in 2008. I have been working in UK as an Italian teacher for the past 12 years and gained further experience in Classroom teaching, One to One and more specific topics.
I have taught italian for Surrey adult education to classes from beginners to advanced including conversation workshops.
I am also Freelance, Teaching private group and individual courses at various levels for both general and business purposes. Clients include: Chelsea Football Club training ground, Mediobanca, Saipem Ltd, Generali assicurazioni, Video Production Philip Morris International.

Tutoring Approach:
Teach­ing is a cre­ative job and this is why I enjoy it so much. It is very impor­tant to me to pre­pare my lessons carefully and make them inter­est­ing, dynamic, fun and of course tai­lored to the needs of each of my stu­dents. I like to use a vari­ety of teach­ing materi­als such as grammar book, books in Ital­ian, Ital­ian songs, games, videos, puzzles.
I like talking about music, art, books, currents events and more to make the conversation interesting and full of new informations.
Is also very important to me put into practice all the grammar learned and do conversation.
I like to pre­pare my own mate­r­ial and exer­cises following the topics. I always make sure stu­dents feel con­fi­dent about their skills and their abil­ity to speak Italian.

Only online tutions
My fee:
£20h first lesson free

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an Italian engineer who lives in London. I am currently sharing my life between teaching and acting which are both my passions. I am making proper use of my solid background in engineering and my experience as a student in many different institutions around Europe by giving private tutorials to students. I am a very determined and ambitious person and I believe that many things can be achieved with strong will and the right tactics. As you can see from my CV which follows, I successfully studied in Iceland, Norway and England. I studied and worked with people from all over the world and with the most different cultural backgrounds. I myself am very interested and respectful of cultural differences and I am an expert traveller: I travelled extensively through Europe, Africa, India and Japan. What's more I have a degree in acting (2.1) from a very well reputed English academy in Birmingham (Birmingham School of Acting). I can speak English fluently and I have got a very good grasp of the language (in drama school we studied pronunciation for 3 years) and a very rich and flexible vocabulary. I enjoy staying with people and I like challenges. I take my responsibilities very seriously and I aspire to create a healthy working environment where the prime goal is the students' benefit.

EDUCATION

September 2008 - May 2011 Birmingham, United Kingdom.
BA (Hons) Acting, Birmingham School of Acting.
Awarded the Sir John Gielgud Bursary 2010.

since February 10, 2010 Bologna, Italy.
Member of the Guild of Engineers of Bologna,
as Chartered Engineer, certified by the University of Bologna (December 15, 2008).

2000 - December 21, 2007 Bologna, Italy.
MS in Environmental Engineering (mining field), University of Bologna.
MS Thesis: "Experimental Study on Friction between Saline Ice and Steel" - UNIS, Norway.
Final grade: 100/100.

Spring - Fall 2007 Longyearbyen, Norway.
University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), department of Arctic Technology.
- Arctic Offshore Engineering (graduate course AT-327).
- Thermo-Mechanics of Ice and Snow, and Loads on Structures (graduate course AT-323).

2003 - 2004 Reykjavk, Iceland.
University of Iceland, Geotechnical department. Erasmus exchange program.

PUBLICATIONS

M., Marchenko, A., Hyland, K. V., 2008. Experimental study on friction between saline ice and steel.
Proc. 19th IAHR Symposium on ice, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vol. 2.

Teaching Experience:
Over the years, I have taught maths and physics to many different people, with various backgrounds, levels of knowledge and goals. Here is the latest reference from a teenager I helped prepare his GCSEs exams.

"RE: Marco

To Whom it May Concern,

Marco has during the Summer term of 2018 (6 weeks) tutored our son in year 11 for his GCSE's. His main subjects were Maths (higher level) and Physics (higher level).
We found Marco extremely easy to work with; he was flexible in his approach and teachings and quickly assessed Oscar's base line levels as to move forward with a plan. Oscar was at a level 5 in both subjects and needed to achieve a level 7 in both subjects as he wanted to move onto A levels.
Marco managed to quickly strike a mutual respect and contact with our son and this meant his enthusiasm for learning increased as he had been negative to tutoring prior. Oscar enjoyed the tutoring lessons immensely and through Marco's teaching, Oscar was inspired to continue to revise and work on his own.
Marco's lessons were well structured and responsive to Oscar's needs and levels. He also focused on getting Oscar to be exam ready and in answering questions in a timely manner with effective answers. Through his enthusiasm for the subject he managed to get Oscar more involved and encouraging him to find further knowledge. Marco's inquisitive approach to the subjects and step by step teachings resonated well with Oscar and improved his scientific thinking and problems solving.
Oscar had great success in his GCSE's and gaining a level 7 in both Maths and Physics (grade A in previous grades). Marco's approach to learning and problem solving has stayed with Oscar as it translated to his revision in other subjects such as Chemistry and Biology where he gained a level 8 (A*) and 7 (A) respectively.
Marco was always professional and with good time keeping.
We would without hesitation recommend Marco for any future positions within teaching and tutoring.
We give permission to be contacted for references.
Kind regards,

Micci and Eddie
Thornton Heath, London"

- In spring 2019 I attended a 3 month international advanced training course on the Lecoq pedagogy of movement theatre led by master Giovanni Fusetti in Padua, Italy, which incredibly deepened and refined my understanding of the student/teacher relation and enormously widened the ways I can adapt and carry out a class according to the personality and the needs/goals of the students. 430h of training.

- Since I moved to London I have taught Italian to many people, students, casual learners, people seeking accents reductions....from an English couple who have travelled to Italy many times, are really fond of the culture but have never got down to learning the language, to a Japanese woman who lives in the City and has working relationships with Italy. References available on request.

- In 2008 I worked as a teaching assistant in a kindergarten in Reykjavk for 8 months. This kindergarten had a special program of integration between kids with special needs (especially hearing impaired ones) and kids with no special requirements, which showed to be very successful. Besides assisting the teachers in taking care of the children daily, I was responsible of having a short weekly session to introduce children to English as a foreign language through playing and singing, which turned out to be very appreciated and great fun.

February - September 2008 Reykjavk, Iceland.
Teaching Assistant at the kindergarten "Slborg".

- During my years at university I continuously gave private tutorials of Maths and Physics to students of all ages from primary school to university level.

September 2000 - Fall 2007 Bologna, Italy.
Tutor of Maths, Physics and English to students from elementary school, high school and university.

Tutoring Approach:
Teaching is, without any doubt, one of the most important jobs ever. This might sound a cliche but it is what I really think. With almost 30 years spent as a student to gain two university degrees, I have encountered teachers form all over the world and experienced the most different teaching methods. A teacher can make the difference in a persons life, in a good or in a bad way. A good teacher can be a source of inspiration and can make you love a subject that you would have never imagined you could like otherwise. When teaching the student's benefit is the prime goal, this means that the teacher has to be able to understand what the student needs to access a specific subject, understand it, retain the information and be able to reuse it proactively whenever it is required of him. Since, as a private tutor, I work one on one with a student, I aim at creating a healthy and effective relation where the student feels comfortable to express what he/she doesn't understand and he/she can develop a positive attitude towards learning the subject under examination. Every student is unique, therefore the method used for each student is different. I plan to have a first session where I can assess what it is required of me and whether I am able to constructively interact with the student and then build a teaching program from that. I will commit to plan every session at home and come prepared to teach what is needed and I will expect that the student commits to doing his/her best to do his/her reading and homework.

Subjects

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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! My name is Giacomo, I come from Italy and I am a third year PhD student in Roman Archaeology at the University of Leicester.I have a strong experience in tutoring and teaching at high school and university level and I'm happy to help with Latin, Ancient Greek and Italian.

Teaching Experience:
During the last two years I have been teaching different courses at the University of Leicester, acquiring a strong experience in dealing with students. In particular during this and last year I have been teaching Latin and Ancient Greek to first year students. In the last two months I also have been teaching Latin to the children of the Overdale Infant and Jr. School, as part of the Outreach Program of the School of Archaeology and Ancient History. Furthermore, since last year I have been working as one to one study mentor in The AccessAbility Centre of the University where I support students with learning disabilities. Finally, when I was still in Italy I have been giving private lessons of Latin, Ancient Greek and Italian literature to high school and university students for three years.

Tutoring Approach:
I will have a different approach according to the language I will be teaching. For Italian, I will use a communicative approach. This means that I will deliver just a minimum of grammar and I will use the target language as much as possible so that the student will learn the grammar implicitly. On the other side, since Latin and Ancient Greek are extinct languages I will use a more traditional approach. Nevertheless, also in this case I will try to alternate grammar with literature in order to help the student to get a broader perception of the ancient world.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Innovative
Preparate
Open for questions
Technology enthusiast

Teaching Experience:
Teacher in training technical courses

Tutoring Approach:
Innovative and reactively

Subjects

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), gently building a strong foundation with practical language. I focus on learners ***up to B1***, giving you the wings to communicate confidently - whether to chat with locals, handle everyday situations, or prepare for a move abroad.

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
- English native, bilingual German speaker (German mother)
- 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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, I'm Sammy.

I offer private tutoring in German and Italian in friendly, focused and supportive lessons. Whether you are learning a language as an adult, need help with exams, or would just like some conversation practice to boost your confidence, I will tailor our sessions to suit your needs. Of course, if you just want to brush up on your language skills before a holiday or business trip, I can help with this, too!

I offer lessons for groups at a discounted rate - ideal for couples and friends.

I also have extensive experience in teaching English as a foreign language and I welcome international students to get in touch.

I am based in Liverpool and offer online tuition.

Teaching Experience:
* Former Head of Languages in a secondary school
* Fully qualified teacher with over ten years' experience teaching GCSE and A level
* Masters in Education and 1st class BA (hons) in German and Italian with a distinction in spoken language
* Experience teaching language for business
* Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certified

Tutoring Approach:
My first aim is to put you at ease and boost your confidence. Lesson content is completely flexible to fit with what you need and we will always work at a pace you are comfortable with.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a qualified Italian teacher, with 5 years or experience. I also hold a Bachelor`s Degree in Linguistic and Cultural Mediation and a Master`s Degree in Literary Translation.
I immediately decided to start to teach Italian, and moved to London to qualify as a teacher. I obtained the CTLA (Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults) at the Italian Cultural Institute of London, and have been teaching ever since.
I decided to open a website in 2018, to create a platform with online courses for students located anywhere, and with a blog to write about the "hows" and "whats" or share my interactive activities.

Teaching Experience:
5 years of experience here in London, with students of all ages, levels, and cultural background, in person and online

Tutoring Approach:
Through my experience I have realized there is no best approach to teaching, because using different approaches help students according to their different needs.
I encourage my students to be independent learners by building up little by little and in a stress-free situation, similiar to the way one learns a first language as a child, thanks to games, videos and informal conversation.
I prefer interactive activities whenever possible to make my lessons engaging and fun.
In order to help learners, revision and 24/7 support are available.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a 21 year-old Italian student of English literature and Sociology in Scotland. I am easy-going and look to create a friendly learning environment. I love languages, both learning and teaching them, as I believe they help us thinking from different points of views.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored children back in Italy, teaching some basic English.
I have spent six months in a international language school in Canada, where I have been in contact with inspiring teachers and modern methods of teaching. I have attended IELTS courses as well, and I'd be willing to help students to prepare for this certificate.
I myself have received a score of 7 when I attended it 2 years ago, before starting college.

Tutoring Approach:
First I will have to assess the student's level, then I can proceed accordingly. Depending on what is being requested from the student, like improving grammar, comprehension or writing, I will provide enjoyable exercises or even games when possible, as there is no fastest, easiest way of learning than having fun.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a teacher, novelist, and musician from Scotland. I have tutored for many years and taught at preparatory schools. I have also taught English abroad (Italy & Brazil).

I enjoy helping students to overcome their difficulties and find ways to enjoy the language and culture.

Lessons at my house or yours.
Online tutoring is a great way to work on your language (rates negotiable).

Teaching Experience:
12 years with First Tutors, from beginners, through Common Entrance, GCSE and A-level to university.
6 years with Greater London Tutorial Agency/Top Tutors
Latin, Ancient Greek & English:
12 years Classics, Hall Grove, Bagshot.
1 year at Academy School, Hampstead.

Creative Writing: 2 year University of Portsmouth
2 years Islington Summer University.

English as Foreign Language:
1 year St Giles, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
2 years English Academy, Molfetta, Italy, including PET, CAE, CPE, IELTS, TOEFL.

I also teach guitar, bass, piano and Italian.

Tutoring Approach:
Most pupils who come to me have simply lost track or lost confidence.
With careful guidance, it usually doesn't take long to put them back on the right track.

I can help with the building blocks of grammar, presenting it as a puzzle or a game; I can suggest ways to improve vocabulary; and I can point the way through the complexities of translation and syntax. Even working on exam technique can ease anxiety quickly.

I also enjoy enthusing students about classical mythology and literature.

I am happy to teach online as well as in person: with a committed tutee, this can work as well as tuition in person.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Kate, a full-time, professional tutor based in Petersfield (MA in Medieval and Modern Languages from St John`s College, Oxford). I design tailored learning plans to help students achieve their potential.

In 2021 100% of my A-Level students achieved grade A*.

You can enter for a GCSE or A-Level with me directly, or have extra tuition to support your studies at school, college or university.

I offer private tuition and intensive course programmes to build fluency in Spanish, German, English, Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan and Dutch.

No matter what your level, your lessons will be full of real-world language and will deliver the content and vocabulary that you need to achieve your goals.

Teaching Experience:
I began my teaching career in 2008 with the Government of Andorra as Lecturer of English.

I have since taught privately and at schools and colleges in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria and the UK.

During the last 10 years I have mostly been based in Spain, but have also tutored private clients around Europe. In 2019 I opened a dedicated language school in Petersfield, Hampshire and I now offer online tuition too, with students learning for a mix of personal, professional and academic objectives.

Tutoring Approach:
Each course is created according to the student's needs, and is 100% bespoke.

Your course is designed for you, based on an initial consultation and/or questionnaire to help me to understand your learning style and establish clear goals for you.

Lessons often feel relaxed and fairly casual, because in my experience this is the best way to encourage real communication and thought in your target language!

For more advanced learners, there are plenty of academic resources and authentic materials to allow you to engage fully with your language. Courses can include grammar, linguistics, literature and cultural topics.

Subjects

Personal Description:
The vocation and passion for teaching, which is both selfless and an act of self-care, have always influenced my education and work experience. After completing my university studies in Philosophy, I obtained a Master's Degree in Teaching Italian to Foreigners at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and then I moved to Coventry in order to start a Master by Research on Renaissance Studies at Warwick University. Thanks to my teaching experience, also related to football and yoga, I'll be glad to help you to improve your Italian language skills.

Teaching Experience:
Italian Tutor at The Percival Guildhouse (Adult Education School in Rugby).
JANUARY 2020 - PRESENT

Italian Tutor at Leicestershire County Council
DECEMBER 2019 - PRESENT

Italian Language Teacher at CPIA3 Rome (public school for adult education).
DECEMBER 2018 - MAY 2019
Evaluation: "Excellent".

Cultore della materia (Subject Expert, University Teaching Assistant) at the Chair of History of Modern Philosophy, Roma Tre University.
OCTOBER 2018 - SEPTEMBER 2019

Collaboration with the History of Philosophy course held by Professor Mariannina Failla, within the Roma Tre University Bachelor of Science in Philosophy (academic year 2017-2018).
MARCH 2018 - MAY 2018

Tutoring Approach:
My didactic approach mirrors my calm, reflexive and friendly personality. Since emotional is the crucial component in learning a foreign language, I always establish a welcoming and relaxed environment, allowing you to feel free to speak and make the mistakes necessary to improve your Italian language skills.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been teaching French and German for the past 30 years.
I retired from classroom teaching in July 2022, in order to focus on offering private tuition.
The bulk of my private tuition is French and German GCSE. However, I am also delivering German IB (diploma) and A level, as well as English as a second language.
I also have some adult learners as well as children from age 6-10.

Teaching Experience:
I have many years of teaching French and German at all levels but mainly secondary school.
I have worked for 27 years in two London comprehensives.
My results have always been excellent.
I have outstanding subject knowledge and am familiar with the main exam boards.
I also have access to all relevant materials.
I am currently working part time in a local secondary school teaching French and German A level.
My current tuition timetable includes:
French GCSE (AQA, Edexcel and Edexcel IGCSE)
German GCSE (AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE)
German A level (AQA and Edexcel)
German adult learners - beginners.
English as a second language - IGCSE, IELTS
Beginner's German to adult learners as well as children aged 6-11

I have students attending UK top grammar and independent schools, as well as state comprehensives. I have experience in stretching and challenging the most able as well as helping students gain an acceptable pass in what is sometimes their weakest subject.
In the last two years, those of my tutees taking higher GCSE, have all gained grades 7-9 and those taking foundation, a grade 5.
All of this information can be verified on request.
I also have a number of adult learners for beginner's German. This has been very successful. Current students can provide testimonials if required.

Tutoring Approach:
I have done a lot of private tutoring, mainly GCSE but also some A level and adult learners.
I am a calm and patient teacher and know how to get the best out of my students.
Each lesson is tailor made to suit the needs of the individual.
I pride myself on being flexible and as a parent myself, understand that unforeseen circumstances can crop up. Therefore, I do not charge for late cancellations.

Recent, verifiable testimonials (updated August 2023, following GCSE results)

Alison was a great tutor. She is very easy to understand and made french as a subject a lot more simple for my son to understand. My son was originally getting 3s and 2s in his mocks, but she was able to assist him in getting a good result in the GCSE. I can't thank her enough for the help. She's a great tutor.
I would like to recommend her to everyone.

Allison has tutored my son for the past 2 years and I was delighted that he got a 9 for his GCSE German exam this year. My son took his GCSE exam early at the end of year 9 and his grade is a true reflection of what an exceptional tutor Allison is. Allison has been a truly amazing tutor and my son has thoroughly enjoyed his lessons with her. He will continue his tutoring with Allison as he has now opted to take A/S Level German next year. I highly recommend Allison if your child needs tuition for German.


Allison has been tutoring our daughter in French for the last few weeks, to help her prepare for GCSE's.
I cannot recommend Allison highly enough. She is easy to contact and on time to every lesson. My daughter was initially sceptical about having a tutor, but from the first lesson she soon saw the benefits. Allison is very personable and gave me feedback on what our daughter should be focusing on and how she has improved. Allison has great knowledge of the school syllabus and gave my daughter key areas to focus on outside of the lessons. I would like to thank Allison for giving our daughter more confidence in what used to be one of her weaker subjects

Allison provided tutoring for our daughter ahead of her GCSE in German. She knows the syllabus extremely well and identified the main areas on which to focus. She was very flexible on when she could come to our house and helped our daughter get the most out of each hour of tutoring. The overall impact was very positive with our daughter getting a 9 in her GCSE. I can thoroughly recommend Allison to anyone looking for help in either German or French.

We had Allison for about a year, and my son continues enjoying the lessons. Allison is very reliable, personable and flexible. She understands the help and support that is required for my son and applies her skills and knowledge to help. Her calm manner and being very accommodating are helpful add-ons to the help we get from her.

I was so busy to let you know how impressed my boys are of both of you. Because of you and his German teacher now, D. studies German with pleasure.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a scholar with experience in scientific writing, critical thinking, research and communication. As a researcher, my personal motto is that all of your academic writing ought to be the layman version of your work. This because a scholar - in my case, a philosopher - who cannot ground his reasoning in ordinary intuitions (or at least some intuitions the reader/hearer can grasp) is doomed to produce meaningless contributions to the debate. In addition, putting yourself into the perspective of a non-expert is a good technique for analyzing your own thoughts and spot the potential flaws. Thus, being able to communicate concepts to non-expert is a skill which for me is instrumental towards my own research goals, and one which I took great care in developing.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring students since the time I was going to high-school. I have also some teaching-assistant experience as a doctoral student. Furthermore, I am currently working on a teaching and orienteering project alongside some teacher of my former high-school.

Tutoring Approach:
First and foremost, I run some quick tests in order to assess the general skills of the pupil within the relevant field, taking notes on his/her flaws. Once I have identified the area where the pupil has difficulty, I employ a goal-structured teaching strategy: first of all I verify whether the pupil has understood which is the application goal (or one of the goals) of the skill he is trying to (and currently has difficulty to) develop. In case he/she has not understood, I try to explain to him/her, i.e., I frame the relevant skill (for instance, derivative calculus) with reference to a general or specific application goal (for instance, the framing of the relationship between speed and acceleration). I find that often pupils lack cognitive incentive because they have not been presented with the practical application of the knowledge they are trying to acquire.
Regarding language learning, I first try to understand which communicative faculty the individual is more inclined towards to (speaking, listening, reading, vocabulary memorizing, etc.). Then I try to create a bedrock by developing his proficiency in that area, while at the same time encouraging him/her to go out of the comfort zone towards communicative areas where he/she is not confident. On that regard I apply a learning process based on increasing levels of contextual stress (for example, in the case of learning to listening a foreign language, I suggest to start from a situation where the hearer is speaking slowly and then I encourage the pupil to build up his confidence step by step by adding elements like a noisy environment, increased talking speed, lack of background context for the conversation, etc.) This because I believe emotional factors like self-confidence and stress-control are key in catalyzing the cognitive process of acquiring proficiency in a new language.

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Personal Description:
I am a native Italian and I have been living in UK for the past 15 years. I have experience in teaching Italian in a Community centre and I work as Italian Interpreter. I am also a qualified Medical Herbalist and Naturopath with a Diploma from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London.

Teaching Experience:
I have experience teaching a drop-in Italian Language course for beginner adults and conversational Italian for adults at a Community Centre in Brighton, East Sussex, UK.

I have maintained the drop-in format by effectively managing students of various proficiency levels, providing a good balance of flexibility and freedom for students to join at any time according to their availability.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons incorporate a mix of fun, practical language games and fundamental grammar basics, making the classes suitable for students at different levels.

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