Plymouth Italian Tutors and Plymouth Italian 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:
I am a native Spanish speaker with teaching experience in Italy, Spain and the UK.
I have worked as a translator and now hold the position of Lead Teacher of Spanish with French at a secondary School. I also hold a qualification in Italian which together with my teaching experience in the country provide me with a deep Knowledge of the language.

I have always been passionate about languages and I strongly believe I can transmit this to my pupils.

Teaching Experience:
-April 2009 to present: Secondary school teacher of French and teacher in charge of Spanish. During this time I have given extra tuition for French and Spanish to three school pupils and all of them achieved A*. Home tution for Italian, Spanish and French.

-January 2008 to April 2009: I worked in various schools around the county as a MFL and music teacher. Two of this positions were for several months.

-2006: Teacher of English as a Second Language in Spain.

-2004-2005: Teacher of Spanish for the Politecnico university of Turin. I also worked as a translator during my time in Italy. This employment proved very rewarding from the intellectual point of view as made strive to get translations as close to the original language as possible.

2003: Volunteer teacher of Spanish and English as a Second Language at a charity organisation in Spain.

Tutoring Approach:
Besides the traditional tutoring method I also offer ONLINE LANGUAGES TEACHING. For this, internet connection is required.The first ONLINE LESSON is FREE and a 15% discount apply to the all rest of the online lessons.

Standard fees apply to the first TRADITIONAL AT HOME LESSON.

-- My Philosophy--
My vision of languages is quite broad and embraces the cultural and psychological side that comes with them. I believe that learning a new language is learning to see the world through another nations eyes.

I teach skills that will enable you to be creative and produce language, I do not believe in parroting therefore I encourage the understanding of grammar mechanisms .

I have dynamic approach to teaching which is specific for every pupil's needs.


Please feel free to contact me if you have any doubt.

Subjects

Personal Description:
French tutor.
I have been tutoring from primary to GCSE/A level for 20 years with 100% pass rate, and with most students achieving grades 7 to 9 in GCSE and A*, A or B at A level.

I tutor both in person and online. I enjoy tutoring very much, and I am familiar with all the exam boards used in the UK. Each lesson can be tailored to the student's individual needs.

Home educated students
I have also tutored home schooled students to GCSE level in French and English language.

In addition, I tutor for the Delf French exams and I teach conversational and everyday French to casual learners from beginners' to near native level.

I also do some freelance translation. I have worked in this capacity for the holiday industry and the children's book industry.

Other subjects taught:
- beginners' Italian
-English language (primary,)
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I have dbs certification, a degree in French language and literature, and teaching certificate.

Teaching Experience:
Teacher, private tutor, small group tutor

Tutoring Approach:
I offer a learning experience tailored to your requirements. Lessons can be conversation based or focus on written work. For GCSE or A-level tutoring, we will work towards the exam specification and go through exam style questions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a professional in my 30s with degrees in English & Italian Literature (BA 2:1, Warwick 2000) and the History of Medicine & Science (MA Merit, Birkbeck College, University of London). I also hold a CELTA qualification in teaching English Language to adults.

I am a friendly and open teacher and get on very well with my students. I have a car and will travel.

Proof-editing: contact for rates.

In addition to teaching I also offer a proof-reading service so for university essays / research proposals / writing projects, please do contact me for rates.

Teaching Experience:
I have spent the past three years in Germany teaching English as a foreign language to university students and business professionals. I am CELTA qualified and have a flexible approach, adapting my style to suit my students' needs. One to one teaching was my preferred method. l

Before I went to Germany in 2014, I had been a English and History tutor for ten years.

Please note that I am not a PGCE-qualified teacher. My focus is on the required skills rather than the syllabus as set by the school. This method has proved very effective time and time again.

I hold a German CRB, in due time I will replace this with a UK one.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to proof-editing / English checking is to look primarily at the language. For some clients - university students in particular - it is not appropriate to offer an editorial service as this goes against the rules of university submissions. However, where I think a mistake has been made or something is not clearly expressed - and it is not a simple matter of correcting the language - then I will flag it up to the student so they can look at it again.

My main aim with my tutees is to build their confidence and enthusiasm for the subject. To this end I concentrate on teaching the skills they require to achieve the grades they want. My role is not to replace the teaching they get at school but to compliment it so a tutoring session could concentrate on planning an essay the student has been asked to write or going through specific areas the student needs help with. I won't necessarily give homework - unless required - as I feel students have enough to do without me adding to their workload.

In return I expect my students to engage with the sessions. They don't have to like the subject and of course I'm there to help those who don't understand some things or just need a little help or encouragement, but the student must be prepared to be tutored.

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Personal Description:
I am a 22 year old who is currently working at RWS translations group in Chalfont St Peter. I have recently graduated from Durham University with a 2.1 BA in Modern Languages (French and Italian). I also studied Spanish up to 2nd year. I enjoy speaking different languages and try to pass on my enthusiasm for languages to others.

Teaching Experience:
My third year at University was spent abroad. I chose to teach in France for 7 months in two primary schools which I very much enjoyed. I loved to chat to the children and try to get them to see the importance of learning English. I also au-paired for three months in Italy during my Year Abroad, which involved private lessons with a 7 year old. I have also previously tutored French, which included exam preparation, focusing on problematic areas and improving confidence. I understand how difficult languages can be, I believe I can sympathise with the student. The lesson must be fun and the student needs to understand the importance of learning a language, in order to be enthusiastic about it.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe languages are crucial in education. Throughout university I took part in Routes into Languages, a consortium of universities working together with schools and colleges, to enthuse and encourage people to study languages. This role involved planning taster classes for small groups, introducing a new language into their education and broadening their knowledge of the world and different cultures. I particularly enjoyed this role as I was enable to communicate the importance of languages and perhaps inspire some of the children to carry languages on past year 9.

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Personal Description:
AVAILABLE ONLY FOR ONLINE LESSONS
I am an enthusiastic native speaker Italian teacher qualified at the Italian Cultural Institute of London with a TIAFL (Teaching Italian as a Foreign Language) certificate. Furthermore, I have attained a Master's degree (Distinction) in Italian Literature at University of Bologna gaining an excellent command of the Italian language and a deep insight into the culture.

Teaching Experience:
During the intensive teacher training course TIAFL 'Teaching Italian as a Foreign language' at the Italian Cultural Institute in London I have taught to students of different levels including complete beginners and intermediate, planning innovative lessons and creating activities with authentic material.
I have been teaching Italian for 5 years and I am currently working with one-to-one tuitions with a more tailored approach adapted to the student's needs and expectations.

Tutoring Approach:
I love involving students into the 'Italian world': natural and artistic heritage, social customs and peculiarities.
In my professional experience as a teacher I have developed a communicative approach able to show short-term improvements in the students' speaking ability and competence.
My lessons are student-centred enabling the tutee to effectively practise the language in an active way.
The interest is stimulated through innovative and engaging activities such as games adapted to language learning as well as audio, video and visual material.
The grammar is instructed through an inductive approach to make the student able to understand the concept within a specific context, and pronunciation is facilitated with a focus on individual phonemes, stress and intonation.
This active and engaging approach is the perfect way to stimulate the students' interest and motivation in learning a new language.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Cambridge University educated, fully-qualified teacher. I am available to tutor in English, French, Spanish, Italian and EFL. I tutor all levels from KS2 upwards and I am also an experienced 11 plus and Entrance Exams tutor. I also tutor at KS3, KS4 and KS5 and for all the main exam boards at G.C.S.E, I.G.C.S.E and A'Level. In addition, I currently deliver online tuition to students, many of whom I prepare for the academically selective school admission process. I also deliver EAL and exam tuition to Chinese students who are preparing for Entrance Examinations and support those already at independent schools in the UK.

Teaching Experience:
I have many years of teaching experience, having started out as an EFL teacher before gaining my P.G.C.E. After graduating, I also spent time tutoring in London and often received requests to travel with international clients to continue tuition. I hold UK Qualified Teacher Status [QTS] and have taught Modern Foreign Languages at Secondary School. In addition, I have taught Adult Education Language Courses for East Riding Council.
I also run regular group courses in French, Spanish and Italian for Adult Learners. In addition, I run small Literacy support groups to help students improve their reading, grammar, spelling and punctuation. I also tutor student teachers for the QTS Literacy Skills Test and have achieved passes for students who had failed the test on previous attempts.I also continue to teach English as a Foreign Language and have taught students from all over the world from Russia to Japan and India. For example, I have successfully prepared UK and Chinese students for interviews and examinations at the following schools: Cheltenham Ladies' College; Badminton School; Queen Anne's School; Roedean School; Bruton School; Bromsgrove School; The King's School Canterbury; Woldingham; Godolphin; Queen Ethelburga's; Ashdown House Prep; Queen Elizabeth's, Barnet; Dame Alice Owen's; Sevenoaks; Latymer.

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor my approach is patient and flexible. The learner is at the heart of what I do and my aim is for all students to make rapid progress but also to enjoy their learning. As a result I enjoy planning varied and engaging lessons which are tailor-made for my students. I strongly believe that one-to-one and small group tuition can deliver real results for all types of learners due to the focus on individual learning needs and styles.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a trustworthy, hard-working and conscientious person. I am a quick learner with an exemplary timekeeping and attendance record. I take satisfaction in achieving high standards in any task I undertake, and possess a methodical and organised working approach. Equally capable of working both within a team and on an individual basis, my communication, interpersonal skills and knowledge enable me to interact with colleagues at all levels within the workplace. I love work with children from nursery, preschool and primary school up to stage 1.

Teaching Experience:
One very special working experience achievement was with children y3-4 and y5-6 in a primary school. I was not only teaching Italian Language but I was involved as producer and director of Goldilocks and the three bears in the Italian spoken language which has never been done before as a movie.
Date: from March to April 2005.
Actors were primary school children, which have been selected from the Head Teacher and me. I have trained them every week from March to April 2005 to play on different set. (Drama lessons included). The movie has been filmed in July 2005.
My experience was not only as an Italian Teacher but director and producer and composer for the editing of background music and special audio effects. This is the first time I have made my first movie. (17 minutes footage).
Sponsor for the project and investor was the Italian Consulate of Manchester (U.K.). Very good reward and payment + bonus for the hard work I have done in those months.

Tutoring Approach:
I can teach academic primary school subject up to stage 1 and Italian language for beginners, level 1 and 2 and advanced.
Further Education Adults Course.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi! My name is Claudia and I would love to help you discover how much fun learning a new language can be. I'm a trained CELTA teacher with a passion for languages and music. I have more than 15 years of experience teaching English, Spanish and Italian to students between 5 and 85 years old of many nationalities. Teaching and learning languages ​​are two of my great passions because they allow me to meet all kinds of people and learn about different cultures. In addition to English, Italian and Spanish, I speak French, a little German and I am learning Russian. So you can be sure that I will be very patient and I will encourage you to be patient with yourself throughout this journey...I fully understand what learning a new language feels like!

Teaching Experience:
I'm CELTA qualified and have a BA from the university of Rome "La Sapienza" in Literature, Music and Show Business. I'm also an opera singer!
I have taught languages privately (English, Spanish and Italian) in Italy and in the UK for over 15 years to students of all levels and ages ranging from 5 to 85 years old of many nationalities.
I have also worked as a language teacher in summer camps in Ascot, UK and as language teacher, assistant to the Director of Studies and Stand-in Director of Studies in Language in Totnes, Devon.
I have organised and taught Italian and Culture language courses for small groups in Sicily and Piedmont, Italy.
I now run my own English, Italian and Spanish courses in Devon and do private tutoring in all three languages.

Tutoring Approach:
Are you planning a trip and want to impress the locals? Do you want to understand movies and series? Or maybe you need to pass an exam to get ahead in your career? Maybe you already know all the grammar but when it comes to speaking you freeze?

In class, you will speak your target language from day 1 and we will work at your own pace to achieve your goals. As someone who has lived and worked in different countries, I love talking about all sorts of topics during the lessons: music, literature, movies, food, current affairs, health and wellness, among other things. Most of all, I love listening to people's experiences and learning about their cultures.

My aim for the lessons is to make you feel comfortable using your target language, either written or spoken. Being able to communicate right away is key! You will learn the grammar naturally through games, videos, and stories I've written thinking specifically about my students throughout my teaching years, which focus on specific grammar or vocabulary points. I am a grammar nerd and I will be able to explain to you in a clear and simple way the most complicated points. We'll also use authentic materials so you can experience what the language in the real world looks and sounds like. During the class I will take detailed notes and send them to your email so you don't miss a thing.

It is also very important for me that you have fun in class, since this is something that will motivate you and facilitate your learning. Book a trial lesson with me so we can get to know each other and discuss your language goals. I look forward to teaching you!

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:
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:
ESL teacher with over 8 years experience in both classroom and private settings to a range of ages and backgrounds specialising in bringing creativity skills, social media expertise and innovation to the classroom. Professional, creative with proven analytical skills, crafting well thought out plans which, sometimes can be considered as daring, to exceed expectations.

Teaching Experience:
8+ years in UK, Italy, Morocco, Canada & Nigeria

Tutoring Approach:
Creative and relaxing. Always trying to make the subject as easy as possible to make comprehension possible. I am passionate about teaching so I use many types of approaches and materials to create a unique experience. Whatever you want out of language learning you will get...just ask!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! My name is Giada and I'm a native Italian speaker. Since I love learning new languages, I know what difficulties can be encountered and I can help you with them! Available for writing support, grammar lessons, conversation and more!
I offer classes of Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Maths and Physics.

Teaching Experience:
Italian lessons to foreigners

Tutoring Approach:
Tutor for Maths, Physics, English, French and German at high school level.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Ciao! I'm a native Italian speaker fluent in Italian, French and English, with a First-Class Honours degree in Humanities, specialising in History and English Literature. Since 2014, I've been helping learners of all levels develop confidence and fluency in English and Italian-from beginners taking their first steps to advanced learners refining their mastery.

I bring more than just expertise to my lessons-I bring a deep love for language and its structure. My teaching is tailored to each student's goals, pace and interests, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. I believe that great teaching is a two-way exchange: both tutor and learner grow through the journey.

Whether you're preparing for exams, brushing up your conversational skills, or simply exploring a new language, I'd be delighted to support you!

Teaching Experience:
Ciao! I'm a passionate educator with over ten years' experience helping learners grow in confidence, language skills, and exam success. I hold a First-Class Honours degree in Humanities (English and History), a TEFL qualification, and I'm currently training towards a PGCE in Lifelong Learning-giving me the tools to support both young learners and adult students alike.

For GCSE students, I provide clear, structured support in English Language and Literature, helping learners approach exams with confidence and clarity. My sessions are tailored to your goals-whether it's mastering unseen poetry, tackling tricky grammar, or refining essay technique-with an emphasis on building skills that last beyond the classroom.

For Italian-speaking adults, I offer a warm, welcoming space to build your English or Italian skills at your own pace. Whether you're learning for work, travel, or pleasure, I bring patience, cultural insight, and a flexible approach to make language learning enjoyable and rewarding.

Learning with me means engaging lessons, a supportive atmosphere, and progress you can feel. 📚✨

Tutoring Approach:
"I take great pride in helping learners-especially beginners-gain the confidence to understand, speak, and truly enjoy the Italian language. My lessons go beyond grammar and vocabulary, offering a gateway into the richness of Italian culture, history, and daily life. I aim to create a welcoming, engaging environment where curiosity leads the way and progress feels both natural and rewarding."
✨

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am passionate about languages and enthusiastic about teaching language. I teach Italian and English as a foreign language to all levels and learning purposes. Before being a teacher I was a student myself and I understand how difficult can be to learn a foreign language. My lessons are tailored according to my students' needs, learning styles and personalities.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher specialised in Modern Languages (PGCE with QTS). I have been teaching and tutoring for several years. I had the opportunity to teach in different contexts, cultures and to different ages and levels. I have taught Italian to individual students and corporate clients with different language requirements and purposes. I have also conducted a preparation course for Italian GCSE and A level exams in schools across London. Previously, I taught English (EFL) to high school students and to primary school teachers in Italy. Courses included preparation for Cambridge English language examinations.

Tutoring Approach:
Some students come to me feeling unconfident and generally struggle to remember grammar rules or vocabulary, some others may not feel confident to express themselves. This is why I ensure my lessons are always motivating and fun!
I use a communicative approach where my students take active part in the lesson through understanding, thinking, eliciting and producing. My role as a teacher is to guide them through their learning process, considering their learning styles and personalities and making sure they always feel comfortable and engaged. Some activities I use include role plays, games and situational activities. Finally, one of my main goals as a teacher is to enable my students to enjoy the
experience of communicating, thinking and reacting in a foreign language.

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.

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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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