Subjects

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I teach French, German and Spanish to GCSE level or equivalent and French to A Level. I also help primary school students preparing for 11-plus exams.

Tell me about your qualifications.
In 2001, I did an Access course and obtained French, English and European Studies at the equivalent of A Level; Spanish and Computer Studies at equivalent of GCSE level.
Following the Access Course I obtained a degree, BA Hons 2:1 in Joint French/German. I also studied and passed examinations in Spanish up to A Level.
In the intervening years, I trained and worked as a staff nurse.

What kind of experience do you have?
I have been tutoring adults and children in French, German and Spanish since 2005 and preparing my granddaughter for the 11-plus this year.
I have taught French from beginners to A Level in an Independent College from 2005 - 2008.
I run social conversation groups for French, German and Spanish.
While at university, I lived and studied in France and Germany for 5 months each, in addition to holiday visits over the years to France, Germany and Spain.
I have gained people skills during nursing and I teach in Sunday School.

How much do you charge?
I charge £20 for beginners to GCSE or equivalent, £25 for A Level and £15 for preparation for 11-plus.
These charges may vary according to family circumstances or if there is more than 1 student at a time.
If I am asked to travel a long way there may be a surcharge.
Initial telephone call and/or meeting is of course free.

Where do you teach?
I teach either in the student's home or at my own home in Chatham, whichever suits the student's circumstances better,
and throughout the Medway towns in North Kent.

When are you available?
I am available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and some of Friday. I generally give priority to school-age students in the after-school time for obvious reasons. School holidays allow for relaxation of times and variation and of course there are holiday times when I am sometimes away. This will be discussed with the student on first meeting.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
I teach all ages, adult or child.
I teach French to A Level, German and Spanish to GCSE level and 11-plus to children of that age.

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
Yes I do.

Where and with whom did you train?
My degree was at the University of Kent at Canterbury.
My Access course was at Mid-Kent College of Further Education.
I trained for nursing in Queen Alexandra's Nursing Corps in the Army.

Tell me about some of your current students.
I am currently the language tutor for a family of 3 siblings. I started tutoring the eldest, who is now at university, in French. I continued tutoring her younger sister in French & German and now tutor her young brother in French and Spanish. I have also been tutoring a Yr 8 - 9 student, who has spent several periods in hospital and consequently finds it hard to come up to the same standard as her peers, in French. I recently tutored 2 ladies who had contacts with Lanzarote and France, in Spanish and French respectively, but no longer do so because one has moved away from the area and the needs of the other have changed. Another adult student is a Spanish-speaking school teacher who comes to me for French lessons so as to give her confidence in teaching beginners at school.

Do you have a personal message for students?
I plan my lessons according to what you need to practice and learn - you set the pace. I hope you'll find me patient and sympathetic and you will gain confidence in your abilities as you learn.

Articles

Why learn languages?
Subject: French
Tags: culture, employability, languages, school subjects, words
Created: 17/09/2011