What can I teach you?

• French for beginners
• French KS3
• French GCSE
• French A level
• English KS3
• English GCSE
• Other subjects by arrangement

I can help you to do better with French, whether you need to get to grips with the rules of French grammar or learn how to structure your French essays in such a way that will satisfy even the pickiest of examiners. If you want to know how to get an A in French, get in touch and tell me what exam board you are using and where you think your strengths and weaknesses lie.

Experience

• Over seventeen years’ teaching experience
• Experienced classroom practitioner
• Private tutoring from Year 7 to A2 and Oxbridge
• Adult and young learners

As a qualified teacher with over fifteen years’ teaching experience I can help you to improve your French whatever stage you are at. By having some extra French lessons online with me you can benefit from individual attention and work on material that caters for your own particular needs. Perhaps you need to consolidate what you have already learned by looking at some basic grammar or perhaps you are not finding your lessons at school sufficiently challenging. It could be that you have missed out on core vocabulary over the years or that you have a passion for literature that your teacher does not share.

Qualifications

• PGCE (modern languages), Durham University
• MA (French and linguistics), St John’s College, Oxford
• A levels in French (A), English (A) and Music (B), Penrhos College
• Diploma in German, Open University
• ABRSM Grade 8 flute and violin

Teaching: My Story

Having completed a degree in French and linguistics at Oxford, I returned to Durham, my home town, to do my PGCE at the university. I then took up a post at West Buckland School in North Devon, initially teaching French and music, and became Head of Modern Languages there in 2000. Over the years, I have taught beginners as young as four through to A level students, as well as spending countless hours involved in music-making and helping sixth-form students with their university applications. In my spare time, I edited the school magazine, The 3Rs, which showed me how much I enjoyed this type of work and allowed me to learn about the editorial process, as well as giving me hundreds of hours of proofreading practice! In September 2012 I ‘went freelance’ in order to combine my love of teaching with my enjoyment of scrutinising the written word. This step also gave me the chance to fulfil my dream to teach English, drawing on my technical understanding of the language and my long-standing interest in literature.

One of the reasons I gave up classroom teaching was that I realised just how different the needs of different pupils can be. Teaching one-to-one allows infinite scope to tailor lessons to the individual. You can tackle their weak points and capitalise on their strengths, as well as building a positive working relationship with them. In this way you can instil confidence in the most timid learner and stretch the most able to allow them to truly excel.

I am happy to travel a reasonable distance to teach you at home or for lessons to take place at my house. You could also consider working with me online, using a mixture of Skype and email.

If you would like me to teach you French or English, or indeed to help you with another GCSE subject, please do get in touch.

Rates

Please get in touch to discuss how much lessons would cost. As a rough guide, I normally charge between £25 and £40 an hour.