Information About Mike - Chesham teacher -

(3 reviews)

Personal Description:

I am a full-time secondary school teacher, teaching French to A Level and German to GCSE. I have an excellent level of French, having spent two years living and working in France (Cambrai and Poitiers). I am a patient teacher and an enthusiastic linguist and am keen to exploit similarities in languages, especially as a way of making things memorable. I am convinced that anyone and everyone has the ability to learn a language and am equally convinced that there is nothing quite as rewarding as being able to converse in another language.

Teaching Experience:

My first teaching experience came in 1993/1994 when I worked for one year in the north of France as an English Assistant in a French Secondary School. After graduating in 1998 I worked for 11 years in industry where I put my language skills to good use in various Project Management and Account Management roles. I decided on a career change in 2009 and re-trained as a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages. Since then, I have been teaching French to A-Level and German up to GCSE, and am Team Leader for Languages in a Secondary Grammar School. I am fully aware of the needs and requirements of current exam boards for both GCSE and A-Level.

Teaching Approach:

Confidence is key, as is enjoyment. Learning - and speaking - foreign languages can be daunting but I have found that simple phonetic exercises can help engender confidence. I also believe it is important to find something of genuine interest in whichever foreign language is being studied. I have a wide range of authentic materials which could be useful here, whether it be music, film, sport. We can discuss interests and hobbies, and set specific learning targets and take it from there.