Information About Andrea - Edinburgh teacher

Personal Description:

I am a very passionate German, Italian and Hebrew teacher. I have a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies and History as well as two Masters and a Degree. Italian is my mother tongue and I have native proficiency in German, as I lived and studied in two German-speaking countries (Germany and Austria) for 13 years.

Teaching Experience:

As a scholar and lecturer, I used to teach Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, as well as Biblical and Rabbinical Studies, in Heidelberg and Vienna.
Since 2018 I have been a professional German, Italian and Hebrew teacher at all levels, and I have been teaching in three language schools in Edinburgh.

Teaching Approach:

It does not really matter whether you are a complete beginner or have studied the language before, my classes will be the perfect fit! As each person learns in her/his own way, I provide tailored lesson plans to meet your individual needs. I work at your own pace, targeting your desires and problem areas. You will get homework only if you want to.

The first lesson normally is a quick assessment of your existing knowledge. Through chatting and showing you a couple of pictures/games, I can easily infer which level you are at. This process is very useful (and, believe me, it does not hurt! So, do not panic!) because it allows me to draft a learning plan, setting some *milestones* you can/will achieve (which will be reviewed regularly). They encourage and motivate you, and work as a stimulus to do your best in a very effective and productive way. You will be getting constructive feedback from me and we will be working towards your goals together.

Normally, I split a lesson into three parts:

1) speaking and listening;

2) grammar;

3) reading.

Regarding the former, I invite and encourage my students not to use a vocabulary. Furthermore, I tend to avoid speaking English as much as possible. This allows students to build an expanded vocabulary, to improve their listening skills and build up their confidence in speaking.