Information About Rosalind Sara - Potters Bar teacher

Personal Description:

Hi. I was born and bred in the UK and developed a love for Spanish thanks to an inspiring teacher and a teaching method which focused solely on speaking and listening for the first 6 months. This led me to do a degree in Spanish, which included a year abroad in Seville, Spain. When I finished my degree I returned to Seville where I lived for about 14 years. I worked as a teacher of English and as a translator for the Department of Education and Science. My 2 children were both born there too. Family circumstances brought me back to the UK where I studied a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting, specialising in translating and interpreting in health and law enforcement settings.

Teaching Experience:

Whilst working freelance as a translator and interpreter I have also been working for over 20 years as the Spanish Language Assistant in a successful, oversubscribed 6th form college in North London where I teach small groups and individuals the speaking element of the A level Spanish course, although I am also involved in the other parts of the curriculum on a more informal and ad hoc basis, as and when required by the other Spanish teachers.
Alongside all this, I tutor individuals from home or via Skype/Zoom - this could be for beginners, holiday Spanish or in a more informal setting for GCSE or A level students.

Teaching Approach:

From my own experience of language learning, feeling at ease when speaking is paramount. My approach is therefore for the student to speak from the word go and to slowly build up their confidence and understanding of the language. Attention to detail is of course essential too, and having worked in a formal college setting I have had plenty of experience in combining these 2 aspects of language learning.
I am very friendly, non judgemental and I build up a good rapport with all my students. Some students have said that it makes them feel more at ease knowing that I have learned in the same way as they have, rather than being a native Spanish speaker who may not quite understand how to properly explain the nuances of the language in English, if necessary. Of course, I aim to speak in Spanish the whole time, but some students need to be 100% sure that what they have understood is correct.
If required I will set homework, but I will be led by the students in terms of content, pace and and frequency of lessons.