Alessandro

Hello! My name is Alessandro and I’m a teaching assistant in a specialist secondary school in Sheffield. As part of my job, I support students in their academic and personal development, providing one-on-one assistance to help them understand, pursue and achieve learning objectives.

I hold a BA in Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies focused on English and Spanish, which prepared me for a career in language teaching. As part of my degree, I explored many topics in linguistics (from pragmatics to historical linguistics) which I find crucial in providing a full picture of language use and effective communication.

I also completed a MA in Intercultural Communication and International Development at the University of Sheffield, obtained with distinction. As part of the degree, I further explored topics related to languages and communication while collaborating with NGOs and research institutes on real-life socio-cultural areas such as education and environmental preservation.

During my studies, I tutored students in foreign languages (English and Italian) on a one-on-one or small group basis. My knowledge of linguistics, alongside my own experiences in learning foreign languages, provides invaluable insight into teaching a language in a clear, useful and simple way.

Tutoring Experience

SEN Teaching Assistant
I support students with special educational needs in a variety of subjects, from English and maths to science and humanities. Working as a TA allows me to hone my tutoring skills and create a calm and conducive environment in which students feel understood and motivated. My university degrees provide extensive knowledge in many subjects (from humanities to social sciences) as well as academic writing and comprehension.

Italian language tutor
I volunteered as an Italian language tutor during my studies at the University of Leeds, participating in weekly sessions with university students enrolled in Italian language degrees. Through one-on-one and small group sessions, I was able to provide tailored learning activities that stimulated and challenged the students, while integrating with their course curriculum. Activities included role plays, vocabulary exploration, academic writing support and real-life conversation topics.

English as a second language teacher
I have years of experience in teaching English as a second language in different settings and at various levels. This ranges from working in secondary schools in Thailand to tutoring students and adults in Italy. My studies in English linguistics and dialectology provide extensive insight into the language and its pragmatic functions, putting boring grammar lessons in the background.

Tutoring Approach

My tutoring approach varies for each individual. Working as a specialist teaching assistant, I understand the importance of assessing the needs and expectations of each student and providing a long-term plan tailored to their learning. Patience, empathy and creativity are skills I use daily at school, which are crucial in creating a calm and pleasant learning environment.

Clear communication with each student, from expectations to mutual feedback, is also crucial in effective tutoring. In language learning, I employ many activities, including reading comprehension, mock conversations and role play, writing and textual analysis, phonics and listening exercises. Depending on your interests and learning preferences, I could also suggest song or video comprehension, translation tasks or discussions on your interests.