Elizabeth

I am a fully-qualified (retired) teacher with over twenty-five years' teaching experience. I have taught French (to ‘A’ level - language and literature), English (from 11+ to KS3 and GCSE) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in the UK and overseas. I am bi-lingual (French/English). In EFL, I have taught examination classes (IELTS, Cambridge examinations - CAE, FCE, KET, PET), General English courses as well as English for Academic purposes and English for Business purposes. I teach all four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) or I can focus on individual skills only (for example, to improve speaking I can offer conversation classes or telephone English. etc.,). I have also taught mainstream English to KS2, KS3 and GCSE (AQA) as well as IGCSE. I have, in the last five years, been tutoring primary (eight years and above) children in English and for the 11+ examination. I took a break over the COVID years. When I teach French, I communicate in the target language whenever possible thus maximising my students' exposure to the language and as I have no accent when I speak, students can benefit from hearing genuine, standard French. I have been a Director of Studies, where I was responsible for UCAS applications for university entrance, so I could also assist students with their writing of personal statements.
More recently, and for roughly the last five years, I have also been heavily involved in tutoring pupils for the 11+ examination in English (CEM and GL) and parents often recommend me to each other, as they are always very pleased with my approach, manner, reliability and ability to motivate my students.
I have a warm personality, a good-humoured outlook and I am patient and kind. I enjoy teaching and many of my students have thanked me for their later success in the subjects I offer. I provide tailored support to my students by identifying and working to their learning requirements and abilities but I also strongly believe that all children should be pushed beyond their comfort zones. I believe students can and will succeed on condition that they work well and systematically. For my part, I set high standards for myself and my students and at the same time always strive to bolster my students' morale and confidence.

Tutoring Experience

I have taught in the UK (independent schools, state schools and sixth form colleges) and overseas (Portugal, Sultanate of Oman, Denmark, France). Throughout my career, I have taught all abilities and levels - from beginners to advanced level students and to a varied age range (from late primary to adults) as well as students of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. I have held positions of responsibility as; Head of Department, Senior Tutor and Director of Careers whilst never relinquishing classroom teaching. I have also taught on summer courses and on a one-to-one basis. In Portugal I taught general English to youngsters (9 - 14 years of age), in Denmark I taught English for specific purposes in a pharmaceutical company to a mixed class of Danish scientists and general workers, in the Sultanate of Oman, I worked in an Omani language school teaching Omani adults (non-alphabet beginners through to upper-intermediate) general English. In France, I taught conversation English to French teenagers, focusing on aspects of grammar, too.

Tutoring Approach

It is well known that success has a very important effect on motivation, so my approach is to help my students succeed, first in small ways and then in more significant ones so that their motivation and confidence increase. Whenever possible I try to personalise the students' learning by choosing topics that interest them or by relating the work they bring to me to their interests so that it becomes more meaningful to them and therefore more memorable. I offer study tips and suggestions for improving examination technique. I enjoy using a variety of texts (including literature) to expand language awareness and I employ a variety of teaching methods and activities to maintain interest. I ensure high quality assessment (if required) and feedback on marked work. I coach revision skills if needed and can offer suggestions for further study and effective time management. I take a lot of pride in my work and I am well-organised and adaptable. I am thoroughly professional and respectful of all my students.