Erika

With a mother from the German speaking part of Switzerland, I had a love of languages, communicating with others, different cultures and travel from the get go! I spent the third year of university studying in France and Germany. I have travelled widely in Europe, North Africa, Asia and New Zealand and lived in Australia. I love to be outdoors walking and cycling. Indoors I enjoy watching films, singing and weaving.

Tutoring Experience

I am a qualified and highly experienced French and German teacher with a BA (Hons) in European studies (French and German) from UKC and a PGCE in French, German and Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL) from the University of Bristol.

My first teaching experience was TEFL at the Oxford Intensive School of English in Bristol. I then devoted 15 years teaching KS3, KS4 (GCSE) and A Level French and German in Bristol and surrounding area. I taught the full ability range from those with learning difficulties to those who sailed through. Many of my students achieved top grades at GCSE and A Level and continued on to A Level and university. One picked up from a predicted F and achieved a C which meant he could go to sixth form and another became a languages Head of Department.

I now work as a tutor from my home in South Bristol providing ongoing support at KS3 and exam preparation at KS4 and A Level. I also offer conversation to adults who are keen to keep up and improve their French and German for leisure purposes and English for non-native speakers.

Tutoring Approach

My teaching style is calm, clear and encouraging with a healthy dose of humour! I am patient but firm and thoroughly enjoy helping students progress. My many years of experience mean that I can hone in on strengths and difficulties, pace tutoring to individual students and learning styles. I target ongoing support with a variety of resources in the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. For exam preparation I use structured revision guides and past papers.

I am a caring person and so trained and worked as a school counsellor and now teach a wellbeing course called Cultivating Emotional Balance. This means I am practised at helping build self-esteem which makes for a more confident learner.