Laura

I am a British Council trained and employed, University of Cambridge ESOL qualified English examination teacher of exceptional experience with a postgraduate qualification (with Distinction) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I work in Academic Management in a highly regarded private Language School in Brighton.

My area of expertise in the English Language and my background of teaching it as an additional language gives me a fresh and unique approach to teaching it to those for whom it is a first language but may require extra support and guidance. The National Curriculum is robust in its expectations of language awareness and competence and this is incorporated rigorously in SATs from Key Stage 1 upwards. Grammatical knowledge, vocabulary awareness and a strong command of English is a requisite of the educational process.

Tutoring Experience

Students thrive in my classes. I find the rigour and expectation of examination classes ((IELTS, Cambridge CPE, CAE, FCE, and PET, TOEFL, TOEIC and Trinity GESE) immensely stimulating; students and I react well to the dynamic and driven atmosphere and excellent results have been yielded.

I have been teaching for 11 years in some of the most prestigious language schools in the UK and overseas. I really do enjoy working with students so much and they with me!

Tutoring Approach

I am highly fortunate that my experience has included teaching students from age 7 to over 70! I enjoy the variety of teaching a broad age range and a broad spectrum of levels of ability. I treat each student as an individual and we maintain an open dialogue about what their learning aims are and how we will set about those being reached. The lessons are bespoke; designed around and focused on each particular student.

If the lessons are to be exam-focused, then the materials employed will be designed to complement the syllabus of the particular exam and its specific objectives and requirements. I utilise a variety of texts: written, audio, visual and digital and strive to maximise authentic material to stimulate and motivate students. I have a particular interest in digital materials, which has proved to be timely; creativity, innovation and progression in learning does not need to be stymied with the advent of total online learning; it can and should be used to enhance it.

I work carefully to establish a student’s needs through diagnostic tests and offer consistent and constructive feedback throughout the learning process. I strongly believe that a student should be able to immediately use the language and skills learned in our classes in the real world, so each lesson is relevant and focused towards delivering fluency, competence and confidence in their language learning. Students see real results in all areas - fast!