Maria

Spanish native private tutor from Madrid, Spain, living in Horsham since July 2009. I really enjoy teaching my language to anyone who is interested in learning it.

Tutoring Experience

Private tuition "face-to-face" lessons for over ten years in the United Kingdom.

I have also been doing online tutoring with GCSE, A Level and university students for 4+ years using platforms such as Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom and FaceTime. We only need access to a computer, phone or tablet and some good headphones to improve the sound.

Tutoring Approach

I speak Spanish with learners since the first class. Spanish material specially designed for speakers of other languages, both children (KS3, KS4) and young adults (KS5, University), both intermediate and advanced levels. Specific courses for learners, depending on what they want to learn. Highly experienced in GCSE, IGCSE, A level and IB tutoring across all exam boards.

In March 2020, I thought it was necessary to be ready to move from face-to-face to online lessons, trying to disrupt as little as possible the learning of my students. In order to achieve this I started uploading lessons to a "Classroom" type of platform for intermediate and advanced levels and abilities.

Some of you may know about this application and it is quite easy to use (although we can still rely on good old email); it is extremely helpful when it comes to set homework. With this in mind, lessons are assigned according to levels, and I give access to them individually. Most of the files are editable and students also have access to audio-files to practise listening comprehension.

If you choose online tuition, lessons on this "Classroom" are combined with weekly video face-to-face lessons where we are able not only to discuss different aspects of the student's work or grammar difficulties they might have, but also practise the speaking aspect of the language (role-plays, photo cards and general conversation according to level). The same applies, of course, to in-person tuition.

Please be assured this is not new to me, I have been doing online tutoring with university students for over 4 years using platforms such as Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom and FaceTime. We only need access to a computer, phone or tablet and some good headphones to improve the sound.

For this scheme of work to go ahead, students would have to open an email account. Otherwise, they would not be able to access lessons with exercises or grammar content in the "Classroom" platform. I have opted for this particular one because I am more familiar with and I am capable of revising my students' work and give feedback online more quickly. Once again, the same applies to in-person tuition.