Penelope

Hello, Salut, Hallo, Ciao! I’m Penelope… I'm glad you've stopped by, and I look forward to helping you.

HOW I CAN HELP:

Are you struggling with your language – French, German, Italian, English, or more than one?

Maybe you need help with your GCSE exams. Perhaps you want to boost your knowledge, skills and confidence for a job, a holiday, or just as a hobby. As a language learner myself, I understand the worries that come with language learning and can work with you to help you improve. If you can relate to the following questions, this could be for you.

• Do you get stuck with the GCSE exam questions?

• Do you feel like you don’t have anyone to practise with?

• Would you like to feel comfortable, where you are guided but the lesson goes at your pace?

• Do you struggle to ask for help, or you worry that you might have a really “stupid” question or you’re going to sound “silly”?

I understand the struggle of wanting to improve but you lack confidence or feel embarrassed about mistakes or speaking. I’m here to help you, because I know how how stressful it can be – but it shouldn’t be. I find successful learning means confidence and enjoyment.

I can help you with beginner to intermediate French, German or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), or beginner Italian - through 1:1 online tuition.

ABOUT ME:
As a DBS checked private tutor, I have over 10 years of varied language teaching, and Head of Department, experience. I help build language confidence and knowledge through personalised and student-centred learning.

ADDITIONAL:
Bilingual German.

To read reviews from students, you can visit my website or the 'Languages' section on First Tutors.

For companies who require their staff to learn German / French / Italian / English, I can provide reports on progress as required.

Tutoring Experience

Qualified Modern Languages Teacher & Head of Modern Languages.

Qualifications:
- Degree - French, German, Italian: 2:1, including Distinction.
- PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) in Secondary French and German.
- The TEFL Academy - Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Distinction).

For GCSE exams, I mostly tutor to the AQA exam board, but am also familiar with Edexcel and WJEC.

Tutoring Approach

If you are looking for personalised support that goes beyond conventional learning, I offer a targeted approach focused on goal-setting, adaptable learning plans and personalised feedback. I provide holistic skill development, including resilience-building, along with supportive mentorship, and support with effective revision.

I assist students in progressing to reach their goals, and my approach is to help build language knowledge, independence and confidence through personalised, student-centred tutoring. My style is supportive, collaborative and flexible to help students feel at ease during their sessions.

I encourage speaking in and listening to the target language with me in sessions, depending on the student's level. There will be times however where it may be more time efficient to speak in English, e.g. for discussing understanding, exam technique, explanations, and comparing language to English. to help understand grammar/phonics etc, and do translation. Realistically, as learners at school level may often not know enough of the foreign language to properly express these things, English as well as the target language would be used in sessions.

I can help you be more confident at beginner and functional (/GCSE) level. What does this mean? At beginner level you build strong foundations and learn to understand and answer simple questions based around introducing yourself and other people. Functional level will better prepare you to have everyday spontaneous conversations, in situations like shopping, eating out, getting public transport, making bookings and understanding directions.

HOW TO START:

Something that is really important to understand is that, in reality, these sessions won’t suitable for everyone. Nobody’s sessions will be! Every learner is different and has different preferences.

I therefore provide you with a consultation session to give you the opportunity discuss your needs and to see how I can help you. The consultation is between 20 minutes and 1 hour and is half price. Here we start to get to know each other and I find out about your current language level and your goals. Unless you are an adult learner, I arrange to meet both you and your parent/guardian.

Take a first step and just get in touch. I’m looking forward to helping you learn with confidence!