Ryan

Nice to meet you! My name is Ryan and I am passionate about languages and culture. I currently work as a booking agent for clients in Europe helping to build their careers at some of the leading arts venues around. I use German, Italian and French for work, with German the language I use most often besides English. I am a British citizen with English as mother tongue.

Tutoring Experience

I studied French and German at university for four years covering topics such as the Enlightenment, the two World Wars, translation, die deutschsprachige Presse (German-speaking press), Wirtschaftsdeutsch (business German) and the development of the French novel between the eighteenth and twenty-first century. I have some previous experience of teaching German at A-level and experience of delivering craft workshops as a volunteer for vulnerable young children.

Tutoring Approach

What I find helps for language acquisition is to immerse yourself fully in that language using a variety of media. My default approach would be a lesson half comprising grammar and half cultural history, so that you can get a feel for the language whilst learning the basics. We could be reading and discussing news articles, watching film excerpts, playing some games or deciphering a song's lyrics! You might already know how you learn best, which means my approach can be tailored to your needs (because everyone learns differently). I am happy to do intensive sessions (when time is important) or slow, focused sessions covering maybe one aspect of the grammar. Your input is valued and I encourage you to ask questions when you are unsure of something! I hope that from my tutoring you will come away feeling more confident of the grammar and holding a conversation. I know how difficult it is to learn a language, so expect plenty of patience and encouragement from me who wants to see you succeed.

If you are already a speaker of English but looking for a language/literature tutor to revise for exams, I can offer my services here as well. Sessions would follow the current syllabus and cater to those wanting to develop their critical thinking and essay writing skills.