Information About Barbara - Hove teacher

Personal Description:

I'm Barbara, dual nationality Italian / English and I can therefore offer lessons in both languages.
I also speak a little French and Spanish.
Prior to language teaching I worked for many years in the HR department of a large corporate multinational company based in the UK. So I can also help with CV preparation if you're looking for a job, and can help you improve your general and/or business English.

Teaching Experience:

I hold the TESOL Certificate from Trinity College; my teaching experience has been varied over 12 years. I have planned and delivered lessons to very young children, and to people in their retirement years! Some of this has been aimed at groups in a classroom setting, but these days I focus on individual one-to-one lessons.

Italian: Beginner through to Intermedia**Contact Detail Removed**vel focussing on conversational Italian.
English: Beginner through to Advanced, for both conversational and business English.

Teaching Approach:

We are all different so I would ask you what is your motivation for the language, and how you like to learn. I can then create and offer resources relevant to you and your learning. I aim to make the lessons interesting, engaging and fun!
Learning a new language is challenging, I know this from experience! I can support you by creating a safe learning environment, and guiding you in your progress.

Lessons are offered online (Zoom) they are practical and interactive. For example, we can share a whiteboard and online resources. So you can learn from the comfort of your home or office and save on valuable travelling time. You don't need to have a Zoom account, or any specific technical knowledge, you just need access to the internet. And of course, a desire to learn the language!

Here's what my students say about me:

Stephen: Barbara is wonderful! Best language teacher I've ever worked with. Incredibly well organised, professional, supportive and inspiring. Would have no hesitation in recommending her for Italian. She has a friendly, kind and encouraging approach, she really knows her stuff, and keeps really close track of progress (regular lesson plans, a clear programme of study, etc) which I find very reassuring and allows me to just focus on my enjoyment of the language. I'm a middle-aged man, so coming to a new language later in life hasn't been easy, but Barbara has made it feel like a genuinely rewarding and life enhancing experience. Thank you.

Andrew: Barbara is an excellent teacher, kind, caring and engaged with her students progress. She provides clear lesson plans and guidance on how to improve, reading writing and speaking Italian as well as encouraging a wider engagement with Italian culture, I cannot recommend her more highly.

Anne: I have been learning with Barbara for over ten years and I look forward to each lesson. She prepares with care and she tailors the lessons to be topical, relevant and interesting. She doesn’t criticise mistakes and is encouraging. I would certainly recommend her!

Julie: I really enjoy my lessons with Barbara. She always has a way of explaining the complexities of the Italian language in an accessible and informed way whilst making learning enjoyable at the same time. I like that she understands that people learn in different ways and that I am able to go at the pace that suits me, which in the long run allows me to progress at my own speed. She is always encouraging and very patient but at the same time she will not hesitate to correct me and ensures that I don’t get into bad habits with the grammar or with the speaking of Italian.