Information About Tracey - Hampstead teacher

Personal Description:

Are you thinking about preparation for GCSE/A-level? Or simply wanting to get by in another language? I can help you.

Fully DBS checked, I have held Qualified Teacher Status for nearly 30 years and have long experience teaching French and Spanish, both as a classroom teacher and, more recently, as a private tutor (KS3, GCSE, A-level and adult).

Having lived and worked in France for several years and with friends and relatives in France Spain and South America, I can offer excellent linguistic knowledge together with awareness of the potential difficulties inherent in learning another language (and ways of overcoming them).

I also mark examinations at a senior level and have done so for several years. This means I have an excellent awareness of the requirements of both existing and upcoming exam specifications, enabling me to optimise the performance of candidates.

Teaching Experience:

I have over 20 years' experience teaching French and Spanish in secondary schools to a range of ages and abilities, from the committed linguist to the "I just want to pass the exam" candidate.

A few years ago, I moved into private tuition/exam preparation for young people and evening/conversation classes for adults ranging from complete beginners to more advanced speakers.

I recently also moved into teaching English as a foreign language to French students.

Teaching Approach:

Language is all about communication and my intention is to give students the tools they need both to express themselves and to understand others.

So much depends on the initial level of the student but usually I focus first on getting the basics right - the key verbs and vocab that will help someone to get by on a fundamental level in a variety of situations. Once these basic building blocks are securely in place, we can expand and develop skills through exposure to more sophisticated material and dialogue.

My aim is always for my students to be able to express themselves as they wish rather than being limited by memorised words and phrases - to control the language rather than being controlled by it. I have infinite patience and (usually!) a sense of humour, and I will do my utmost to make language learning a pleasure not a chore.

In my experience, it's best before tuition begins to have a chat (phone call or email) to explore exactly what my clients are hoping to get from my involvement so the lessons I plan can be effectively tailored to their needs.