About the lessons and me
Students join and stick with my lessons because they learn languages faster with people they like. We take interesting, relevant topics that are immediately usable, in their education, work or social life. Participants give their brain a workout, form lasting friendships and surprise themselves on how much they can recall. Exam students achieve higher grades and others indulge in a hobby suitable for all ages and abilities.
Having grown up between the UK and France, I also have lived for extended periods in Spain and Germany. Please see the individual language sections for more info.
I completed my PGCE training in modern languages teaching in 2008 and worked in prestigious secondary schools, like Tiffin Girls and Caterham school, where I taught French, Spanish and German up to A-level. Later I moved to part-time in schools and part-time tutoring. Then, when tutoring quickly became extremely popular, I decided to dedicate all my time to my private one to one and group language students.
I’m lucky enough to have a profession which I absolutely adore (no exaggeration)! My students and my family call me a workaholic, but there is nothing more rewarding than helping people improve their language skills and enjoy speaking a second language.
I was born in France and have spent many years living in France. I love discussing everything about French language, culture and attitudes and how they compare to British.
I was awarded a French scholarship at Oxford University, where I also studied Spanish and German, before doing a PGCE in Languages.
I’ve always spoken to my seven year old twins exclusively in French and their spoken French is as good as their English. We are a very French household and my daughters insist on making Galettes des rois long after January.
I’m often asked if it’s too late to learn a language and the answer is never! I run friendly French conversation groups everyday, from intermediate to advanced levels, where at least half of participants are (semi) retired, and that makes for fascinating and animated discussions.
I also have several private French students, either starting from beginner or pre-intermediate or looking to focus more on writing or grammar.
Fun fact: My middle name – also the name of my paternal Grandmother – is Suzette, as in the crêpe!
I read Spanish at Oxford University alongside French and German, and as a secondary school teacher I found it to be the most popular languagea choice at GCSE and A-Level. No one can deny that Spanish is sexy!
I now have three regular Spanish groups from complete beginner to upper intermediate.
Since visiting couples in Venezuela, I fell in love with Latin American music and dance. And at Oxford, I ran the salsa society and performance team.
Fun fact: I learnt to dance flamenco in Spanish and had a novel (non violent!) way of instantly achieving silence in the classroom with my flamenco shoes
My maternal granddad was a German Jew. Since his German nationality was taken away, he and his family have recently regained German nationality.
I have always felt an affinity with Germany. Both my maternal grandparents spoke German and I spent a year living in Berlin, whilst studying German, alongside French and Spanish at Oxford University.
My German students have ranged from 12 to 84, with everything ranigng through GCSE to A-Level and beyond.
Fun fact: My daughters like to exploit their German roots by trying to come up with the longest German word (no mean feat) and making Lebkuchenmann (which we promptly converted to a Lebkuchenfrau – a Gingerbread WOman!)
Since taking a course to teach English as a foreign language 20 years ago, I’ve taught students with very different levels and nationalities, both in the UK and abroad.
Unlike many English speakers, I speak slowly and clearly. I love discussing English grammar, and I surprise my family when I reach grammar books like novels!
Due to different linguistic backgrounds, English lessons often work best as 1-1 lessons. But I also currently teach English to groups of Peruvian naval officers, here with the navy and their families, and to prestigious professors at a Berlin university.
Thanks to my network, if I cannot fit in a new English student, I can recommend alternative, larger classes.
Fun fact: I met my husband at a charity event, run by a colleague at an English Language school, as we’d both sponsored him to swim the English Channel for Zimbabwe Rural Schools Development Programme. 12 years later, I’m still in his phone as “Adrienne ZRSDP”!
I was born in France and have spent many years living in France. I love discussing everything about French language, culture and attitudes and how they compare to British.
I was awarded a French scholarship at Oxford University, where I also studied Spanish and German, before doing a PGCE in Languages.
I’ve always spoken to my seven year old twins exclusively in French and their spoken French is as good as their English. We are a very French household and my daughters insist on making Galettes des rois long after January.
I’m often asked if it’s too late to learn a language and the answer is never! I run friendly French conversation groups everyday, from intermediate to advanced levels, where at least half of participants are (semi) retired, and that makes for fascinating and animated discussions.
I also have several private French students, either starting from beginner or pre-intermediate or looking to focus more on writing or grammar.
Fun fact: My middle name – also the name of my paternal Grandmother – is Suzette, as in the crêpe!
I read Spanish at Oxford University alongside French and German, and as a secondary school teacher I found it to be the most popular languagea choice at GCSE and A-Level. No one can deny that Spanish is sexy!
I now have three regular Spanish groups from complete beginner to upper intermediate.
Since visiting couples in Venezuela, I fell in love with Latin American music and dance. And at Oxford, I ran the salsa society and performance team.
Fun fact: I learnt to dance flamenco in Spanish and had a novel (non violent!) way of instantly achieving silence in the classroom with my flamenco shoes
My maternal granddad was a German Jew. Since his German nationality was taken away, he and his family have recently regained German nationality.
I have always felt an affinity with Germany. Both my maternal grandparents spoke German and I spent a year living in Berlin, whilst studying German, alongside French and Spanish at Oxford University.
My German students have ranged from 12 to 84, with everything ranigng through GCSE to A-Level and beyond.
Fun fact: My daughters like to exploit their German roots by trying to come up with the longest German word (no mean feat) and making Lebkuchenmann (which we promptly converted to a Lebkuchenfrau – a Gingerbread WOman!)
Since taking a course to teach English as a foreign language 20 years ago, I’ve taught students with very different levels and nationalities, both in the UK and abroad.
Unlike many English speakers, I speak slowly and clearly. I love discussing English grammar, and I surprise my family when I reach grammar books like novels!
Due to different linguistic backgrounds, English lessons often work best as 1-1 lessons. But I also currently teach English to groups of Peruvian naval officers, here with the navy and their families, and to prestigious professors at a Berlin university.
Thanks to my network, if I cannot fit in a new English student, I can recommend alternative, larger classes.
Fun fact: I met my husband at a charity event, run by a colleague at an English Language school, as we’d both sponsored him to swim the English Channel for Zimbabwe Rural Schools Development Programme. 12 years later, I’m still in his phone as “Adrienne ZRSDP”!
About Me
Having grown up between the UK and France, I also have lived for extended periods in Spain and Germany. Please see the individual language sections for more info.
I completed my PGCE training in modern languages teaching in 2008 and worked in prestigious secondary schools, like Tiffin Girls and Caterham school, where I taught French, Spanish and German up to A-level.
Later I moved to part-time in schools and part-time tutoring. Then, when tutoring quickly became extremely popular, I decided to dedicate all my time to my private one to one and group language students.
I’m lucky enough to have a profession which I absolutely adore (no exaggeration)! My students and my family call me a workaholic, but there is nothing more rewarding than helping people improve their language skills and enjoy speaking a second language.
Read
Tutoring Articles & Musings
I can tutor your child and ensure they remain proficient in their core subjects, and enjoy learning along the way. I am a time served and qualified teaching professional, and I‘m ready now to help.
Read
Tutoring Articles & Musings
I can tutor your child and ensure they remain proficient in their core subjects, and enjoy learning along the way. I am a time served and qualified teaching professional, and I‘m ready now to help.
French Pronunciation Guide
é - ay - café è - e - frère h - silent – hôtel consonant – last consonant - silent i - ee – lundi ç - ss –
Which language should I choose at school?
French is sexy. Spanish is exotic. German is a lovely logical puzzle. When deciding on which foreign language to take at school, the choice is not an easy one. Here