Isabella

I am a modern language graduate from the University of Birmingham and now currently studying for an MA in European studies (German pathway) at King’s College London. I love languages because of the opportunities they open up in terms of travelling, work and meeting new people. Being able to engage with the culture and history of a country in its native language can really enhance one's understanding of it and I believe the opportunity to make international friendships is very beneficial and important in our modern world.

Tutoring Experience

During my A levels I volunteered as a classroom support worker in a year 7 Spanish class at my school and for work experience i worked at the Salvator Katholische Schule in Berlin teaching English to beginners and I also accepted an invitation to teach two classes to advanced students. During my time at university I volunteered each week with the charity STAR, teaching conversational English to asylum seekers in the local area. In the summer of 2024 I was able to teach English for three weeks to children in Germany and Italy, having completed my TEFL qualification whilst on my year abroad. These combined experiences emphasises the need for enthusiasm, communication and patience with language learning, and it was interesting to compare the attitudes towards language teaching and learning in Germany and England.

Tutoring Approach

Despite the undeniable benefits that come with being able to speak another language, I understand the challenges that many, including myself, face, whether that be in confidence with speaking or overcoming grammatical difficulties, to name just two! One-to-one sessions can be extremely beneficial in gaining more confidence in communication and asking questions that one is too afraid or doesn't have the time to ask in class, as well as it being dedicated time to language learning. I am able to empathise with students and would love to nurture a deeper interest for languages in students and support them, whether this be with translation practice, homework help, conversation practice, vocabulary games...