Nina

I am a dedicated and enthusiastic English tutor with over 7 years of experience in tutoring English Language and Literature from primary to graduate level. My life-long passion for languages and academia has led to me achieve my MA in English Literature as well as my degree in English Literature with French. I have always been drawn to sharing my love for the written word in order to help others to succeed and this is best reflected in my students' rise in confidence and grades. Having attained the Cambridge certified CELTA, I have also gained an array of teaching methods and resources for speakers of other languages.

Tutoring Experience

My adult tutees typically come from overseas and are keen to learn the language in order to communicate with confidence and ease in their day-to-day lives, particularly in the working world.

For my younger students, I create fun ways to learn French as a new language or I provide enjoyable speaking, listening, reading and writing exercises to improve their confidence in English as well as their grades at school.

For my secondary school students, including those at GCSE level, I tailor-make the lessons to match the curriculum and adapt my approach according to their personal learning styles. I have been teaching English language and literature to students between KS1 and GCSE level in small group sessions at tuition centres as well as privately for over 6 years and have yielded excellent results.

For A-Level and Graduate students I ensure to familiarise myself with the reading material and the exam board in advance. I encourage creatives to think outside of the box while maintaining the required structure of academic writing, allowing them to formulate their ideas in a coherent manner. My focus lies in teaching them techniques to build essential essay-writing skills while improving their ability to analyse and interpret texts.

These students in further education really benefit from receiving in-depth feedback and having a fresh pair of eyes read through their written work thoroughly, especially as deadlines approach and assignments are due. This essay-editing service is available across all subjects as it includes checking and making changes for the following: consistency, grammar, syntax, structure, flow of writing, appropriate usage of advanced vocabulary, and correct use of tenses.

Before beginning a course of lessons, I offer a free consultation hour which helps me to fully understand and assess the needs of each student. Enhanced DBS checked.

Tutoring Approach

I have a welcoming, friendly and patient demeanour. I believe the first step to learning, (languages in particular), is to feel comfortable and confident. Speaking and writing are two powerful forms of expression and I will always strive to make my students feel confident enough to express themselves, knowing that this confidence extends to all facets of their life. The student needs to feel safe, comfortable and supported (I find this particularly important for children, but still essential for adults). The first lesson is a complimentary consultation in which I assess the student's current level of literacy and discover the student's/parent's aims. Knowing what level they hope to reach within a given timeframe helps me to guide and motivate myself as well as the student.

Above all, I believe that learning through enjoyment is fundamental to growth. Grasping a new language or improving the way that we use our language can be a powerful and creative tool that we carry for life, into both professional and personal relationships. I will always aim to broaden my students' understanding of texts, encourage their creativity with vocabulary, and improve their fluency when speaking, listening, reading and writing.