Stephen

I studied French and German at degree level at London University. I lived and worked in Germany before I applied to University.Later on I lived and worked in France teaching English in Paris, in a lycee ( high school) for one year..I won a scholarship while at London University which entitled me to study at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. After graduating I worked in the south of France and on the Italian riviera. I have never lost contact with these two languages and have continued to visit both countries throughout my teaching career. I never tire of these languages and have found them both at different times to be essential, useful, advantageous and, of course, great assets for wider communication with people and access to other cultures. As an experienced world traveller to more than 50 countries, I have found foreign languages to be indispensable.

Tutoring Experience

I have 18 years teaching experience in schools in UK and in France. I trained at Goldsmiths', London University where I completed a post-graduate certificate of education. My B.A (with honours) is in French and German. I taught in Tower Hamlets where I held the position of second in charge of modern foreign languages. I retained this position for 10 years after which I sought promotion in the borough of Enfield as head of languages. I have also taught in the boroughs of Redbridge and Greenwich.

Tutoring Approach

Although I was trained in Communicative Methodology, I realise that this approach may not suit everyone. Usually, with individual students, I encourage them to tell me what areas they want to work on and from there, I am able to pinpoint other areas which need developing. I am a keen grammarian but know well that many people do not like this approach to language learning. I like it when students actively participate in their learning and tell me what they want to know or understand better. Learning is a complicated process and I do not believe there is a 'one size fits all' method.