Tracey

I am a graduate in Italian from UCL and Renaissance Studies from University of London and have a PGCE.
I am happy to teach at all levels, including GCSE, A’Level and IB, (I hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate). I welcome enquiries from absolute beginners of Italian.
As a native speaker of English I learnt Italian from scratch so have a genuine understanding of what it is to learn a new language - beginning with the alphabet and moving forward. I chose Italian because it has a beautiful, rhythmic sound that I find both engaging and energetic. Having mastered 'the basics' I went to live and study in Italy to consolidate my language skills. I became so hooked on ‘things Italian’ that I decided to return to the UK and embark on a degree in Italian, which I completed at University College London. Living in Italy and studying Italian language, history, art, culture and society led me to undertake a Masters degree in Renaissance Studies as a next natural step, which I completed at the University of London. My career path saw me working in travel, especially itineraries with Art, Music, Dance and Historical associations. When people ask me ‘why Italian?’ I flippantly reply ‘so that I don’t need to read the surtitles when I am at the opera’!

Tutoring Experience

In order to teach Italian I completed my PGCE whilst teaching at Adult Education.
At secondary level I have experience teaching Italian at GCSE and A’Level, as well as on the IB Programme. In those instances the lessons can be student led according to their requirements to support and expand upon classroom learning to secure their language skills and attain the examination grades they deserve.

I hold a TEFL qualification, which I found especially useful whilst living and studying in Italy as I tutored Italian students in English language and helped them with their English Literature comprehension. Both required detailed explanation of the English language and its meaning and application, delivered in Italian! It was a useful, reciprocal arrangement and I believe I gained as much from the experience as the learners.

Tutoring Approach

I am confident that I convey my enthusiasm for Italy and its beautiful language in a relaxed, no-pressure way when I am teaching. My own experience learning the language as a non-native speaker, I believe, permits me the opportunity to discuss, dissect and really explore grammar and vocabulary, alongside language structure and function to learners. As I had to learn it myself, I appreciate that ‘things’ can get tricky sometimes. Whilst I am happy to prepare learners for examinations, I believe it is more important that learners are able to enjoy the whole learning journey to arrive at the point where they have the confidence and necessary skills to communicate effectively in Italian.

As I have lived and worked in Italy I particularly enjoy sharing my experiences and like to use current newsworthy items to present vocabulary and grammar, thus making sessions educational, interesting, engaging and relevant.

With a ‘let’s start at the very beginning’ approach I am able to ascertain what each learner is comfortable to attempt and what the final intended outcome is. I respect that every learner is unique and has a personal motive for wanting to learn Italian. Once I know that, whilst grammar and verbs are central to success, I create lessons that ensure language learning does not become a chore. I have a wide range of resources and lots of patience. Individual tutoring permits the luxury of taking time to explain thoroughly. I am happy to share resources in advance of lessons if learners want to ‘have a go’ before we meet.

It is a mutually satisfying experience when a learner grasps a language point or grammar structure that had been evading them. I am determined that learners gain the confidence to ‘have a go’ and that I am able to instil a positive ‘can do’ attitude and approach during our sessions. I ask learners to leave any shyness at the door. A language is living and needs to be spoken. During lessons it is important to maintain a relaxed atmosphere, underpinned with a sense of fun. Ultimately, in order to learn a language successfully, I believe it needs to be an enjoyable experience – for the learner, and for the tutor too.