I enjoy working with people of all ages even though most of my experience teaching in a classroom environment has been with children between the ages of 2 and 17.
I am skilled at bringing out the best in children (and adults too) and am dedicated to creating a positive learning environment, as I believe it's the key to success!
I'm a qualified TEFL teacher and taught English as a foreign language abroad for over 10 years, at Berlitz language camps so I have a lot of experience in making learning fun!
Additionally, I have worked on a one-to-one basis with adults and children alike, with great success, both online and in person.
I've been speaking and learning French and German for 25 years and studied both at University level (I have a French BA from the University of Leeds).
I lived in Germany for 6 years and travelled there for a couple of months every year for another 5 years. My German is close to a native speaker's and I have often been mistaken for a German by various Germans!
Pronunciation is very important to me, and something which I believe can be learnt! I also lived in Martinique for a year and keep up my conversation skills talking to French friends regularly. As a result I have a love and a very good understanding of both cultures, which I am very motivated to convey!
As a lifelong language learner, I am also aware of the difficulties and best methods for learning a language well, including memorisation techniques for learning vocabulary.
My preferred method for language learning (and a huge part of my work over the years) is conversation, however I use engaging reading, writing and listening activities, including authentic resources in your chosen language.
I am a proficient musician, writing and performing my own songs on guitar, piano and ukulele. I've been playing piano since I was 5 and play in my own style (I've been compared to Ludovico Einaudi and Tori Amos - real compliments!)
I have been classically trained, up to grade 5, (currently working on my grade 8) and can read music, but what I most love is playing by ear and creating songs.
I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years and perform a lot of fingerpicking, acoustic style songs, influenced by folk and indie music. Over the years I have taught R.E.M., Oasis, the Beatles, James Blunt, Tracy Chapman, the Pixies. Ed Sheeran, Wilbur Soot and Coldplay- but really we can learn whatever you'd like to play!
I can also take you through the basics with rock guitar too - in the last few years I’ve been playing electric guitar and bass.
So if rock guitar is more your thing, I’m happy to start you off with some ACDC, Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Arctic Monkeys, the Wombats or anything else you'd like!
I love ukulele, and have arranged various pop tunes with this instrument. It's a great beginner instrument but also has its own charm (think Riptide by Vance joy).
I love music and believe in learning in a relaxed, fun way. Practice shouldn’t feel like a chore and helping people to learn by playing their favourite songs stops this from happening.
