Alicia

I am a fully qualified, excellent Spanish "native speaker' teacher with 23 years of experience teaching KS4, and KS5 through to university level Spanish including GCSE, A-level, IB, Advanced Placement (US system), helping university students, and also preparing students for their Oxford entry exam - Spanish degree. My latest student was offered a place in Jan 2020.

Also AQA Examiner with credentials. AQA has accredited me as an Approved Examiner, highlighting the following skills: Clear communication, able to work under pressure, organised, meets deadlines, able team work, ability to apply a mark scheme, IT competent, attention to detail. Please ask me for my Certificate.

Being a GCSE Speaking Spanish Examiner helps me to know with precision what my students need to learn with view to achieve good grades in their exams. A couple of years ago I was also nominated and selected to examine GCE A Level Spanish.

My students from 2023/2024 have achieved 9 & 8 in their GCSE exams, I am delighted!!

Having dynamism, warmth, dedication and commitment makes me an ideal teacher/tutor who strives to inspire students to be motivated learners as well as to achieve excellent results in Spanish. My passion for the language and culture as well as to see young people thrive and achieve their full potential helps greatly.

Needless to say, I am delighted that a good number of my tutees have achieved A* on their A levels, and 9 on their GCSE this year 2023.

Tutoring Experience

For sixteen years I taught in a wide range of schools, independent and state, as well as at higher education level, including at Warwick University. I have been Head of Spanish and have an excellent knowledge of a range of exam boards.

My teaching is student-centred, aimed to meet the needs of each individual learner, and uses techniques that work and achieve results. I vary my activities in order to suit a variety of learning needs and styles.

My previous qualifications such as law degree, International Relations and Masters of Laws help me to teach the A level syllabus as it includes a significant amount of politics and history such as the Spanish Civil War, current political situations in the Spanish world.

For the last five and a half years I am dedicated to private tuition as well as being an Examiner. I am really glad to say that most of my students have achieved successful results in both their GCSE and A level exams.

I am delighted to say that my last cohort of GCSE students achieved 9 most of them, a couple got 7s. In A level, two students achieved A*s in 2021. In 2022 one student has achieved an A*, I am quoting his mother's " I just wanted to drop you a quick email to let you know that xxxx got an A* in his Spanish A Level!. We are all so pleased! Thank you so much for the vital part you have played in this- you have been amazing! Thank you again so much! You are a fabulous teacher!

Another one who had been predicted a C managed to achieve a B (quite close to an A), I am delighted to say that students both have been accepted to their first choice universities.

Tutoring Approach

My students considered me a nurturing, dedicated tutor who meets the individual learning needs of each student.

Firstly, my approach is to assess the student's level, and to establish clearly what they want to accomplish, and what is required to achieve their aims. Only then I proceed to start working with the student to fill gaps in their knowledge, improve areas of weakness and stretch them to achieve their full potential. Needless to say, that each lesson is lesson tailor- made to the individual needs of the student.

Currently I only teach via SKYPE. Parents will invite me usually via their own accounts.

Once we have started the lessons/tutorials, the correspondence will be with the parents.

Some students or their parents choose to have tutorials only during their holidays, this is fine with me. We arrange the dates/times which are mutually convenient.