Rob

I am a Modern Languages student in my fourth year at the University of Exeter. I have just completed my placement in Italy, teaching English at a secondary school, an experience which I am finding challenging but exciting. Over the last 7 years, I have spent time learning Spanish, Italian and French inside and out of education. Thanks to this, I have learned exactly how to approach the learning of a new language, and the mastering of an old one. I prefer to keep things casual and friendly during lessons, taking a personal interest in my students. I believe this helps them to feel comfortable speaking a language in which they may not be confident, as I know better than anybody how daunting this can often feel.

Tutoring Experience

I recently finished my year working abroad in Italy, teaching English as a foreign language at all levels from A1 to C2. I also ran out of hours teaching sessions both at this school and during my own time at school. Finally, I spent some time volunteering teaching Spanish at a language school in Malaga.

Tutoring Approach

My lessons are malleable and depend largely on the student and what they wish to achieve. For those aiming to ace their GCSE exams, for example, I would mostly focus on precision of grammar for the reading and writing tests. On top of this, I put a large emphasis on free speaking, not being constrained to one topic. It is my belief that once a student learns to express their actual thoughts and feelings, gaining some degree of fluency with the language, exams become significantly easier and less daunting. All of this depends on the personality of the student and their level of Spanish, some may need a more exam-focused syllabus. I have had experience teaching languages to students of all ages and levels, and I have learned how best to tailor my approach thanks to this.