Languages
Services
Actively tutoring in Romance languages (French, Spanish and Italian) (CE, GCSE, A levels) to University level (excellent results). I also offer academic support in the Humanities (History, Linguistics, English) and Social Sciences at University level. Oxbridge preparation for modern languages (Spanish, Portuguese and French). I have tutored successful applicants for SAT2 (Spanish and French) for admission to American Universities. Tutees are returners (from GCSE to University Master's level).
I tutor at the student's house in London and via webcam.
I have taught all ages and levels, as well as multi-level classes (as it was the case at the higher education establishments in France and Poland). I offer exam preparation for 11+ or 13+ (mainly French and Latin) and this help extends to students at university with their degree language modules, in particular linguistics. I have taught EFL classes in Buenos Aires (1980-1981), Oxford and Reading (1982-1988) My ambition is to inspire students not only to succeed but to want to take their linguistic knowledge and skills to the next academic level and excel as scholars at university or in their chosen profession.
Since 1980, I have taught students from : Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (England & Scotland), United States, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen.
Spanish
I'm a native Spanish speaker with academic credentials, focusing only on the scholarly aspect of the language. If your interest is only "vacation Spanish" perhaps I am not the right tutor for you. I can also offer you excellent research skills, both in English and Spanish (and other Romance languages) for you to see beyond your school work, and venture afield both intellectually and linguistically.
French
I studied at Aix-en-Provence (Université de Marseille III at that time) and did my year abroad dissertation on French Liaison (pas dangereuses, but of the phonological kind). I worked in Paris and Lyon, and carried on with French (Research assistant at a uni) and will do so all my life. I "get" French (and the French), which doesn't happen with other cognates.
Linguistics
I am well qualified in linguistics (BA and MPhil from UCL) but what you are being taught called "linguistics" might not be what we were taught. Sometimes it's applied linguistics (or a text analysis) sometimes it's a ride towards hell that I am not able to engage with. You will know by looking at the material (I do not want to do logics ever). However, women and language, and principles of phonetics and syntax, deserve close attention.
Latin (for beginners !)
I did Latin twice in my life: at Aix and at the Warburg. My Common Entrance pupils have all passed, so I can help you (via Minimus perhaps !) with CE and revision (and we can read about Caecilius and Clemens elsewhere). If you have Latin, Italian comes along quite easily.
Italian
I studied Italian as part of my linguistics course at Reading, (after my A level in Italian). Later on at UCL, Italian came in handy for research, a job as the Italian librarian at UCL, and for research for my thesis on clitic pronouns. My family come from Torino (grandparents).
German
Exchange postgraduate student (Univ. of London- Berlin FUB) "back in the day". There's more to German than Second World War - there's Marlene Dietrich and Nina Hagen. I can help you up to IGCSE, or for grammar practice, or if you need help with Art, Cinema or History essays.
Portuguese
I'm putting together a bibliography on Lusophone Studies for a Russell Group University and after having done an A level in Portuguese, I can help you with your Pessoa, Coelho (easy !) and lesser mortals. Help with Brazilian Portuguese offered. For reading and editing, I am comfortable with Iberian Portuguese. If you want to do something interesting with the writings of Clarice Lispector, for example for feminist/Brazilian studies, I think I can help.
