| Are you a qualified teacher? | Yes. I have a Modern Languages degree in French and German from Oxford University and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from King’s College, London University. |
| How long have you been a teacher? | Nearly thirty years! Between 1991 and the Covid pandemic in 2020, I worked either full or part-time in the English state school system, initially teaching secondary languages until converting to general primary teaching in 2003. I now teach online and have resumed working in school. I currently work part-time in a local primary school. |
| Are you DBS (Disclosure and Barring) checked? | Yes, I have an up-to-date DBS check and an unblemished teaching record. I can provide testimonials from schools and colleagues who know me well. I take children’s online safety seriously and, for safeguarding purposes, I will ask that children’s lessons take place in a shared area of the home. |
| What is your teaching style? | I aim to offer lessons with high challenge / low stress, suited, where possible, to your child’s particular needs. I am interested in the whole child and believe that the best learning takes place when children are relaxed, happy and expectations are clear. I use a range of resources (power points, film clips, websites and games) to deliver lessons and appropriate tasks and activities to engage children’s interest. I am calm, encouraging, tactful and kind. |
| What is a cross-curricular or creative curriculum approach? | This is where subjects are taught under the umbrella of a topic, and it is my preferred way of teaching. For example, writing / reading skills in English can be taught whilst learning about history or science because the writing or reading tasks have real purpose. Similarly, study of a book or history topic can involve art or music. |
| From what age can children learn languages online? | I think Modern Languages are best learnt at an early age, through repetition and exposure to authentic materials, songs and games. Online works well. All children are different, but as a general rule, age 7+ works best. |
| Are you happy to liaise with the class teacher? | Yes, absolutely, if that would be helpful. |
| Do you work at weekends? | Yes. I am very happy working weekends, and it works well for children too. |
| Where do you teach? | I am in England. I can teach anywhere, time zones and internet connections permitting. If in doubt, contact me. |
| Do I have to book a whole course of lessons or can I just book one? | It depends totally on what you want for your child – whether you want to target one issue, or to follow a course or have something in between. Generally, a history or science topic can take between six to twelve lessons, depending on the topic and the child’s progress. |
| Are languages lessons a course? | Language lessons are intended as a course, but you can sign up for a specific amount, and you are welcome to take a break or stop at any time. Contact me for advice/ suggestions. |
| How flexible are you about what you teach? | Very! For me, the first consideration is whether I have the skills for teaching your child what you request. The second is whether I can access high-quality materials. If so, you can be sure I apply the same professionalism to teaching one child online as to teaching a whole class of children in a school. |
| Could you give some examples of this flexibility? | I can be flexible about ages – online pupils have ranged from five to fifty-five via secondary school pupils. I can be flexible about ability – for example, pupils learning German range from a total beginner ten-year-old to near bi-lingual pupils (due to having a German-speaking parent) who, because they live in England, need lessons appropriate for their particular situation. I can be flexible about content – I’ve helped a secondary pupil with English essay skills; delivered the ‘Hidden Chimp’ book as a course and taught French phonics to an amateur opera singer to help her pronunciation. |
| What do you charge? | Price will vary according to the type and length of the lesson. As a general rule, an initial 45 minute lesson, tailored to an individual pupil, would cost £35. Lessons that are shorter, or that are part of a course, will cost less. Please use the blue button to contact me for information about the cost for your child. |
| Can lessons be shared? | Pupils who know each other (and who are at about the same level) can share a lesson. |
| How do I pay? | After each lesson, please. You might like to use the automated payment link on the About Buzzy Zooms page. |
| What do I do if I think I’d like to book lessons with you? | If you wish to find out more, please contact me with a brief outline of what you are looking for. Use the form below, or on any of the lessons pages. I will reply, and, if I think I can help, I will offer you a free Zoom session for you (and your child) to meet me. I will only take on lessons that I can deliver to a high standard. I will give every request serious thought. If I can help, I will! |
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