ANNA

Biography

I am an enthusiastic and effective teacher of French with over 20 years of experience, having taught in a variety of schools across London and Berkshire, in both one-to-one and classroom settings.

French has always been my passion. I won French prizes at GCSE and A-level and achieved a distinction at S-level before spending a Gap Year as an au pair near Geneva, Switzerland, where I fully immersed myself in the language to achieve fluency before starting my degree.

I went on to study Modern and Medieval Languages (French and Italian with Linguistics) at Cambridge University. During my year abroad, I lived in Paris, studying translation at the British Institute in Paris, where I was awarded a Merit in the BICFET, while also working part-time as a translator for the management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company. In my final year, I served as the student representative on the MML faculty committee and completed a linguistics module alongside two literary dissertations.

After graduating from Cambridge with a First, I undertook my PGCE in Secondary Modern Languages at the UCL Institute of Education, the world’s leading institution for teacher training. Alongside my compulsory modules and teaching placements, I participated in a teaching exchange programme with a school in Paris, taking every opportunity to return to France.

I am also a committee member of my local Twin Town Association, helping to ensure that the cultural opportunities for exploring Europe that I enjoyed growing up continue to benefit the next generation. I believe that language and culture are inextricably linked and that both are hugely enriching.

Teaching Experience

Over the past twenty years, I have taught French in three schools in London and two in Berkshire, across both the state and private sectors. While I have a thorough understanding of what is required for pupils to achieve top grades at GCSE and A level, I believe a highly academic approach does not suit every student, nor should it. I have extensive experience teaching a wide range of learners with diverse abilities, educational needs, and learning styles, and I have received outstanding feedback for my engaging, supportive, and challenging lessons, which I always tailor to the individuals before me.

I derive immense satisfaction from creating a dynamic learning environment that encourages pupils to fulfil their potential and inspires a genuine love of French and France. I have developed effective methods to help pupils master the grammatical ‘nuts and bolts’ of the language, build and apply vocabulary, and refine their skills through varied exam-style tasks, allowing them to demonstrate their progress and proficiency across all four language skills. This has led to a strong track record of excellent exam results, with consistently above-average value-added scores, as pupils achieve higher results than predicted, to their great delight.

Beyond classroom teaching, my roles have included preparing Oxbridge and Russell Group applications, planning and leading French trips, supporting pupils as a Foreign Language Assistant to boost speaking confidence, and contributing to ‘Challenge and Extension’ programmes. I have also served as a Sixth Form tutor, guiding students through the UCAS process, acted as an HPQ mentor, and supported trainee teachers.

During a year abroad in Chicago, I worked as a TEFL teacher with International Orientation Resources, teaching English to adults, and co-developed the ‘Mind the Gap’ programme for the Study Abroad Office at Northwestern University in collaboration with the British Council.

This breadth of experience has shaped me into a reflective, adaptable, and highly effective tutor.

Interests

In my spare time, I enjoy travelling with my children, reading with my book clubs, singing in choirs, and practising yoga.