Federica Balbi

I am Italian and I have a master's degree in Comparative Literature. I have 8+ years experience in tutoring and I adapt my method to the needs of the student. I can work on traditional sets of exercises or make it fun! In the first class, I will get to know the student (and the parents, if applicable) and discuss the kind of work we are going do face together.

I do believe that a sound grammar knowledge is always needed, and I try to turn it into something acceptable and not too painful. It is important to set objectives first, and too be realistic about them: learning takes time! But with time, I also understand the student's learning strategies and the classes become more personalised and accurate, so that the learning also speeds up!

I am passionate about books and theatre, so I might tend to use these as my main sources for higher level students. I try to find topics that interest the student and motivate them to work, or to match the lesson's work with other tasks the student might have to accomplish.

I’ve been tutoring highschoolers since I started University in 2014, and I was mainly teaching Latin, English and French. While I was studying in France, I got the opportunity to tutor a student in Italian B2 and C1, by being temporarily hired by the University for it. I have experience working with children and younger students, as well as with university students.

I also speak French, German and Portuguese, in case this helps as common ground more than English does.