Hi! My name is Matthew and I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2023 with a first-class degree in French and Music, as well as a Distinction in Spoken French.
Having been a languages student until recently, I know what I would want out of French tuition –sessions that improve and strengthen my knowledge, without becoming too bogged down in grammar work and vocabulary tests. Having lived in Montpellier, France for a year, my own experiences have taught me that immersion - when combined with the basic foundations of the language - is the best way to learn a new dialect. As a non-native French speaker, I understand the potential obstacles to progress and, having encountered them myself, am fully equipped to help you overcome them.
For those at the beginning of their French studies at school, through to those on the GCSE and A Level pathways, my tuition involves engaging learning techniques that I myself used at university, and which I know helped me throughout my time at school. I will endeavour to make every session as interesting as possible, ensuring that we can work on your writing, reading, listening and speaking in a balanced way that aligns with what you find most appealing about the language.
For those just aiming to improve their spoken skills ready for holidays to ‘l’Hexagone’, our sessions will consist of exercises to improve speaking, listening and comprehension, employing tools to learn idiomatic phrases and new vocabulary, alongside highly-detailed pronunciation work.
I know that learning a new language is daunting, but I also know how incredibly exciting it is to be able to communicate with someone from a different country and culture. I will encourage you in whatever ambitions you have, in the hopes of passing on a skill that will open the door to a plethora of new experiences!