Sophie Nickell

I am extremely passionate about French and History, studying both as a joint honour’s degree at the University of Nottingham, from which I have just graduated. Such a passion has always driven me to teach and inspire in others a curiosity about different languages, cultures and people. I would like to tutor French GCSE and A level students as I believe modern foreign languages are an indispensable skill, however one that takes a lot of practice, patience and perseverance, which I know from first-hand experience. I have studied French for over a decade, taking it for GCSE and A level before pursuing it at degree level. Despite this, I lacked confidence, especially with speaking, which became particularly apparent when I arrived in France for my year abroad. Living and studying in both Strasbourg and Paris helped my understanding and command of the language massively, and after working hard in my 4th year back in Nottingham, I graduated with a special feature of a distinction in spoken French. From my own personal experience learning French, I understand how nerve-wracking and unnatural it can feel for students, especially at GCSE and A level, to speak a foreign language, so I would love to help encourage their confidence and curiosity to learn ahead of their final summer exams.
Being curious about French culture and history has fuelled my own enthusiasm for the language and continues to motivate me since completing my degree. I strongly believe exposure to French culture in the original language contextualises vocabulary and grammar and is beneficial for students at any level. My lessons will familiarise students with French through the use of source material, providing a clear learning goal which also brings the language to life.