Valerie: Belfast tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a French speaking native. When in France I was a former attorney at law and have practiced at the Paris Bar.
Since I have lived abroad I have been tutoring students in French first in Japan then in the US. I have also enjoyed teaching French to my four children who have all been attending and graduating top Colleges in the US.
I have been volunteering in various schools for 25 years and have acquired a solid experience of interacting with students of all ages. I tutor students who are beginners in French as well as AP students.
I love art and also teach art history on a volunteer basis at school.
I enjoy practicing Pilates Yoga and Zumba
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Undergraduate Degree: Institut d'etudes politiques Paris France - Bachelor in Arts, Service Public
Graduate Degree: Sorbonne Paris France - Juris Doctor, Law
What is your teaching philosophy?
Make the student become passionate about the French language.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Get to know the student.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Find sources, such as movies, magazines, and websites that he can access by himself to read/listen to French.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Apply French to his own interests.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Find various ways to teach him.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Start at a level they can understand, and then move forward.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Show my passion for my language, and that I want to share that with him.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Know his own interests, hobbies, etc., and teach French around that.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Having him ask me questions on the material as if I were the student. Also, homework if they have time.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Encouragement.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
His capacity to comprehend his school/college requirements.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I stay very flexible with my time and methods.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Textbooks, magazines PowerPoints, YouTube.