Mia

Hello! I am a highly qualified and experienced Oxford graduate and trilingual tutor based in West London. Having graduated from UCL with a high first class honours degree in Modern Languages (French and Spanish), I went on to complete a master's degree specialising in Spanish literature and English literature at Oxford University. The opportunity to share my love of literature and languages is largely why I enjoy tutoring.

Tutoring Experience

I began private tutoring in 2017 and since then have taught students in year 5 to undergraduate. I am patient, supportive, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure students feel confident and secure in their learning.

I am able to help in all aspects of the French, Spanish, English language and English literature curriculum, including but not limited to:

---Focusing on a specific text that the student might be struggling with, whether this be prose - such as the 19th century novel (e.g Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, Silas Marner) and the 20th century novel (e.g Mrs Dalloway, The Handmaid’s Tale, Animal Farm, Never Let Me Go, The Great Gatsby) - poetry anthologies (e.g Power and Conflict, Love and Relationships, John Donne, Poems of the Decade) and unseen poems, or drama (e.g Shakespearean drama, Dr Faustus, The Duchess of Malfi, Waiting for Godot, A Streetcar Named Desire, An Inspector Calls, A Curious Incident)
---Working on analytical and literacy skills for reading comprehensions (in English, French or Spanish)
---Planning essays
---French and Spanish linguistic and grammar skills (verbs, tenses, vocab)
--- Practising the reading, writing, and translation French and Spanish exam papers
---GCSE and A-Level French and Spanish oral exam preparation
---Crafting, editing, and proofreading personal statements for university applications
---Preparation for the 11+ and common entrance exam
---Preparation for the oxbridge MLAT and ELAT

I am particularly familiar with the French and Spanish AQA GCSE and A-Level specifications, and the English language and literature AQA, Edexcel and CIE IGCSE, GCSE and A-Level specifications, but I am comfortable teaching all exam boards. I also have experience tutoring for the common entrance exam and similar 11+ examinations set by leading London secondary schools. I can also offer support for undergraduate university students studying French, Spanish, or English literature, depending on the topic.

Tutoring Approach

During our first session I try to ascertain the level at which the student is currently working, and discuss the desired outcome of tuition - whether this be one-on-one support with homework, increasing confidence, or boosting a predicted grade - so that I can adapt my teaching style to meet the individual needs of each student.

In the lead up to exam season, I like to focus on practising timing, consolidating the specification and filling any gaps, reviewing practice papers, and, above all, ensuring the student knows what to expect in the exam and that they feel they can achieve their goals.

For key stage 3 students (years 7-9) I prefer to work on building confidence and gaining interest in the subject. I realise it can be daunting to begin conversing in a foreign language, or tackle a Shakespearean text. I therefore try my hardest to make literary and linguistic concepts as accessible and engaging as possible.

After each session, I aim to give students and their parents an idea of “what went well” and “areas to improve” as I believe positive reinforcement can make a huge difference in both attitude and attainment. I may also assign homework based on the lesson, or as preparation for the next, if appropriate. However, I am sympathetic that sometimes schoolwork must take precedence.

I provide lessons via Zoom. I am happy to carry out lessons in person if you live in Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, or the City of Westminster. In person lessons are an extra £15.