FAQ

Potential students often have many questions! Below are some I've been asked in the past.

If you have a question not answered here, please get in touch.

Are you a native speaker of English?

Yes, I am a native speaker of British English. I was born and raised in Suffolk, in the east of England.
What teaching methods do you use?

To find out more about my teaching methods and style, please feel free to book a free or full consultation and I will be happy to discuss this with you.
How many hours of tuition do I need?

This depends on a number of factors. How quickly do you need to make progress? How much time do you have to attend lessons and complete any homework? How long can you concentrate for at a time? I have taught some students for one hour per week, and others for five. There is no rule; it depends on what is right for you. That being said, I've found that one ninety-minute lesson per week works well for many students. For students with limited time, it is possible to still make significant progress even with just one hour of tuition per week.
What times are you available for lessons?

I have lesson times available from 9.30am–12.30pm and 2pm–5.30pm GMT, Monday to Friday. If you are keen for us to work together but can't make any of these times, please get in touch via my contact page.
I'm not a native speaker of Spanish or Portuguese. Can I still take lessons with you?

Absolutely! While I specialise in teaching native speakers of Spanish and Portuguese, I am always keen to work with any student who has a desire to learn.
Do you teach children?

No, I only teach adults.
Do you offer group lessons?

I currently don't offer group lessons, but would be willing to consider requests depending on the needs of the group in question. Please get in touch via my contact page if this is something you're interested in.
Do you teach Spanish and Portuguese to English speakers?

No, I only teach English.
If I book a consultation, am I committing to having classes with you?

No, not at all. I recognise that private tuition requires students to invest their time, energy and money in their learning, and I respect that. For this reason, my free and full consultations are designed to enable you to make an informed decision about whether you would like us to work together. If you decide not to book any lessons after our consultation, I will wish you the best of luck for your next steps.
What's your cancellation policy?

You can find my cancellation policy on the relevant service details page for each service.
I've had a negative experience of learning English in the past that has affected my motivation. Can you help?

Unfortunately, negative experiences of studying any subject can have a significant impact on students' desire to learn. I have worked with students who have struggled with finding the motivation to study English, and have helped them to see learning English in a more positive light. I'd be happy to find out about the difficulties you've had in the past with learning English so that we can create a plan to help you overcome them and make progress.
I've been out of formal education for a long time. Can I still learn English?

Absolutely! As your tutor, I will support you as you re-engage with education. It may take you a little while to settle into the routine of studying again, but you should gradually begin to feel more comfortable and confident in your abilities.
I have a medical condition that affects the way I learn. Can you support me with this in our lessons?

Yes. I would like learning English to be accessible to as many people as possible. While I don't have formal training in Specific Learning Difficulties, I do have experience of teaching students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and disabilities, and will do my best to adapt my methods to your needs where I can.
I need to learn English but I'm not very good at it. Can you help me?

I would be keen to find out where your view that you're not very good at English comes from. While some people are naturally more gifted at learning languages than others, I believe that all students can make progress in learning English in their own way. As your tutor, I would be happy to support you if you find learning English challenging and to work at a pace that's comfortable for you.
I'm not confident with using technology. Can we still have lessons?

Of course! I am happy to support you with using technology in our lessons. I can also adapt activities to make them less dependent on technology if that helps.
Are you a qualified teacher?

Yes. I hold the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), an internationally-recognised qualification issued by Cambridge English.
Where can I find out more about your qualifications and experience?

Please see my About and Qualifications pages.
What variety of Spanish do you speak?

I speak Argentine Spanish.
What variety of Portuguese do you speak?

I speak Brazilian Portuguese.