Private French & Spanish tutor online and in Canterbury (Kent)

(Helen Cecilia Matthews)

I hold an MA (Hons) in French and Spanish from the University of St Andrews, including a distinction in oral French, and a PGCE from the University of Greenwich.

With over 30 years’ experience (25 in the public service sector) and having undertaken extensive professional development in teaching, learning and assessment, I specialise in teaching adult learners across a wide range of levels, in both French & Spanish – language and literature.

Lessons and courses are offered online and in person, individually and in small to medium sized groups (maximum 12 participants). French and Spanish literature courses are taught online.

French Courses

Beginners French A1

This course is for clients with no prior learning experience of French, or for those who might have learnt the language many years ago, and wish to refresh their knowledge. The aim of the beginners’ course is to learn enough French to enjoy getting by on a holiday in a French speaking country or to begin interacting with French friends/family.

Improvers French A2

This course is for learners who have enough French to get by whilst on holiday, and who also are beginning to have an awareness and understanding of the present, future and a past tense – usually the perfect tense (le passé composé). This is a friendly in person group which meets in Canterbury, and is open to new enquiries.

Intermediate French B1/B2

This course is for learners who are able to participate in a discussion on a wide variety of topics. The focus of the course is on speaking and listening, developing fluency, expanding vocabulary and learning/consolidating the necessary grammatical structures to support these conversational skills. Groups are both online and in person, and are open to new enquiries. The learners in all the groups are very friendly, inclusive and welcoming.

Advanced French B2/C1

This course is for learners who have developed a good standard of fluency and can understand through listening and reading more complex topics, texts, news reports etc. The current online group is well established, lively, vibrant, but nevertheless welcoming to new members. A range of topical, cultural and historical subjects are discussed in the sessions, as well as the exploration of more advanced grammatical concepts where necessary to support the class discussions. There is also a smaller group at this level which meets in person.

French Literature

Participants meet approximately once a month, online, to discuss a chosen text in French. This is a vibrant stimulating group which very much enjoys the challenge of reading and discussing both contemporary as well as more classical works. Members of the group are also invited to suggest works/authors for inclusion on the reading list. New clients always welcome. Requirements are to have sufficient fluency – upper intermediate to Advanced, B1-C1+ – to be able to read and discuss a wide variety of texts in French.

Spanish Courses

Beginners Spanish A1

This course is for clients with no prior learning experience of Spanish, or for those who might have learnt the language many years ago, and wish to refresh their knowledge. The aim of the beginners’ course is to learn enough Spanish to enjoy getting by on a holiday in a Spanish speaking country or to begin interacting with Spanish friends/family. The current beginners’ group is an in person group, but hybrid sessions are also possible.

Improvers Spanish A2

This course builds on the beginners’ course, reinforcing key topics from the first year of study, and introducing additional topics to help begin developing some basic conversational skills. Basic grammar will be introduced to assist learners with the construction of their own sentences thus building increased confidence and fluency in interacting in Spanish.

Intermediate Spanish B1/B2

This course is for learners who are able to participate in a discussion on a wider variety of topics. The focus of the course is on speaking and listening, developing fluency, expanding vocabulary and learning and consolidating the necessary grammatical structures to support these conversational skills. Groups are currently online and are open to new enquiries. The learners in all the groups are very friendly, inclusive and welcoming.

Advanced Spanish B2/C1

This course is for learners who have developed a good standard of fluency and can understand through listening and reading more complex topics, texts, news reports etc. A range of topical, cultural and historical subjects are discussed in the sessions, as well as the exploration of more advanced grammatical concepts where necessary to support the class discussions.

Spanish Literature

The class meets approximately once a month, online, to discuss a chosen text in Spanish. This is a vibrant stimulating group which very much enjoys the challenge of reading and discussing both contemporary as well as more classical works from Spanish and Hispanic authors. Participants in the group are also invited to suggest works/authors for inclusion on the reading list. New clients always welcome. Requirements are to have sufficient fluency – upper intermediate to Advanced, B1-C1+ – to be able to read and discuss a wide variety of texts in Spanish.