Language Clubs & Tuition

In person & online tuition for kids & adults

I am passionate about learning to LOVE languages!

From an early age, I travelled to France and Spain on holiday, made friends ‘à la piscine ou au parc’, fell in love with ‘la música y la fiesta’ and just wanted to find out more! Travels in México, a French & Hispanic Studies degree with voluntary work in France led to business experience using my languages in both the IT and Travel industries where making myself understood and building relationships still feels incredibly fulfilling. These varied experiences and exciting opportunities inspired me to teach privately and within adult & primary education. I continue to love using my languages professionally on a freelance basis offering multi-lingual business services and event management at international conferences across the globe.

“It is far more than language learning – I am passionate about learning to LOVE languages! To do this I believe you have to feel the music, taste the food and be possibly silly, definitely flamboyant, when it comes to pronunciation and accent. I aim to create a fun and energetic environment where my students lose their inhibitions and build confidence as they develop their language skills.”

1:1 Tuition - Structured, personalised learning plans

Currently offering in person and online Private Tuition for Beginners, KS3, GCSE & A Level or conversational French & Spanish. Online learning is an excellent way of sharing materials and working together collaboratively.

I have noticed a real increase in interest from adult learners who might have a bit more time on their hands or have recently retired and are keen to travel and fulfil a life-long ambition to speak another language. I have a growing community of Beginners Spanish and Intermediate French adult learners who are loving the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence speaking another language – we often focus on the culture and places to visit and it is very exciting to hear how my students get on after their holidays where they have had a chance to practice 🙂

Small Groups - Learning together

With a background in teaching Beginners French & Spanish within the ‘Lifelong Learning Sector’ (Adult Education) I have experience working with keen linguists who lack confidence speaking in front of others and were often put off language learning at school.

Through this experience of working with both adults and also teenagers who might feel self-conscious and inhibited, overwhelmed by the accent and speed of delivery, it is clear that building an enjoyment of language learning and helping students feel comfortable with the language from an early age makes a huge difference.

My aim is to encourage all budding linguists of any age to have a go and learn to love language learning. I focus on building up confidence speaking in front of others with a big emphasis on conversation and listening skills, often using role-play and different materials and texts to achieve this.

School Clubs - Learning a language is fun!

Through singing, games and role-play our language clubs are great fun as the children have a go at the accent, build their confidence to speak another language and learn about different countries and cultures.

Working in collaboration with your school, our French and Spanish Clubs are tailored to reinforce what your children are learning in class or offer a valuable introduction to a second language which will be useful on holidays and as a foundation for learning at Secondary school.

The Language Clubs are run as an extracurricular school club or at lunchtime within the school hall for years 1-6. The group sizes and age groups can be set up to suit the need of your school and the pupils. We tend to recommend a group size of 12 so that all the children have the opportunity to use their language skills.

Career Talks & Workshops

I have a personal and academic interest in the positive impact of language learning and regularly volunteer my time encouraging young people to see the value of language skills and the opportunities to explore the world. With strong listening, communication and coaching skills, I am dedicated to inspiring, supporting and empowering others and am available for school careers and motivational talks.

I also run interactive Language workshops where we reflect on our relationship with languages and the transferable skills they offer with the objective of building our positivity and self-confidence. The Language Workshops are offered to academic institutions and also within international organisations for team-building and away days.

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“Both my children have loved learning Spanish with Debs, she makes it lively, exciting and fun. I have watched their confidence grow. My eldest is now at secondary school and is flying in Spanish. Debs builds a strong foundation of understanding and love for the country and language and then supports them in their journey to confidently speaking. Both my children would say she is awesome.”
Kate WoodWestbourne Primary School

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"Debbie taught Georgie for her GCSE Spanish. Right from the offset Georgie's confidence and ability really started to improve. I would say that is in part due to the relaxed but engaging way that Debbie deals with her students, as well as her excellent knowledge of not only the language but of culture and local practices - which all help to build a full picture of the language and Spain. She is fully aware of the syllabus requirements and constantly refers to that with a planned approach. Would thoroughly recommend.
Sue CosensThe Petersfield School, Nov 2020

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“Sam started lessons with Debbie two months before his Spanish GCSE. He had lost all enthusiasm for the language and failed his mock with a grade 4. He was despondent and couldn't wait to give it up. Debbie completely turned him around. She reignited his love of the language and enabled him to go into the exam with confidence and skill and he passed with a grade 7. Sam is continuing with Debbie and is now doing A level Spanish and loving it. We can't recommend Debbie highly enough. Her love of languages is infectious, and she shares that enthusiasm in a supportive and engaging way.”
Catharine HartleyMay 2020

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Debbie started French and Spanish Clubs at Westbourne over three years ago and it has been lovely to see her grow from strength to strength. She has a wonderful manner with the children and her enthusiasm and passion really inspire a love of languages in our children. Debbie is often running a club in the hall when I am setting up for assembly and it is obvious that the children really enjoy the club as there is a wide range of engaging activities and lots of smiles and fun.
Steven PotterHeadteacher, Westbourne Primary School

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“Thank you for everything you have done for Nathan and Isobel this year. Isobel absolutely loves Spanish, you have given my daughter a lifelong love of another language and I am incredibly grateful to you for that. Your passion and enthusiasm in your lessons and the way you make learning fun (she loves the songs!) is fabulous. You are a natural.

As you know, Nathan was struggling with French at the beginning of Year 8 and you have helped him immeasurably. So much so, that he has now selected it as one of his four GCSE subjects! Whilst he will never love French the way Isobel loves Spanish, he at least now appreciates the importance of having another language under his belt and the opportunities knowing French will afford him if he wants to live or work overseas.”
Tanya HibberdWestbourne Primary School

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"I would just like to say a big thank you to you for the wonderful experience you’ve given Lia since she started Spanish. She has really enjoyed learning Spanish and has gained so much from it."
Sarah TalleySouthbourne Juniors

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Thank you for teaching Daisy Spanish, she already wants to take this language at secondary school. You have inspired her!
Jules RoperSouthbourne Juniors & Infants