NESA accredited, highly experienced teacher leading a team of trained, enthusiastic and approachable tutors providing online tutoring for students of Latin, French and English.

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• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I went to a bilingual French Australian preschool and primary school so my love for languages began at an early age. This interest and passion developed as I continued to study French and Latin in senior school and also Spanish at University. I fell into an opportunity with teaching and as soon as I started to teach I immediately fell in love with the profession. I love my work because I can combine my two interests into my work everyday and also share this passion with young minds in a hope to inspire them to learn languages. I am really interested in the individual student and how they learn which is why tutoring one on one became my main area of interest within teaching.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I teach French, Latin and English. I could teach Spanish also but I feel I need to brush up on this a bit first! I love to discuss all sorts of topics with students - all of course in another language! In regards to Latin I love to discuss its connection to other languages, the relevance of studying Latin today and the skills required to do well in Latin which assist in all other areas of learning. In regards to French I love to discuss the culture, the language and how grammatical constructions within the French language may not exist in English such as the concept of masculine and feminine words. In regards to English, I love to discuss the themes and layers of meaning hidden within any given text a student may be studying.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Yes, my Latin teacher at school who is the author of the books that I still use today really inspired me. She was not only passionate but always so efficient, organised and knowledgeable in her teaching. These are traits that I definitely try to emulate in my teaching.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Flexibility, organisation, having an approachable and welcoming attitude, being friendly, supportive and understanding, qualified and knowledgeable, passionate.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I changed secondary schools in Year 9 and when I arrived there I really wanted to study Latin. However, as all students had already done a year of Latin, the teacher strongly advised me against starting late and to be frank really didn't want me in the class! Nonetheless I persevered and started in year 9 was very determined to catch up. I caught up in a term and then went on to top my class in year 12! This just goes to show that if you want something bad enough and know you can do it, believe in yourself and you will do it no matter what others may say!

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or are still facing in your subject?

  I face the difficulty of attracting and keeping students studying Latin until year 12. I don't exactly know why but there is a general dismissive attitude of Latin and the need to study a second language in Australia. This couldn't be further from the truth in my eyes and just shows the ignorance and misunderstanding of those saying things like this. I will keep fighting and defending my subjects for as long as I can!

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I think I have explained this in my answers above- I have a passion for teaching as well as languages which is why teaching and tutoring languages, in my eyes, is the perfect job! I am also passionate about the way languages activate a whole different part of the brain which opens our minds up to new and different ways of thinking about things and in learning about foreign languages and cultures we gain a greater appreciation of our own language and culture and in more general terms, the way people all over the world communicate.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions)?

  I really take pride and responsibility in my role as a tutor. I always try to be organised, punctual, give valuable feedback, flexible and understanding when tutoring. I take it to heart whether or not a student finds my sessions beneficial and if not, I try many different things so that that particular student then does.