1st lesson free
Isla
- Rate R426
- Response 1h
R426/h
Contact
1st lesson free
- French
- French Speech
- French Vocabulary
- French Writing
- DELF
Fluent French Tutor 6 Years Experience 190+ Students Taught Alsatian Dialect Parisian Accent Film Studies Literary French Cultural Context All Levels
- French
- French Speech
- French Vocabulary
- French Writing
- DELF
Lesson location
About Isla
I am a French language tutor with 6 years of teaching experience and a Master of Arts in French and Francophone Studies with a specialism in twentieth-century French cinema. I have taught over 190 students ranging from complete beginners taking up French for travel to doctoral candidates who need to read French academic sources fluently. I lived in Lyon for two years during my postgraduate studies and this experience of daily immersion in French life — markets, bureaucracy, friendships, argument — gives my teaching a lived quality that purely academic training cannot replicate. I am particularly effective with students who have studied French formally for years but feel unable to actually use the language in real situations, because my immersive approach addresses exactly this disconnect between textbook competence and communicative confidence.
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About the lesson
- Primary
- Secondary
- Matric/GCSE
- +20
levels :
Primary
Secondary
Matric/GCSE
AS Level
A Level
BTech
Adult education
Undergraduate
Masters
Diploma
Doctorate
MBA
A1
A2
B1
B2
C1
C2
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Professional
Kids
- English
Languages in which the lesson is available :
English
My French teaching is built around authentic cultural immersion rather than textbook progression, and this means every student's journey through the language is shaped by their own interests, passions, and reasons for learning. I never use a coursebook as a primary text — instead I curate a personalised selection of authentic materials including film clips, radio broadcasts, literature extracts, song lyrics, and journalism chosen specifically for each student. Pronunciation is treated as a priority from the very first lesson because French phonology is genuinely challenging for most native English speakers, and bad pronunciation habits are much harder to correct later than to establish correctly at the start. My teaching of grammar uses the concept of threshold structures — I identify the grammatical forms that unlock the most communicative territory and teach those first, rather than following the sequential approach most syllabi impose. For students preparing for DELF or A-Level examinations I conduct mock examinations at full length under real-time conditions from the mid-point of preparation onwards, so there are no surprises in format or time pressure on the actual day. Cultural literacy is woven into language teaching rather than offered as a supplement — understanding the Fifth Republic, the concept of laïcité, the significance of May 1968, and the francophone world beyond France are all part of becoming genuinely competent in French. Literary French is introduced at B2 level and above through carefully chosen extracts that reward close reading and reward the student's growing grammatical competence. I have a specialism in French cinema from the Nouvelle Vague period and use film extensively as a teaching vehicle because it provides authentic dialogue, cultural context, and an aesthetic experience that motivates continued engagement. Conversation tutoring for advanced students takes the form of genuine discussions where I participate as a conversational partner rather than a teacher-asker. My ambition is for every student to have a relationship with France and the French-speaking world that will last long after their lessons with me end.
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Rates
Rate
- R426
Package rates
- 5h: R2130
- 10h: R4261
online
- R426/h
free lesson
The free first lesson with Isla allows you to get to know the tutor and discuss your needs and expectations.
- 1h
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