Johanna

I'm a native Spanish speaker with a degree and a masters in English language and English literature. I currently write fiction full-time but I would like to reconnect with the teaching side of my life.

Tutoring Experience

I have taught Spanish, English and Catalan to children ranging from the age of 8 to the age of 16 and also to adults, both in small classes and in private sessions.

My experience as a learner of foreign languages and also the extensive study of English and language learning in general included in my degree are of great assistance understanding the processes through which knowledge is acquired.

Tutoring Approach

The basic formula sounds a bit unreal. Fun + every day = learning. The every day thing is work, don't get me wrong, but once you make yourself sit down do something you find enjoyable in the language you want to learn, you will most likely end up having a good time in spite of yourself.

I think it's essential to assess the way in which each pupil learns best, from the matter of visual vs auditory learners to incorporating and relating the study material, as much as it's possible depending on the subject, to the individual interests of the student so as to make the experience both productive and enjoyable. In the same way rephrasing and re-contextualizing often help make information that appears rather obscure clear to the student.

I also believe that frequency is a deciding factor in long-term learning since it helps with true and gradual understanding as opposed to memorization. Which is, of course, necessary on some areas but can be greatly aided by frequent use of the knowledge in a practical context.