Grade 9 GCSE French - Qualified Teacher & Tutor - Edexcel | AQA | Cambridge | GCSE | IGCSE

Find out more about Nassima

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  Because of my heritage, French is my second language after my mother tongue. I attended the Lycée Français as a child, before moving to a British secondary school where I learned Spanish. I continued studying both French and Spanish at university and later through my teaching qualification. Both languages have always been part of my life, shaped by my Francophone upbringing and my husband’s Latin American heritage.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think represents the language’s culture?

  For French, it has to be Édith Piaf. Her music captures French culture so powerfully - the emotion, the history, the heartbreak, all while remaining deeply rooted in national identity. For Spanish, I would choose Frida Kahlo. She is an icon of Latin American history and culture, expressing both its beauty and its struggles through her art.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  As someone who is naturally expressive, I switch easily between “Oh là là” in French and “Ay, ay, ay” in Spanish. They’re not really words - they’re feelings, reactions, moods. Sometimes a language says more without saying anything at all.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  My entire childhood and upbringing were shaped by being trilingual and later quadrilingual. Language opened doors to culture, music, film and art. Without it, I would have missed out on so much of who I am today.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the learning process?

  Both French and Spanish have challenges, especially when translating grammatical structures that don’t exist in English. Explaining these concepts to monolingual learners as a polyglot can be tricky, but it’s a challenge I enjoy. My philosophy is simple: keep it clear, keep it practical and keep it fun

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your school days.

  Being the “native” French speaker at secondary school often meant I became a second teacher in the classroom. My classmates learned from someone their own age and I learned how to explain the language clearly - which ended up strengthening my own skills as well.

• How has travel helped you improve your language skills?

  Travel is a huge passion of mine. Being able to communicate with people across Africa and South America has helped me deepen my language skills and feel genuinely connected - not like a tourist, but part of a wider global community.

• What makes you a Superprof in languages?

  Confidence is everything. Without confidence, words lose their power. I focus on building strong relationships with my students and helping them believe in their ability to communicate. Learning should be enjoyable, accessible and inclusive and my goal is always to bring languages to life for learners of all backgrounds and abilities.