Native British English Teacher offering individually tailored English classes to students of all levels

Find out more about Nancy

• Parlez-vous couramment cette langue en raison de vos origines ou parce qu'un professeur vous a donné envie de l'apprendre ?

  English is my mother tongue! I grew up in Sussex, England, just south of London. This area is home to the BBC and the accent is commonly said to be the closest resemblance of the ‘Queen’s English’ - the typical posh British accent!

• Citez le personnage vivant, historique ou fictif qui est, selon vous, le représentant emblématique de la culture en question !

  This is a difficult question to answer! If I had to choose one person/character to best represent English culture, it would have to be Winnie the Pooh. He’s a well-beloved character known world over for his funny, nonsensical remarks combined with heart-warming lessons.
  
  Winne the Pooh embodies English culture so accurately, because he really is created from English culture! The author, A. A. Milne, named the character Winne the Pooh after a teddy bear owned by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, on whom the character Christopher Robin was based. And his son named his bear after Winnie, a much-loved black bear he often saw at London Zoo, and ‘Pooh’, a swan they had met while on holiday.
  
  Since Winnie the Pooh’s first appearance in a London newspaper in 1925, his stories have been told in books, Disney films, theatre, audio, radio, television and even video games! And to top it off, you can also visit the forest that inspired the characters’ home: Ashdown Forest in England, where the author and his son used to play together.

• Y-a-t-il, dans celle-ci, un mot, une expression, une tradition ou un comportement typique qui vous amuse particulièrement ?

  There’s a quote from Winnie the Pooh that I love sharing with my students: ‘People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.’
  
  This play on words and multiple meanings really encompasses the subtleties of the English language, and shows the importance of stress on words. Along with the expression ‘when pigs can fly’, I’ve seen many hysterical realisations from students when they realise the intended meaning.

• En quoi savoir parler cette langue est important, que ce soit scolairement, professionnellement ou d'un point de vue plus personnel ?

  Speaking English is so important to take advantage of all that the modern world has to offer. English has evolved into an international language connecting people and opening up communication between different cultures and communities. Whether through travel, business or even video games, English has become a universal language.
   
  On top of this, speaking English opens a door to new culture through films, music and books, many of which are written in English. And simply learning another foreign language helps us to better understand the structure and grammar of a language, and can boost our confidence in speaking.

• Quelle est la difficulté principale de cette langue et ce qui peut favoriser son apprentissage ?

  This is a very subjective question, as the 'difficulties' really depend on the student's mother tongue, experience with languages, culture and age. There are many exceptions to the rules in English, both in grammar and pronunciation. On top of this, English is a 'stress-timed language' which means that the way of speaking, the intonation, changes the meaning and understanding of what we say. This isn't too difficult for children, as they are quick to integrate the correct intonation relatively easily if they start early. However for adults, they often need to focus on oral coaching to boost their self-confidence.
   
  To really progress in English, it's important for students to practice regularly in listening, speaking, writing, reading and grammar. Complete immersion in the language is ideal, but not always possible. So instead I recommend creating a regular habit of practicing English, immersing yourself in English films, audio and books, and having confidence in your abilities (i.e. being unafraid of making mistakes)!

• Une anecdote en rapport avec votre métier ou votre scolarité à nous raconter ?

  I have many funny anecdotes about my students, mostly related to errors in pronunciation or expression. But I prefer not to disclose these!
   
  I enjoy building a relationship with my students, where they feel comfortable to express themselves in English and laugh over silly mistakes. It's especially rewarding to see their progress over time. For example, this past year I've been teaching a young girl phonics and she's gone from not being able to read words like 'cat' and 'dog', to reading common children's books in English!
   
  At the same time, as an expat in France I am currently learning French! This helps keep me aware of how difficult and frustrating it can be to learn a new language, but how rewarding it is at the same time.

• Aidez-nous à vous connaître un peu mieux en évoquant vos différents voyages.

  My first solo trip abroad was to India. My grandmother was Indian, but moved to England when India gained their independence. So I grew up with stories of what felt like another world. I was fascinated, and still am, by the contrast in culture and the different ways in which people live. Since then, I have travelled extensively in South East Asia, lived for some months in both Malaysia and Spain, discovered the beauty of Moroccan culture, and of course adapted to a new life in Paris. I have plans to see more of Africa and South America in the future.

• Qu'est-ce qui fait de vous un Superprof, en + de cette capacité à s'exprimer en plusieurs langues ?

  I believe a Superprof is someone who is passionate about both learning and teaching, someone who really cares about seeing their students progress and is committed to helping all students, whether they're quick to learn or struggling, enthusiastic or lacking motivation.
   
  I don’t think of myself as a Superprof just because I am a native speaker of English. I believe it's so much more than this. It's about working with different people and adapting to their needs and goals, building a relationship of trust and applying various tools and strategies to make sure genuine progress is being made.
   
  I am a Superprof because of my experience, pedagogy and drive. I bring humour to my lessons, and praise students throughout, keeping them stimulated and keen to learn. I believe a good teacher is also a good learner, and I am passionate about learning languages (starting with French and Spanish). As an expat in France, I love discovering French culture at the same time as sharing British culture. I learn as much from my students as they do from me.