Language Services Specialists

15/10/2026

🎧 Want to improve your listening skills in French or German? Try this technique!

One of the best ways to train your ear is to write down what you hear. It takes a little patience, but it can make a real difference.

Here's how to do it:

👂 1. Listen to the whole extract. Don't worry about catching every word. Just get a feel for what it's about.

🔎 2. Focus on one or two sentences. Choose the part you'd like to understand better and listen to it again.

✍️ 3. Write down what you hear. If you can't identify the words, try writing down the sounds instead. You might recognise them when you listen again!

📖 4. Check the transcript. Compare it with what you've written and notice which words or sounds you missed.

🎧 5. Listen to the whole extract one last time. Now you can hear those tricky words in context.

Why does it work? Repeated listening helps you recognise unfamiliar sounds, learn new vocabulary and become more familiar with the way words flow together in natural speech.

Give it a try with a short French or German recording this week. You might be surprised by how much more you hear the second time around!

12/10/2026

Do adult learners and older teens really need vocabulary testing?

The answer is yes!

Of course, adult learners and older teenagers are responsible for their own study habits and learning outside lessons. But vocabulary testing provides something that independent study sometimes lacks: accountability.

And it gives me, as their tutor, some valuable feedback too.

If vocabulary test scores are consistently lower than expected, even when a learner is putting in the effort, that tells me something. Perhaps the way they're learning new words isn't working particularly well for them — and we can try something different.

So when your tutor suggests a vocabulary test, don't roll your eyes and moan! 😄

Think of it as a way to reinforce the vocabulary you already know, identify gaps and build the knowledge you need to communicate more effectively in French or German.

Sometimes, a little accountability can make a big difference.

08/10/2026

New to French -ir verbs?

If you already know how to conjugate regular -er verbs, learning regular -ir verbs is a little easier than you might think!

In my latest French Grammar in 60 Seconds video, I look at the present tense of regular -ir verbs and show you the endings.

For these new endings, start by memorising the endings for je, tu, il/elle/on.

Then look at what happens with nous, vous and ils/elles.

When it comes to conjugating the verb, use the same basic rule you already know from -er verbs: take off the -ir and add the correct ending.

It's much easier to build on something you already know than to try to memorise a completely new pattern!

Find more tips for French and German grammar in sixty seconds on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/

05/10/2026

What does an online French and German tutor do when they're not teaching?

Lesson planning, of course! 📝

It takes time and preparation to make sure each lesson matches the individual learner's needs, strengths and goals. My lessons never come straight out of a coursebook!

So, how does it work?

At the end of each lesson, I make a note of the things the learner has done well, along with any areas that could benefit from further work. I then use those observations to help shape the next lesson, while keeping their wider learning goals in mind.

In practice, that might mean combining exercises from several different sources, working through questions from past exam papers, or creating bespoke exercises to target a particular area.

The aim is always to give each learner the support and practice that's right for them.

One thing is certain: every lesson is unique! 🌱

01/10/2026

A day in the life of… an online language teacher!

What does a typical day look like when you teach French and German online?

☀️ Mornings

🗣️ Work with adult learners to improve their language skills

☕ Coffee break

📚 Teach international students topping up their knowledge ahead of their IB exams

🥪 Lunch🥪

💻 Afternoons

📝 Plan bespoke lessons tailored to individual students

📖 Teach home-educated students

🎓 And somewhere in between, fit in some CPD to keep up to date with developments and new ideas in language teaching.

One of the things I enjoy most about online tutoring is the variety. No two days — or students — are quite the same!

28/09/2026

🇫🇷🇩🇪 Looking for French or German tuition?

The new academic year is well underway, and I currently have a few spaces available for online individual French and German tuition.

I work with a range of learners aged 13 to adult, including:

📚 GCSE, A-level and IB students
🌍 Adults returning to a language
🗣️ Learners wanting to build confidence in speaking and listening
🎯 Anyone looking for individual support tailored to their goals

I really enjoy the flexibility of one-to-one tuition because lessons can be shaped around the you — whether that's exam preparation, improving particular skills or simply becoming more confident using the language.

If you've been thinking about starting or returning to French or German, now could be a good time to get in touch.

Feel free to message me if you'd like to find out more.

24/09/2026

One easy way to improve your French or German

Learn the genders!

Both French and German have lots of little words that change depending on the gender of the noun, so knowing the gender can make a real difference to speaking and writing more accurately.

The trick is to learn the gender at the same time as you learn the noun.

For example:

🇩🇪 der Tisch = the table
🇫🇷 la table = the table

Don't just learn Tisch or table. Learn the whole thing.

And if remembering genders is difficult, get creative!

🎨 Colour-code different genders with highlighters.
📝 Organise your vocabulary lists by gender.
🖍️ Write words in different colours depending on their gender.

The more consistently you learn nouns together with their gender, the more natural it becomes to use the correct little words when you speak and write.

Don't just learn the noun. Learn the noun + its gender.

21/09/2026

Language learning tips only help if you act on them! ✨

Last week in my lessons, I was reminded of something I’ve recognised for years: students tend to make much more progress when they act on the advice they’re given.

Listen to that podcast. Learn those new words. Watch that film. Practise speaking.

If your teacher or tutor suggests something that could help you improve your French or German, it’s usually because they genuinely believe it will support you in moving towards your goals.

They’re not suggesting it simply to give you more homework!

The lesson is only part of the learning process. What you do with that advice afterwards matters too.

Small actions, repeated regularly, can make a real difference. 🌱

17/09/2026

🇩🇪 Struggling with the German word order rule for time, manner, place?

They usually follow the verb in this order:

TIME → MANNER → PLACE

For example:

Ich fahre (verb) heute (time) mit dem Bus (manner) in die Stadt (place).

In my latest German Grammar in 60 Seconds video, I show you how this rule works.

🎥 Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QImyTjwA6Vw

A quick one-minute refresher that’s useful for anyone learning German — whether you're studying for GCSE, A-level or IB, or learning German as an adult.

Follow for more French and German grammar tips.

Where do you put time, manner and place in a German sentence?In t...

14/09/2026

I’ve recently changed my mind about the role of culture in language learning.

Previously, I was one of those teachers who taught language and culture, of course, but if I’m honest, I often saw culture as something of an afterthought — particularly when working with students focused on exams.

This week, I’ve been reminded that culture is key.

Culture provides the context in which language is used. Without that context, the words themselves don’t always add up to very much.

So here's something key, that language learners can do:

Get cultural!

Listen to French music. Watch German films. Follow French or German social media. Read about the countries and people who speak the language. Talk to other speakers. And, whenever you can, experience the culture in person.

The more you connect with the culture, the more the language starts to make sense. Afterall, language doesn't exist in isolation.