Daniel Clayton - Language Teacher

27/08/2026

🇫🇷 …and that’s a wrap on our first French Fun Club! 🇫🇷

A small beginning this summer, perhaps, but hopefully the first of many. It’s been a real pleasure introducing French in a way that is relaxed, engaging and, above all, FUN! 🤩

One thing particularly important to me when working with young people is respecting their voice and their boundaries. Although I had parental permission to take photographs, I also asked both children themselves. Stanley preferred not to be photographed at all, while Ava was happy to be photographed without showing her face — and this was the result…

Both choices were absolutely fine. Young people deserve to be listened to, too 🙏🏻

Merci to The Drill Hall Sandwich for giving this little idea a home, and to Ava and Stanley for being part of the very first one 🇫🇷

À bientôt!
Daniel 👋🏻

27/08/2026

🇫🇷 …and that’s a wrap on our first French Fun Club! 🇫🇷

A small beginning this summer, perhaps, but hopefully the first of many. It’s been a real pleasure introducing French in a way that is relaxed, engaging and, above all, FUN! 🤩

One thing particularly important to me when working with young people is respecting their voice and their boundaries. Although I had parental permission to take photographs, I also asked both children themselves. Stanley preferred not to be photographed at all, while Ava was happy to be photographed without showing her face — and this was the result…

Both choices were absolutely fine. Young people deserve to be listened to, too 🙏🏻

Merci to The Drill Hall for giving this little idea a home, and to Ava and Stanley for being part of the very first one 🇫🇷

À bientôt!
Daniel 👋🏻

08/08/2026

The first French Fun Club is underway! 🇫🇷

Today marked the first of our four summer workshops here at The Drill Hall. We began with the very basics — ‘Bonjour’, ‘salut’, ‘ça va?’, and ‘au revoir’ — and before long, our young learners were already greeting one another in French 🗣️

It's a small group this time, which has actually been a lovely opportunity to give each child plenty of encouragement and speaking practice.
My aim has always been simple: to help children discover that learning a language can be fun, relaxed and something to look forward to each week 😊

Merci to everyone who's supported this new venture so far, especially Ali and her team at The Drill Hall. There are still a few places available if you'd like your child to join us over the remaining 3 sessions in August (the next 3 Wednesdays)! 🙏🏻

À bientôt! 🇫🇷

22/07/2026

Here’s another exciting project that I’m delighted to be able to bring to fruition! I’m really excited to be launching this new 4-week French Fun Club, here in Sandwich, at The Drill Hall Sandwich 🍕

🇫🇷 NEW: French Fun Club for children aged 7-11 🇫🇷

As a language teacher, I’ve always believed that learning any language should be fun, with French being no exception! These sessions won’t be about sitting at desks, memorising grammar rules or endless repetition — instead, we’ll learn through games, conversation, challenges and culture, helping children to enjoy using French and build confidence along the way.

📍 The Drill Hall, Sandwich
📅 Wednesdays: 5, 12, 19, 26 August
🕚 11am–12 noon
💷 £55 for the full 4-week programme
👥 Maximum of 10 children
🇫🇷 No previous knowledge of French required

A few questions parents might understandably have:

- Do I need to stay during the session?
No. These are drop-off sessions, so parents and carers are free to leave and return at the end of the hour.

- Do you have a DBS check?
Yes. I hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate. There will also be a trained first-aider on site at The Drill Hall during the sessions.

- Does my child need to know any French?
Not at all! Complete beginners are very welcome, as are children who have already learnt a little French before.

- What if my child can’t attend all four sessions?
The club is designed as a 4-week programme, and I’d ideally love children to join us for the full course; however, I understand that summer holidays can make this tricky, so please get in touch and we can discuss availability.

- How do I book?
Spaces are limited to just 10 children, so please contact me directly to enquire. Once I’ve confirmed availability, I’ll send you a registration form and payment details.

📱 W/app: 07907 528 005
✉️ [email protected]

Please feel free to message me if you have any questions — and please do share this with any local parents who might be interested! 🙏🏻🇫🇷

À bientôt!
Daniel

21/07/2026

Here’s another exciting project that I’m delighted to be able to bring to fruition! I'm really excited to be launching this new 4-week French Fun Club, here in Sandwich, at The Drill Hall 🍕

🇫🇷 NEW: French Fun Club for children aged 7-11 🇫🇷

As a language teacher, I've always believed that learning any language should be fun, with French being no exception! These sessions won't be about sitting at desks, memorising grammar rules or endless repetition — instead, we'll learn through games, conversation, challenges and culture, helping children to enjoy using French and build confidence along the way.

📍 The Drill Hall, Sandwich
📅 Wednesdays: 5, 12, 19, 26 August
🕚 11am–12 noon
💷 £55 for the full 4-week programme
👥 Maximum of 10 children
🇫🇷 No previous knowledge of French required

A few questions parents might understandably have:

- Do I need to stay during the session?
No. These are drop-off sessions, so parents and carers are free to leave and return at the end of the hour.

- Do you have a DBS check?
Yes. I hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate. There will also be a trained first-aider on site at The Drill Hall during the sessions.

- Does my child need to know any French?
Not at all! Complete beginners are very welcome, as are children who have already learnt a little French before.

- What if my child can't attend all four sessions?
The club is designed as a 4-week programme, and I'd ideally love children to join us for the full course; however, I understand that summer holidays can make this tricky, so please get in touch and we can discuss availability.

- How do I book?
Spaces are limited to just 10 children, so please contact me directly to enquire. Once I've confirmed availability, I'll send you a registration form and payment details.

📱 W/app: 07907 528 005
✉️ [email protected]

Please feel free to message me if you have any questions — and please do share this with any local parents who might be interested! 🙏🏻🇫🇷

À bientôt!
Daniel

03/07/2026

June was a busy month! I wrapped up both the daytime French course, as well as our last Language & Culture evening at The Red Cow before a well-earnt summer break. Huge thanks to Nina at The Red Cow - Sandwich for having hosted us so warmly for the past year and a half -- you've helped create something very special for our town and community! 😊🙏

With courses now wrapped up, I’m already looking ahead: both Language & Culture evenings from September, and hopefully new French and Italian courses from September/October. So if you’ve been thinking about starting or brushing up on a language, let me know! I’d love to help you dive into French or Italian after the summer... 🌞

Many thanks also go to Toni at Sandwich Community Hub: The Jubilee Centre. for hosting our daytime courses!

Until then, enjoy the sunshine — and watch this space for more!

À bientôt...
Daniel 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇮🇹

08/06/2026

Just over one week to go… if you had to pick one, which would it be? 🇫🇷🤝🏻🇮🇹

Le français OR l’italiano? 🤔

Book now at The Red Cow - Sandwich on (01304) 613399 ☎️

We are delighted to host another language evening with Dan Clayton

03/06/2026

So here’s a little update on our most recent Language and Culture Evening at .sandwich!

It was a first time for a few things, but first and foremost, because I was taken ill in the days leading up to the event, meaning I as potentially considering having to cancel the whole thing, which would have been a big shame!

Up stepped our hero of the day, , my dear brother, who suggested that he could step in in my stead! …and as they say, the rest is history!

Not only did Jay stand in for me and host this event, but it was a unique challenge as it was a language crossover event between French and Italian! 🇫🇷🤝🏻🇮🇹

Jay’s knowledge of both languages meant that all could go ahead as planned (more or less!), and the feedback that Nina and I have had has been overwhelmingly positive! Well done, Jay, you star ⭐️

Speaking of which, I can also tell you about the next L&C Evening, which also happens to be the last one planned before the summer break ☀️

We will be meeting once more, this time on Tuesday 16 June, 7-9.00pm. …and yet again, I feel called to provide another language crossover with French and Italian!

Did you know that between the two languages, French and Italian have a higher level of mutual intelligibility than Spanish and Italian, for example? In other words, so much on paper is very similar, perhaps more than 80% of the vocab comes from the same common root! 🌍

So, whether you’re a beginner, a casual learner, a linguaphile, or just outright curious… why not come and have a chat with us over some cheese and wine? 🍷

All bookings to go through dear Nina at the pub, please: 01304 613399 ☎️

Bookings now being taken — places are limited!

A presto 🇮🇹 / à bientôt 🇫🇷
Daniel

12/05/2026

Il manque qu’une semaine! 🇫🇷
Manca una settimana! 🇮🇹
Only one week to go! 🇬🇧🇺🇸

Last few places still available, but they’re going fast! See you there… 👋🏻🍷🌍

Really excited to bring some Italian back to the Language and Culture Evenings this month… this time, it’s a crossover between French and Italian! 🇫🇷🤝🏻🇮🇹

It’s a common misconception that Spanish and Italian are the closest two Romance languages, but in fact, French and Italian share a higher mutual intelligibility — in other words, the two tongues share a lot more words from the same roots! 📚

There’s no need to speak either language, necessarily, but it would certainly help! Come and see for yourselves! 🍷

All bookings to go through Nina at .redcowpubsandwich, please ☎️

12/05/2026

Places still available on our conversation-based French course — pro rata payments available 🤝🏻

🇫🇷🇧🇪🇨🇭🇨🇦🇨🇮🇸🇳

🇫🇷 French Refresher – 5 Weeks

I’ll be running a short course in May/June focussed on speaking, confidence, and keeping your French going.

🗓 Every Wednesday, 12:30–14:00
📍 Jubilee Centre, Sandwich
📆 6 May → 3 June

💷 £115 new | £100 returning

Small, friendly group as always 👍🏻
Message me if you’d like to join!