Katie Thorpe

I am an experienced language teacher who has taught French and Spanish for over 20 years. I have a degree in French and studied Spanish to A level. I teach French to A level and Spanish to GCSE. My lessons are engaging and well-presented and I try to keep them interactive with a focus on student participation. A typical lesson would include some phonics practice, introduction of new information such as vocabulary, grammar or structures followed by a range of different activities like reading, listening, speaking, translation and interactive games. These depend on my audience. For beginners there is more focus on basic grammar and vocabulary such as nouns and adjectives and starting to build on verb tenses. Intermediate students have more knowledge so there is a focus on more complex verb structures, ambitious vocabulary and greater student production of language, translations and spontaneous conversation. My tutorial style is informal, and my lessons are fun but I also have high expectations of students and expect to see ongoing progress. I assess progress during the lesson and use the information to inform future lessons. I have a good knowledge of the new GCSE syllabus and have taught AQA and Edexcel including preparing Y11 students for the speaking mocks giving relevant feedback prior to the 2026 GCSE exams. Come and learn languages with me!