Strephon Thomas

Salut!

My name is Strephon. I have been speaking French for nearly two decades and have made it my mission in life to teach the language I love to as many people as possible. I believe that the French language should be accessible to all and allow every learner to make progress at their best level.

In my lessons you can expect a more exploratory approach to phonics, grammar and vocabulary. I don't believe that verb tables and memorisation are effective methods for learners to stay motivated to learn the language. I always prefer to start with an implicit approach to learning. Often this starts with some some simple pattern recognition prompted by some questioning. I might ask; "what do you notice about all these verbs... what does that tell us". This allows learners to decipher grammar rules for themself instead of simply being spoon-fed the answers one by one. However, this does not mean my lessons are easy! I try to balance this exploration of the language with the key underlying principles. This means that the presentation of concepts and vocabulary is always backed up with extensive practice. This may take the form of some games like 'French Battleship' or 'rock climbers' but will always involve some more 'exam-style' practice to ensure learners can apply what they have learned to the contexts they need. After the practice stage, it is essential that learners can produce work to a high degree of accuracy without my help. Being able to write and, most importantly, speak the language without assistance is the trues test of fluency and that is always what I prioritise with my learners.

So, if you want an experienced, knowledgeable and highly motivated French tutor, please consider me for your language learning needs.