Hacène: Lancaster tutor
Certified Tutor
Hello/bonjour/hola!
My name is Hacne, I am French and happy to live in Washington DC since April of 2016. I teach French and Spanish and also work as a professional translator; foreign languages and education have always been a real passion for me since a long time.
French is my native language, I have learnt Spanish for 10 years and also spent an unforgettable year in Latin America (Chile and Mexico), where I could become totally fluent in Spanish. I was also a part-time French teacher, beside my studies.
In France, I also tutored during my studies in an association helping students with school difficulties, in both English and Spanish. After graduated in 2010 with a Master's Degree of International Trade, I worked in Africa as a translator and sales developer, and still have been able to teach French as a part-time activity.
After around 3 years spent in Africa for work, I moved to DC and decided to dedicate myself to activities I really enjoy doing, teaching/tutoring and translating.
I think that learning a foreign language is much more than applying grammar rules, it's a complete cultural experience, it's about adopting a new way of thinking and understand other people.
Oh and of course, impressing your family and friends with your new skills is also a very good reason to learn...
Speaking and understanding a different language is for me a unique sensation, just like seeing students improving and succeeding thanks to my classes.
After many experiences as a teacher but also as a student of foreign languages, I understood how a person has his own approach to learning and process new information. We'll focus on your goals, on how we could erase your difficulties and on the progress achieved. I will focus on adapting my way to teach to your way of learning, to build with you self-confidence. I am open-minded, have patience and humour, and we can use of originals lesson materials if it makes you learn better!
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Undergraduate Degree: Ecole Suprieure de Gestion Paris France - Bachelors, Business and Administration
Graduate Degree: Ecole Suprieure de Gestion Paris France - Masters, International Trade
What is your teaching philosophy?
Everybody learns differently, every person has his own approach to learn a language: my teaching philosophy is about finding the appropriate way to explain and teach to every single person.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
As a foreign languages teacher, I start to define with the student his goals, his background, his challenges and if possible, start a regular conversation to understand the work I will have to provide.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I would help him giving him tips, as I speak 4 different languages; then I would give him ideas of tasks that are about having fun and improve his skills at the same time.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
The best way to keep him motivated is to show him the progress he has done, what he achieved after the classes, and how useful in life could be his new language skills.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would first remind him that we're here to learn and to take our time; then I would decrease the level, or change the document that we're using.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
There are two key elements: the best strategy is definitely to identify very early his goals and his difficulties, to make sure he's progressing without carrying any doubts. Then assessing him in every class to make sure the information has been processed.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I use either humor, useful examples, phrases, or words that he could use on an actual situation.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I assess him in either oral or written "exercises," and most importantly, I make sure the student is able to use a new skill in any situation/environment.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Building the confidence is delicate. It's always important to highlight what has been done and achieved and dismiss the "mistaking" aspect. As a foreign languages teacher, having an actual conversation, being able to write or talk about himself is a very good feeling and a unique way to build self-confidence.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate them by asking them directly what they want to focus on, or in case of homework help, I check the material used in their school and make sure we work on it.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
After years of teaching and tutoring, after years of learning languages myself, I have many kinds of material to focus either on written, reading, oral, or comprehension skills. I also spent many years in the private sector, abroad and can expand my classes to international or private sector questions with adults.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I usually use audio materials, exercise sheets, a grammar book; according to the students, it can also be press articles, movies, or songs.