Learn French with Sarah
Innovative solutions, exceptional results
Traditionally a face-to-face industry, in recent years the online tuition business has grown exponentially. Technology now enables you to connect with tutors all over the world.
Whatever your level, whatever your goals, learn French at your own pace with Sarah Walker
Enhanced DBS Check and Update Service registered.
96% pass rate with exam-sitting students, with 45% gaining 8, 9, and A* grades.
Over 5,300 hours of direct tuition experience.
Own extensive library of study documents, exercises and lesson plans.
14 years’ tutoring and language coaching experience.
Native-level written and spoken business and conversational French.
French-to-English Translator of business-related books, websites, articles
Services
French Tuition - Young Students
I provide specialised French tuition for young students, focusing on building a strong foundation in the language through fun activities and age-appropriate teaching methods. An experienced and dedicated educator, I offer one-to-one online French tuition for 13+, GCSE, iGCSE, and A Level exam preparation, also undergraduate support. Students build confidence in the subject, any gaps in their knowledge are identified and filled, and gifted students can be stretched beyond their current academic level. I am familiar with all the UK’s major exam boards and their French exam syllabi.
Adult Students - French for Leisure
With a focus on practical conversation skills and cultural immersion, my French tuition programme provides a dynamic and engaging learning experience specifically designed for adult learners. The vocabulary we build is centred around each student’s individual requirements, daily conversational needs, and personal interests: everything from ordering dinner in a French restaurant to being able to chat with the neighbours, the plumber, and even the in-laws, all in French!
French for Business
My French for Business program focuses on practical language skills, enabling professionals to communicate confidently in a variety of business contexts, including correspondence, phone conversations, and networking events. A second language is sometimes a job requirement, and is seen as a highly sought-after skill by management and hiring departments alike. Gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace by acquiring the language skills needed to succeed in a French-speaking business environment.
French-to-English Translation Services
With a keen understanding of both French and English language and culture, my translation service delivers authentic and culturally appropriate translations for your business-related books, documents, websites, and communications. I will ensure that your translated business communications are linguistically accurate, use a target audience-appropriate register, and that they preserve the integrity of the original message. Please contact me to discuss your project and ask for a quote.
Following a refocusing of personal and professional goals after 12 years of corporate life, I returned to my first passion - the French language - and started my French Tuition and Language Services business in 2010.
As a professional, full-time French tutor, I am 50+ years in the making: from the young girl drawing her age in a French campsite sandpit while making friends, to the woman opening doors of confidence and ability for her students.
Pricing
French Tuition
- French Tuition - Young Students
- Adult Students - French for Leisure
- French for Business students
- Payment is by direct bank transfer after each lesson.
- Invoicing options available for corporate clients.
F.A.Q
Why should I use an online French tutor for my school-aged children?
When it comes to homework or home-schooling, many parents find they can assist and support their children in the majority of school subjects, however not everyone speaks French. This is where I come in.
I adapt lessons to your child’s specific requirements, and can tailor the pace of lessons to suit their abilities and workload. This individualised attention helps students gain confidence within the subject, improving their performance and participation in the classroom and in exams.
Do you tutor very young children?
Why should I use an online French tutor as an adult student?
A tutor will personalise lessons to your specific requirements, and can tailor the pace of lessons to suit you, whether you need to slow things down to really grasp something new, or whether you would benefit from being pushed to reach for your goals.
Adult students will benefit from having a conversation partner with whom to practise, all the while revising those little rules and unique phrases that add elegance and a certain je ne sais quoi to their spoken French.
Why learn a foreign language?
Knowing a foreign language can help you imagine the world in a different way. It can enhance your communication skills, improve your memory and problem-solving skills, and will open up a whole new world of career opportunities in French-speaking countries around the world. Research also shows that being bilingual helps keep the brain sharp and functioning as we move into old age.
For adults, your knowledge of a foreign language will give you an advantage in the job market, with language skills being considered a major asset by both employers (international expansion) and employees (professional growth and advancement).
I want to speak French. Why do I also have to study grammar, and practise reading French?
Language learning is primarily made up of four elements: speaking, listening, reading and writing, and grammar crosses over all of them. Just as you cannot drive safely (or legally) until you have studied driving theory, nor can you truly speak a foreign language without studying and learning its grammar - a language’s Rule Book.
Understanding how the language is constructed and put together will help you form sentences of your own, accurately and elegantly.
How long before I am fluent?
And remember, fluent means different things to different people: it can mean you can make hotel/restaurant reservations and confidently ask for directions; it can mean you are able to read French newspapers and chat socially with French-speaking neighbours or work colleagues; or it can mean you can write blogs/articles and deliver speeches or corporate presentations in French.
Think about your goals, and remind yourself why you wanted to learn French in the first place.
What should I expect from lessons?
What material do I need?
How often do I need to have a lesson?
For adult students, a one- or two-hour lesson per week is great and will help you keep focused and motivated with your self study.
Do you offer face-to-face lessons?
What are your payment options?
What is your cancellation policy?
Generally, my cancellation policy is:
- Lessons cancelled within 24 hours of the lesson start-time: half the lesson fee is payable.
- Lessons cancelled within 4 hours of the lesson start-time: the whole lesson fee is payable.
Do you tutor any other languages?
Sarah’s blog
Testimonials
Sarah tutored both my daughters through their GCSE French courses. They were both lacking in confidence and under-performing until they met Sarah and they both went on to achieve A grades under her supervision.
JN (parent of young student)September 2016 I took French up as a hobby, as my husband and I holiday in France most years. In all honesty I thought the novelty of studying again was going to wear off rather quickly, but months on I have moved my fortnightly lessons to weekly sessions as I enjoy it so much!
FT (Adult French for Leisure student)November 2014 Sarah's tuition helped my older son to top distinction grades in GCSE and A-level.
I am sure that with her help my 10-year-old will get equally good results. They both loved their weekly sessions with Sarah.
MP (parent of young student)November 2021 I am a working professional with a base level of French and I was required to brush up on my French language skills for a new job requirement.
Sarah was a great resource for helping me practice my conversational French and also in finding materials and resources that were relevant to my job in finance.
CB (French for Business student)March 2024 Sarah is a charming, extremely effective French tutor and she was the first person able to make French interesting for our daughter who was sitting iGCSE. She engaged immediately with my daughter and gave her the confidence to speak French, turning what had been a painful, anxiety-inducing experience into something enjoyable.
PW (parent of young student)September 2014 I have been working with Sarah for many years to gain fluency in my French speaking.
I have family and friends in France so this was important, and after beginning from scratch I can now engage in serious debates, read French novels, and my regular lessons with Sarah involve creative writing sessions as well as general conversation.
JI (Adult French for Leisure student)February 2024 Thank you for the time and energy you invested in translating these pages into English. As I read this version I recognised my soul, while also enjoying your style.
CJ (Translation client)January 2014 Sarah supported my daughter in the preparatory journey towards A levels. They clearly established a very nice relationship and my daughter was inspired and motivated by her lessons. Sarah is passionate about the subject and clearly able to make a true connection with her students.
SB (parent of young student)September 2019 Sarah is teaching French to me and my colleague (European Finance Director) with a view to us improving communication with our office in Paris.
Her lesson planning has been well structured throughout, and we are progressing in a thought out and understandable way. Imminent meeting at the Paris office and feeling prepared and confident!
BW (French for Business student)March 2014 Sarah gave my 15-year-old son intensive tuition prior to sitting his French GCSE. We had been living overseas and he had only been studying the language for a year. Sarah gave him excellent guidance on exam technique.
Her calm approach helped to ease many of his anxieties prior to sitting the oral section of the paper. He got an A*!
BS (parent of young student)October 2015 Sarah tutored my son for GSCE French. He enjoyed the lessons and achieved a grade that his teachers never believed possible. When my daughter needed help I had no hesitation in contacting Sarah again.
Good grades and happy, confident children.
ND (parent of young student)August 2016 Heartfelt thanks to Sarah Walker for her precious search and editorial assistance.
MR (Translation client)March 2022 Sarah has been teaching my son for a year now. He had no interest in the subject at school. She turned around his performance at school with great grades and feedback from his teacher.
KW (parent of young student)August 2018 We asked Sarah to help prepare our son for his GCSE French exam as he had lost his motivation and this was being reflected in his grades. Sarah changed all that. She is an excellent teacher with seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm for her subject.
She has a positive and supportive approach which immediately engaged our son, helping him to progress from the predicted poor grade based on the assessments he had already done to his final B grade - all in a very short space of time.
CR (parent of young student)September 2014 Sarah is very friendly, professional and dedicated - I've really enjoyed my lessons with her. She also provided significant learning materials for me to utilise outside of lessons, as well as recommendations for further reading. My French is continually improving!
SS (Adult French for Leisure student)November 2021Contact
- Victoria Mills, Salts Mill Road, Shipley, UK
