The title of this article may seem surprising to you: what do we mean by the right teacher? Isn't it enough to just speak French to be a right teacher?
As it happens, the answer to that question is definitely no.
For example, did you equally like all your school teachers? Did you enjoy all your lessons the same way?
In fact, you certainly had teachers who were attentive to your needs and took your preferred method of learning into account. Others weren't as supportive and encouraging.
Then, you may also have had school teachers who kindled your interest in their subject and inspired you to explore it further in your free time.
What we mean by the right French teacher is this latter kind of tutor whose teaching is stimulating for students.
Probably, no one wants to have French conversation classes in Auckland, in which both the students and the teacher would speak in English all the time.
So let's find out how students can meet the right French teachers in Auckland or elsewhere in New Zealand and have an enjoyable time learning with them.
Why you should Learn French
One of the questions prospective French students often ask themselves is whether the language of Molière is worth learning at all.
Do you want to visit the Louvre Museum in Paris or to discover the vineyards of Bordeaux, or perhaps to go backpacking on the Pilgrimage trails?
You would feel much more comfortable with conversation in French!
What's more, aside from France, the French language is spoken in other countries, such as Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Senegal, Ivory Coast and many more. So, it can open up really lots of opportunities.
Let's say, you are going to Belgium for business and you meet international clients who aren't completely fluent in English. With good French skills, you'll still be able to communicate with them and strike good deals.
French language skills will make your CV more competitive and can land you a job with a better salary in New Zealand or abroad.
Finally, studies have shown that being bilingual helps stave off dementia in old age, trains memory and improves general thinking skills.
What's your current level of French?
Are you a complete beginner in French or are you close to the intermediate level but need to hone your pronunciation?
What if you are planning to take French as your NCEA subject, or to sit the DELF?
All language students in New Zealand have different levels and educational goals. That's something you need to consider before selecting a French teacher for you!
Among other things, you can ask yourself what are your strong points in French – are you better at grammar or pronunciation or maybe, you'd like to expand your vocabulary?
For some learners in New Zealand listening and speaking is easy than reading and writing, for others, it's quite the opposite..
So, try to identify the language skills you need to work on for an exam or to apply for a job, and you will have a slightly better idea of what kind of tutor to seek.
Then, you should also think about the teaching methods you'd like your tutor to use. Do you prefer traditional learning: at a desk, with a pen and a notebook?
Or are you looking for something more dynamic: such as playing games, having dialogues or even singing?
Joking apart, music can be a useful teaching tool in Auckland and around New Zealand!
French is a language with a lot of rhythms.
Unlike in English, French doesn't stress individual syllables in words but rather entire parts of sentences, which are broken into rhythmic groups, according to their meaning.
Is it possible to find a French tutor who would meet all your criteria to help you get on with your education?
On Superprof, you can find a huge choice of French tutors teaching in Auckland and all across New Zealand.
What Qualities does a Good Teacher Embody?
Good education specialists teaching languages in New Zealand aren't always easy to find.
As we have seen, for productive French teaching, it is not enough just to speak the language but the teacher needs a whole set of qualities.
Some of the qualities you should look for in a teacher are the following:
- patience
- compassion
- support for every student no matter their results
- confidence
- a passion for their job
- understanding
- the ability to see things from different perspectives and adapt their teaching approach
We all have had to deal with bad teachers at some point in our education and we don't want to repeat that experience.
Another essential criterion is how well a teacher masters their subject matter.
That may seem obvious but in fact, some people trying to teach languages don't even speak them well themselves.
Teaching languages is probably one of the most difficult jobs.
Imagine you are in a classroom full of students, but only a few of them understand your explanations and some aren't even listening to you.
Such a situation can be quite frustrating for the person doing the job and that's the reason why patience is one of the most essential qualities on our list!
Of course, such problems are more often faced by secondary school teachers, still even an online tutor can run into a student who'll not understand them. How they react will be a determinant of the success of the entire course.
A French teacher's temperament is one of the most essential criteria.
A good idea to select the right tutor in Auckland is to rely on feedback from that educator's former students, who might tell if they were patient, understanding and supportive.
For instance, on Superprof, students can leave reviews for their tutors after a few lessons and that helps other people willing to learn languages with them.
If a tutor has a lot of reviews and all of them are positive, you can be pretty sure that they are a qualified education specialist.
Then, if you are still undecided about your choice, you can always book an introductory lesson with a tutor to meet them in person.
The same considerations apply to online French classes.
Points to take into account when looking for a Tutor
Depending on whether you look for a French teacher for your child of school age or one for yourself, you will probably not be able to hire the same person.
For a child, it can be better to learn with teacher who knows about the demands of the New Zealand Curriculum, and can adapt themselves to the student's age.
They will have to use official French textbooks, and try to be consistent with what the child is currently learning with their school teacher.
Of course, the tutor can and should teach them some new expressions and vocabulary from time to time but they should never forget the age of the students when preparing their French lessons.
For example, it might be strange to talk about concerts or French wine with a 7 year old.
On the other hand, cultural aspects can be useful for an adult learn willing to get better at French conversation before they go to France on holidays or start looking for high-salary jobs requiring French skills.
Native Speaker or Bilingual?
When we take private lessons, we want the most for our money.
When comes to learning French, there is a great debate on whether a native speaker makes for a better teacher than some who has learnt French.
On the one hand, a native speaker will certainly speak and understand French more fluently. On the other hand, they might not have all the answers regarding grammar and vocabulary.
Since we learn our native language in a natural way, even very well-educated French people may not be aware of certain basic rules to explain grammar.
Another important point is pronunciation. For example, French accents change the way certain vowels are read. A native speaker is unlikely to make mistakes but may be less responsive to students' difficulties.
Finally, a native French tutor's English language skills might not be sufficient to provide detailed explanations but that could be a good point for someone looking for practice since they can speak in French all the time.
So, there is no unique answer to the question. Both native and non-native language tutors can do a great job teaching the French language. Everything depends on each tutor's specific qualifications, experience and personal qualities.
That is why it is better to select a tutor on a case-to-case basis depending on their credentials and your own learning goals.
The platform that can help you with that is Superprof.
Whether you want just to learn French, pass a certificate or boost specific skills, like comprehension, Superprof has a tutor for you.
From conjugation to French idioms and culture, our tutors can provide you with comprehensive support and help you become a true francophone even faster than you may have expected.
You can take classes in person, on Skype or Zoom and meet with your tutor as often as it best suits you.
Still not sure if a tutor will be good for you?
Most Superprof tutors offer their first lesson for free, so you can get to know them better.
Finding a French tutor has never been so easy.
You can also learn more about the cost of French tuition to avoid any budget issues.
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