Hello and bonjour,

My name is Rob, and following my schooling in Northumberland and Suffolk, I graduated with a BA Hons. degree in French and Linguistics at the University of London. I started teaching at a French lycée in Clermont-Ferrand, then at both the Faculté des Lettres; Faculté de Droit at Nice University, France, specialising in simultaneous translation.

As a Head of French in a leading independent secondary school in the UK, I taught A Level French for 29 years, and A Level English Language: I also ‘coached’ students for Oxbridge applications.

Furthermore, I have been an A Level and GCSE examiner and a speaker at education conferences. I am also a governor in a secondary school academy.

Beyond teaching, I have worked as a translator, in the sporting and business domains, as well as interpreting for French football players and at academic conferences (French to English and English to French).

I have been appointed Press/Media Services Team Leader at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

On a personal level, I like writing poetry in French, and am currently embarking on my first novel. I am deeply interested in language (grammar, syntax, semantics, and etymology), and attempt to assiduously eschew obfuscatory prolixity! I am even known to create puns in both English and French (see Blog section).

I now live in the East Midlands. Outside of work, I enjoy various sports and music (I play the piano), cooking, and art. I have been fortunate to travel to six continents; my visits to Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Ghana, Malaysia, and South Africa have brought me great cultural insight. I lived in France for a significant amount of time and North Africa for several months.

English

  • A Level English Language tuition

  • Proof-reading any form of document or text

  • Pedagogy talks to school MFL departments

  • Job application letter advice

  • Interview advice

  • University application guidance

  • University essay advice (structure and language)

French

French tutoring (any level - beginner, intermediate, advanced, Common Entrance, GCSE, A Level, undergraduate)

  • Conversational, grammar, literature, current affairs, politics, society, history, cultural

  • Undergraduate and A Level specialist topics.

Have a read through my weekly blogs, ranging from school and educational topics, literary themes, life as a translator, and more!