Hi, I'm Alan. I believe the most effective teachers are the ones who were immersed in a subject early. My French story started when I was 10, at a British boarding school where I first picked up the language (yes our uniform did look like we were studying at Hogwarts). It followed me all the way to Harvard, where it became more than a subject from high school - it helped me build friendships and a community.
I specialize in teaching true beginners - whether a school-age student building a...
Hi, I'm Alan. I believe the most effective teachers are the ones who were immersed in a subject early. My French story started when I was 10, at a British boarding school where I first picked up the language (yes our uniform did look like we were studying at Hogwarts). It followed me all the way to Harvard, where it became more than a subject from high school - it helped me build friendships and a community.
I specialize in teaching true beginners - whether a school-age student building a foundation or an adult starting from scratch. Currently, I have been applying my teaching skills at local French conversation clubs here in Cambridge! At each event, I am often reminded of grammatical concepts and speaking difficulties I myself overcame over my years of studying French. Drawing on memories from those sticking points, I help beginners translate thought into speech and unlock their confidence. Most lessons center on conversational practice, though at times that means addressing specific issues - common grammatical traps, or effortlessly expressing complex ideas. I leverage AI tools to generate precise drills to assist students' weaknesses, create oral practice, and stimulate visual learners with custom visual aids. Personalization and consistency, paired with a carefully built curriculum, are what drive real progress in French.
I recently experienced firsthand how consistency can exponentially grow your progress, when I sat the TCF Canada exam (Test de connaissance du français), earning a certification at an advanced C1/C2 level in French. I've prepared students for specific assessments before - exams and interviews alike - and successfully coached several into offers at Amazon and Deloitte.
If you're just starting out — or looking for a French tutor who'll actually meet you where you are — I'd love to help. I'm happy to offer a free first lesson so we can see if it's a good fit, and as a bonus, I'll put together a few AI-personalized resources to help you get started, completely free.
