Abou K.

specializes in French Tutor Native Speaker 12 year Experience · male

Details

Contact

Personal Statement

My name is Abou. I am a French native speaker. I hold a master's degree in Education from the University of Minnesota. Prior to coming to the United States, I have lived and studied in France and Tunisia where I completed my PhD dissertation in philosophy in the French language. All my experience in the United States is related to teaching, especially French. I taught two courses at Anoka Ramsey Community College, one course of French language and one course of Introduction to French Culture, for 4 years. I was a Teaching Assistant at the University of Minnesota for three years where I taught French as part of my graduate studies. After I completed my degree I taught there as a Teaching Specialist for 4 years prior to becoming a Visiting Assistant Professor between 2007 and 2009 at Macalester College, one of the best Liberal Colleges in Minnesota and in the country in general. All the evaluations I received from my students are excellent. Also, as a faculty I have been tutoring students preparing to pass their foreign language proficiency tests, since 1998, when the University of Minnesota called it the Graduate Proficiency Test (GPT). I have given several private tutoring sessions with almost a 100% of success. Off all the students I prepared, only one failed because he was working full-time for his father’s business and was not turn in his homework, which explained why he failed in French composition test. He also missed many sessions with me due to his busy schedule, and I did warn him about it. I am currently teaching French at a community school in Columbus, this is my second year there. You can be sure to succeed with me if you agree to work hard with me. Besides having a passion for French literature and philosophy I also love French grammar, and I always teach it in a fun non intimidating way. I understand through my long teaching experience that French grammar is the main reason for which students turn away from French, and they convince themselves that French is not for them. I also understand most students; including former students will tell you they took Spanish in High School instead of French and that all they remember are a few words here and there, like “merci”, (Thank you) “Bonjour!” (Hello!) or “Je m’appelle” (My name is). I have many examples I can cite you to convince you I am the right teacher for you, but I will only give one. In 2003, I met an English professor through a friend of mine. He was interested in private tutoring. He had taken French 30 years ago at the university, and is now in his 60s. We were meeting for simply one hour and a half per week. I remember our earliest sessions in which I had literally to write down every single word I was saying. It was just too difficult for him. But over a period of six years, (until I moved out of state2009), he made unbelievable progress. We were now reading novels by francophone writers; he was a regular to a French conversation group, a weekly gathering that I started with two friends of mine, Isabelle and Stéphanie. He was speaking fairly well with the native speakers. In our tutoring sessions, besides the conversation, we also read a lot. We started with easy readers considered as most popular in France, to novels that are normally read in French high schools. Three things explain his success: First, is his love for the French language; second, a steady attendance: he always attended the group of conversation and rarely missed my sessions. Two long absences were for a good reason, during two summers when he traveled abroad to Paris and Québec, to learn more French, in truth under my recommendation. Third is his refusal to speak English while we are together. I think with my experience and my excellent knowledge of the French language and culture make me a good candidate to offer you private tutoring lessons. Sincerely, Abou

Columbus, OH 43213