about me
This quote from the educational theorist T. Carruthers has always been a source of inspiration. I love teaching, I always have done. Time spent in a school in South Western France teaching English to 15-year-olds many moons ago was my introduction to watching rows of lightbulbs light up when they had grasped the grammatical concept I was teaching. It was illuminating - excuse the pun.
​
​
my qualifications ...
​
My working life after the London School of Economics and the Université de Strasbourg began as a solicitor working between Paris and London. This springboard led to a 20-year entrepreneurial fashion business based in legal London which I sold to spend more time with my 3 teenage children.
​
A further university degree to acquire a PGCE in modern foreign languages led me into mainstream secondary education rising to head of French in a leading private girls’ school.
Whilst teaching French and German I upgraded my TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) to a CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) and I also have certificates in online and business teaching.
When not working I am writing and reading. I confess to being a complete bibliophile - my idea of heaven is a log fire and a good book.
I live in very rural west Dorset in the south west of the UK and am a frequent visitor to France.
I am an indulgent mum to three gorgeous adult sons, and am partial to long distance walking, preferably accompanied by a four-legged companion.
​
Madeleine Hamilton
LLB (Dip Jur), PGCE (MFL), TEFL CELTA
my teaching...
Since Covid days I have been teaching online, mostly English, and mostly 1:1, and, as a result, I have become experienced with the many aspects of TOEIC, TOEFL and IELTS.
Whatever your level, A1 to C2, (CEFR) I can help you to improve your English. Learning can and should be enjoyable. Each and every lesson is fully prepared and tailored to match your needs - I am a passionate believer in achieving my objectives for every lesson.
Personal favourite topics include the arts, travel, culture, health & lifestyle and British life in general. For the workplace we can explore effective office small talk, meetings, negotiations, presentations and intercultural awareness, using authentic materials and practising real life situations.