English critical thinking, reading, comprehension skills, listening skills, creative writing abilities and more! I have taught English in both local and international settings for 6 years.

Find out more about Nadine

• When did you develop an interest in your subject and in private tutoring?

  I developed an interest for teaching afrikaans during my highschool years where I would often help otehr students with their work. In 2020 when covid hit I started to really get into private tutoring and each year since I have developed a deeper love for the Afrikaans language and the journey students go through when learning about it.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  Primarily I teach afrikaans. I teach both school students who have afrikaans at school, and adults who have an interest in speaking the language.
  Our discussions will inevitably lead to teh topic of culture and life as a South African as so much of the language is tied to this. It usually results in some good laughs, especially at our unique way of expressing ourselves and talking about the world around us.
  I like to find topics of interest to each student as they will ultimately want to talk about their interests in Afrikaans one day, and that way I get to learn more about the world too. So far I have learnt more about laws, wine, wildlife and rugby from my students!

• Did you have any role models? Perhaps a teacher that inspired you?

  My english teacher was a massive inspiration to me during highschool. She was very well educated, kind, eccentric and passionate. She loved teaching and loved language. That spilled over to me, and I hope to pass that on to my students too.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Patience, it takes time for someone to learn a new language and they might make the same mistakes many times before they learn the rhythm of a language.
  Awareness, a tutor needs to assess where the gaps lie and when a student needs a different type of approach.
  Creativity, a good tutor will need to find creative ways to teach concepts in a memorable and engaging matter, all while adapting to different students.

• Could you share an anecdote related to your subject or your student days?

  Many adult students who want to learn the language are motivated to do so because they have a partner who is Afrikaans. One particular client has had so much fun in the process that she and her partner have created their own version of ‘baba afrikaans’ to talk to each other, while she learns. This has brought them so much joy, especially when they run into other South Africans, and she can boast “Ek praat ook afrikaans”. In her journey we have had many laughs, including usings “klank -klank” as a silly way to refer to noisy people, and how “spookasem”(ghost breath) is the word in afrikaans for candy floss. She is living proof that learning a language doesnt have to be hundreds of hours. A few dedicated lessons, and continuous application can already bridge language and cultural gaps, fostering deeper connections.

• Did you face any difficulties at school or university?

  I did all of my university degrees online through distance learning. This comes with many challenges, especially a lack of support. In turn this allowed me to develop resilience and think of creative ways to enhance online learning for my own students.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general, an element of this particular subject, or something completely different?

  I can be described as a voracious learner. I am deeply passionate about knowledge and learning and hope to share that with everyone that is willing to learn. Through tutoring, I am able to pass that on by being a positive, welcoming teacher.

• What makes you a Superprof?

  I am a Superprof due to my love of learning. I am passionate about my work and about supporting students and as such I am constantly looking at ways to improve my methods and knowledge so that I can better support my students.