Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Writing: Students produce written work from a choice of three tasks
  • Reading: Students read and answer questions on three different texts
  • Listening: Students listen and answer questions on three different audio passages.
  • Speaking: Students have a recorded conversation with their teacher based on a visual stimulus or literary extract (depending on the level of the student)

Students used to be most nervous about the oral component but have now become even more nervous about the listening exam. It’s new for everyone, for the IB, for teachers, for students, it’s a difficult skill and often the least practiced.

In a nutshell: Grammar, vocabulary, formats for their writing and the criteria for all their assessments.

Students are required to attend and participate at set times through videoconferencing.

Registered students will have access to all my IB material and to other IB specific material

Group classes                                                                                                                           

Only cancellations made at least one week before the start of the course will be fully refunded.

Once the course has started, non-attended classes will be lost.

Individual classes

Only cancellations made 48 hours prior to class, can be rescheduled within a week.

All payments will have to be made prior to classes starting.

It is an opportunity for students to practice and enhance their skills. The IB curriculum is challenging, students will benefit from thorough revisions, practice and familiarizing themselves with the IB specific content. Moreover, as a class teacher, I found that during school breaks, students had the best of intentions, but without proper guidance and a qualified teacher to motivate them, they rarely find the motivation to do work.

MYP ( all phases)
Pre IB ( for non MYP students)
IB 1 & IB 2 Ab initio French and Spanish
IB 1 & IB 2 Language B French and Spanish

All new students will first take a written placement test which will be followed by an oral assessment.

Group classes meet 3 times a week for 90 minutes

Feedback will be given on a very regular basis.
First, feedback will be shared regarding the performance on the placement test and on a regular basis thereafter.

Tutoring by an IB tutor during the school year is immensely beneficial for all students. Some students struggle with languages and one-on-one lessons are a great support. Most students are already performing very well but wish to reach their full potential and score very high grades.

IB teachers do a stellar job at preparing their students for the exam. However, it is much easier to progress in a one-on-one setting. The personal attention, tailored classes, catering for individual needs and the regular work on all the different skills give students an edge. Studies show that when students are in a private setting, feel little or no anxiety, their self-esteem is enhanced and protected.

All new students will first take a written placement test which will be followed by an oral assessment.

Individual lessons run all year long.

The frequency and duration of the classes are decided by the student.

Students who only need occasional support can purchase tutoring packages. This gives the students the opportunity to get support when they feel they need it. These packages are particularly popular before the Individual oral assessment and to practice listening skills, but they can also be used for revisions or before exams or mocks.

Packages are valid throughout the duration of the school year they were purchased in.

The IB language acquisition programme requires a very specific vocabulary. The lack of vocabulary knowledge is the largest obstacle that students encounter. To this effect, I have put together IB specific vocabulary lists.

The IB specific lists were compiled by relying on my extensive teaching experience and by going through past papers, textbooks and other IB related material. The lists are divided into IB themes and subthemes.  Special specific folders for the oral exam for each level are also available.

They are available on the At Home with Linguistics website and can be purchased online.

The IB language acquisition programme requires great accuracy in grammar. The lack of grammar knowledge makes productive skills (speaking and writing) challenging. To this effect, I have put together grammar lists to help students conjugate and use tenses correctly.

The IB specific lists were compiled by identifying the most common irregular verbs in the present tense that students need to know at each level and the variety of tenses that the IB requires at each level. The lists include Quizlet flashcards to enable students to practice the grammar.

They are available on the At Home with Linguistics website and can be purchased online.

A registration form is available on the website. You can also contact me via Email or Instagram. If you do not hear back within 3 days, it will mean that your communication has not been received.

Please feel free to contact me via Email or Instagram. If you do not hear back within 3 days, it will mean that your communication has not been received.

A contract clearly stating the terms and conditions for all parties (Tutor/student & guardian) will be signed before courses start.

Summer/Winter break courses

Half the amount of the course is required to secure a spot. The rest of the amount needs to be settled at least one week before the start of the course

Year long tutoring

Invoices will be sent every month and need to be settled in advance.

Packages

Packages need to be paid for before the start of the first lesson.

Group classes

Only cancellations made at least one week before the start of the course will be fully refunded.

Year long tutoring

Families should inform the tutor of absences prior to the invoice of the month being issued. Cancellations due to sickness will be given a week to be rescheduled. Late cancellations will not be accepted, and classes will be lost. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the tutor to agree on a new time for rescheduling

Packages

Cancellations due to sickness will be given a week to be rescheduled. Late cancellations will not be accepted, and classes will be lost. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the tutor to agree on a new time for rescheduling

Tutor cancellations

All tutor cancellations will be rescheduled

Payments can be made on the website, through a Stripe invoice or into a bank account.

The IB is a well-respected programme and a door opener to many universities, but it is not for the light-hearted! It is commonly known that the Diploma IB students are the most stressed students in the world. The content of this programme is highly challenging. It contains 3 High level subjects, 3 Standard level subjects, an Extended essay, Internal assessments, Theory of knowledge and Creativity Action and Service! IB students agree that the academic requirements of the programme are their main stressors, but more is added to their plates. They also must deal with university applications, university interviews, personal statements, letters of recommendation and the anxiety created by university acceptances.

Truth be told, ALL IB students will be very challenged by this programme but being organized and time management are key. Procrastination and the IB do not go well together. Students should seek support where they can find it (family, IB coordinator, counselors, teachers, tutors, and peers).