French (mother tongue) & Spanish Tutor giving informal conversation classes in Cambridge :)

Find out more about Maïli

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins, or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I teach French, English and Spanish online. French is my mother tongue and I love sharing the language and culture with foreigners. As for English and Spanish, I learnt them while traveling and leaving abroad and fell in love with them. It is always a pleasure to share my knowledge and help other to improve and embrace new languages :)

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Let’s talk for French. I’d say Victor Hugo as he is the author of Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris which is a classic of French literature - he embodies French literature at its peak. Besides, he was also a political thinker, activist, and defender of social justice — values deeply tied to the French identity. Finally, his works reflect key themes of my culture: freedom, revolution, human dignity, art, and architecture.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  "French expressions » or sayings that make absolutely no sense when translated to other languages but are very strongly part of the French identity. We use them all the time and we have many of them for every specific situation! It’s always very fun to teach :)

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  I think French is a beautiful and complex language, full of nuances and exceptions. That’s why it’s important to me helping Francophile people on their way through the language acquisition.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  French grammar is a bit tricky, there are some basic rules of course but plenty of exceptions as well, that you can learn only with practicing French conversation and getting used to it. There is no secret! Practice and consistency is the key of success!

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I remember my French classes from high school where I would ask « but why is that not following the rule? » and my teacher would answer, « French is not the easiest language, that’s why you are lucky to speak it and should make the most out of this class if you ever want to master it properly!"

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Let’s talk about English and Spanish here, which aren’t my native languages. I first learnt them at school when I was young. But then I got the opportunity to study in England (Cambridge) and later work in Spain (Barcelona). This is how you realize on the first weeks, that, despite my A-grades at school, I knew almost nothing. Everything you need to know, you will learn it and experience it in real-life settings when living or traveling in this specific country, or practicing informal conversation with a native speaker on Superprof for example.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  My approach is based on real-life, natural conversations, because I believe that’s the most effective way to learn. I ask my students to review their basics before the first class so we can focus on what truly matters: fluency, confidence, and practical communication. My mission as a Superprof, is to help my students improve a little more every day, in a friendly, relaxed, and supportive environment.