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Claudine G - Tutor in Muizenberg

I am a Mathematics and Science High School and College Teacher who has also taught primary school Intervention in English and Afrikaans as well as Mathematics. I have been very ill and hence have a voice problem but as soon as learners get used to my voice they understand it without any issue. I have been teaching for 35 years and have taught learners from 6-65 years of age. I am also an eternal student and love learning myself. I have a masters degree in Mathematics education. I am passionate about my learners and empathetic towards them and will go out of my way to help them in any way I can. My other interests include craft (sewing, embroidery, sewing, knitting], reading and music[ I love playing the piano]. I try to teach from going from the perspective of what you know and using it to get to what you do not yet know and have to learn. I expect my learners to practice and master the work we have covered in lessons so that we can progress easily. I do however understand that life happens and this is not always possible. If you do not understand a concept I will try to approach it from different angles until you do get it. Another of my pet things is to use real life examples especially from the learner's life so that the lessons are relevant and exciting to you. I believe lessons should be fun and something to look forward to so try to keep good humor going through out.

Tutor basics
Teaching places

My Home, Students Home, Public Place, and Online

Travelling distance

Claudine will travel 10km from Muizenberg, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Languages spoken

Claudine speaks Portuguese, Afrikaans, French, and English

Experience / Education
I studied full - time from 1983-1987 at Wits in Johannesburg. At the same time I worked in the Johannesburg Public Library. From 1987-1997 I worked at Malvern High as a Mathematics and Physical Science teacher. During this period I did a BA, BA[hons) through UNISA and a Portuguese consul teaching diploma because many of my learners came from Mozambique, Angola and Portugal. In 1997 I moved to Central Johannesburg Technical college where I taught Mathematics and Engineering Physics. I became Head of department Mathematics, Science and Examinations. This gave me management and administrative experience. In 1997 I also completed my Masters in Mathematics Education. During this time I also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education I left the college in 2006 because of ill health. I could no longer speak after tumors in my throat ,trachea and lungs. After a tracheotomy I learnt to speak again but my speech is still a bit different and if I have any lung infection things become problematic. In 2007 I started teaching again at Greenside High and opened its Mathematics Clinic. I was also Acting Head of Science there for a while. In 2013 I did an Aimsec course called Mathematics with wings particularly focused on AP Mathematics teaching. I taught at Greenside till October 2014. Then I moved to Cape Town Muizenberg in particular because I could no longer breathe in Johannesberg. I taught at Al Azhaar High for a year then the next five years at Junior College as an Intervention Teacher. All along I have tutored, taught night schools and marked matric examinations. In November 2020 I got covid followed by pneumonia and the school lost numbers so once again I find myself looking for work. Spent a year at home writing text books and doing curriculum design
Subjects taught
  • General Maths & Science

    Everything I said about Mathematics applies. Here however the key is to experiment practically yourself and prove facts to yourself about the world as it is. My classroom experience of teaching Natural and Physical Science supplies me with the necessary experiments. Another key area is connecting what you have learnt practically to the scientifically correct way to write up things, balance chemical equations and use the correct units. The relationship to the real life experiment must be used as a foundation to build these skills.

    Claudine teaches General Maths & Science at High School, Primary School, and Adult level(s)

  • Mathematics Literacy

    I am the best teacher for this for all the reasons listed under Mathematics but also because I believe it should be practical Mathematics rather than Mathematical Literacy and try to take away the language barrier it is often couched in. I try to make the work as real to the learner's own life as possible and make the calculations relevant and easy to follow. I do not just give recipes that the learners must follow and remember they have to understand what they are doing.

    Claudine teaches Mathematics Literacy at High School level(s)

  • Mathematics

    I am the best tutor for this subject since I have a wide range of experience with it and have taught many, many people of all ages. Since I have experienced the curriculum from foundation phase through to varsity I can always fill in the crucial missing steps you may have or revise a part you may have forgotten. I also have a Masters in Mathematics Education and have done a course called Mathematics with wings which give me the theoretical techniques, psychological and philosophical ways to approach a problem with the learning, understanding or learning material. They also enable me to create extra practice examples unique to you the learner and your real life circumstances.

    Claudine teaches Mathematics at High School, Primary School, University/College, and Adult level(s)

  • Afrikaans

    The last five years I have had significant success teaching children Afrikaans by doing a nice story, translating it into English, answering questions on the story in Afrikaans, even rewriting it in your own words, then doing grammar exercises based on the story. This works very well with second and third language speakers who have an attitude towards the subject. I always try and use stories related to topics the children may be interested in and then build the language and exercises from that.

    Claudine teaches Afrikaans at Primary School level(s)

  • Reading

    I love watching people learn how to read. How a whole new world suddenly opens for them is extremely exciting. For the past five years I have taught Intervention in a primary school. A great deal of this is based on teaching learners to read and phonics. I feel that I have had success in this area because the learners enjoy the stories and puzzles we do. I have a wealth of materials I have created around this area. Consistent practice is obviously key.

    Claudine teaches Reading at Primary School and Adult level(s)

  • English Language and Literature

    Everything I said about reading applies here. I also enjoy teaching the rules of language and doing grammatical exercises till concepts are mastered and retained. I personally love English Literature which has a wealth to choose from. Having been an avid reader myself and worked in libraries I know lots of books and can apply my knowledge to the learner's interests. The language gets built out of the literature. We follow whatever story with grammatical exercises based on it and can even do things like write letters, do book reviews etc. from a single passage.

    Claudine teaches English Language and Literature at Primary School level(s)