French Tutoring in Nairobi
French is taught in many Nairobi schools, both international and Kenyan, and students often have very different starting points. Some began in primary school. Others start in secondary school or join a new school where their classmates are years ahead. At Cares Home-based Tuition we teach French one-on-one, at your home in Nairobi, at our Riverside Drive centre, or online, starting from wherever your child is.
Curricula and levels we cover
- Primary French: early vocabulary, pronunciation and simple sentences for Cambridge Primary schools and Common Entrance French at 11+ and 13+.
- CBC/CBE Junior School: French as an optional foreign language, where your child’s school offers it.
- Cambridge IGCSE French (Foreign Language): listening, reading, speaking and writing.
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French.
- AS and A-Level French: Cambridge International and Edexcel, including longer writing, translation and the study of topics and texts.
- IB: MYP Language Acquisition, and in the Diploma, French B (SL and HL) and French ab initio.
- KCSE French: French is not a compulsory subject in KCSE, but it is offered as an elective in the languages group, and we prepare students for it.
See our curricula page for more on each system.
What a French tutor focuses on
Language learning needs regular practice and plenty of speaking. In a busy classroom, a student may speak French for only a minute or two in a lesson. One-on-one, they speak for most of it. This is often where the biggest progress comes from.
Areas that students commonly find difficult include:
- Verb conjugation, especially irregular verbs and the past tenses (passé composé and imparfait).
- Gender and agreement of nouns and adjectives.
- Listening at natural speed.
- Speaking spontaneously, not only from memorised answers.
- Writing accurate, varied sentences with linking words and a range of tenses.
Tutors build vocabulary topic by topic, teach grammar in a clear sequence and practise all four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. Lessons include conversation from the start, so students get used to hearing and using French.
Speaking exams and oral practice
The speaking component makes many students nervous. Tutors prepare them with role-plays, picture or topic discussions, and practice conversations on the themes of their syllabus. For IB students, tutors help prepare for the individual oral. Regular practice in a calm setting makes the real exam feel familiar.
Exam technique
Written papers reward accuracy and range. Tutors show students how to use a variety of tenses and structures without taking risks they cannot control, and how to check their work for common errors. Before exams, students work through past papers with full feedback. Our exam preparation service gives a structured plan for the final weeks.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
My child has joined a new school and is behind in French. Can you help them catch up?
Yes. The tutor first finds out what your child already knows, then builds the missing vocabulary and grammar in a planned order. How long this takes depends on the size of the gap and how often your child has lessons, and the tutor will keep you informed through progress reports.
Do tutors speak French in lessons?
Yes, and the amount of French increases as your child becomes more confident. Beginners get clear explanations in English where needed, so that grammar is understood rather than guessed.
Do you teach French to complete beginners?
Yes, at any age. Lessons start with everyday vocabulary, pronunciation and simple conversation, and grammar is added step by step.
Or see how we set fees, or chat with us on WhatsApp: +254 704 737 831