MFL Worcestershire
Language Tuition, Translation, Consultancy & Training
MFL Worcestershire students on average jump 2 grades and consistently grade their tutor with 5 stars
Sharon M Baker BA(Hons), MEd, Dip ELIC, DipHE, CELTA
​Call Now: + 44 (0) 7858 013636
Email: [email protected]
Request a free 20 minute consultation
MFL Worcestershire
About
Welcome, bienvenue, bienvenido to our website! MFL Worcestershire is a flexible language services based in the north of the county. The tutor, translator & consultant, Sharon, creates and teaches bespoke personalised language courses in French, Spanish, English and ESOL/ EFL to people of all abilities. She offers translation from French-to-English and Spanish-to-English, copy editing/proofreading of texts in all three languages and ESOL consultancy and training services.
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Sharon, is experienced, highly qualified and friendly, whilst always being professional.
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MFL Worcestershire Language Services
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Language courses for GCSE, A Level and adult students of English, French and Spanish, including for business, conversation and holidays
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Adult lessons for qualifications including the French DELF / DALF, the Spanish DELE and English ESOL and IELTS
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English for Academic Purposes
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Translation French-to-English and Spanish-to-English
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Copy editing and proofreading of any texts
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ESOL Consultancy, from training ESOL tutors to designing full ESOL programmes and courses
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MFL Worcestershire is the sister site of Linguatrust Language Services
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The lessons & courses
Sharon's approach to teaching has been informed through the most recent studies into language learning/teaching, as well as her own research in Applied Linguistics and continued CPD, including on SEND.
Lessons are tailored to the individual needs of every learner, whether an adult or a school age student, whether learning for academic reasons, for pleasure or for work. Importance is given to all four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing, and to the specific language needs of each student. Sharon works to build each learner's confidence and to guide them to become independent learners.
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All PowerPoint presentations, which are embedded with sound files and website links to authentic materials and interactive activities, are made available to students after lessons. Online lessons can also be recorded and screen captures shared.
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Designed courses and language programmes, inclding for ESOL, are created after full consultation with clients to take into consideration the setting and the needs of teachers and the profiles of learners.
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The tutor, translator & consultant
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Sharon has been teaching French, Spanish and English as a Foreign / Additional Language to all ages and abilities and for all the main exam boards for over 17 years. Sharon has been teaching English Language and Literature GCSE and English for Academic Purposes for as long.
Sharon is an ESOL Tutor Trainer and ESOL Programme Consultant. She is ESOL Coordinator for Malvern Welcomes which supports resettled families with a refugee background and Chair a Voluntary Sector ESOL Working Group. Sharon is Voluntary Sector Rep for NATECLA (National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults) and a member of its Midlands Branch
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She has been translating French to English and Spanish to English for over 12 years.
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Sharon was awarded a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics with Distinction in 2016
Qualifications​
Master of Education (Applied Linguistics) with Distinction; BA (Hons) in French & English Language Studies (2:1); Diploma in English for International Communication (Spanish); Diploma in Spanish Language Studies; CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
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Sharon believes that Continued Professional Development is extremely important and recent courses she has completed include: Understanding Autism; Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching; and Working Supportively with Refugees.
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Experience​
Sharon lived in France and Spain for many years and consequently has knowledge of the culture of both countries and that of the Francophone and Hispanic worlds in general. When living in Europe she worked as a freelance landscape and portrait artist and realised she had a passion for languages, becaming fluent in both French and Spanish.
On returning to the UK Sharon formalised her language skills with a Degree in French and English Language Studies, a Diploma in Spanish for International Communication and a Masters in Education (Applied Lingistics). She is currently studying Italian and continues CPD in all areas relating to her work.
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​In her free time, Sharon likes to read, particularly about language and linguistics, and to watch documentaries about the history and cultures of the Hispanic and Francophone world and to listen to music of different genres, languages and cultures
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In The News
Voluntary ESOL Working Group Padlet of essential resources
Hosted by Linguatrust, MFL Worcestershire's national language services, this excellent hub for information and resources has been created for anyone teaching ESOL in the Voluntary Sector - from access to full courses and resources for every topic to information on events and useful organisations.
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Linguatrust's Trauma Sensitive ESOL Classroom workshop at NATECLA Midlands Conference
"Sharon Baker guided attendees in understanding the types of trauma ESOL learners may have faced and how these experiences can impact their ability to learn. This powerful and thought-provoking workshop explored how to create an empowering and safe ESOL classroom for learners who have experienced trauma.
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"Attendees focused on practical strategies to support trauma-affected learners, including ways to minimise triggers, foster a sense of safety, and provide appropriate support when needed. Additionally, the workshop addressed vicarious trauma—the emotional impact on educators—and highlighted self-care strategies to help practitioners maintain their well-being while supporting their students."​
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ESOL Toolkit and ESOL for Healthcare Course designed by Linguatrust for Sandwell Language Network
Linguatrust created five complete ESOL courses for the Sandwell Language Network and which are free to download. The ESOL Toolkit includes full courses, Pre-Entry to Entry 3, with work schemes and all teacher and student resources.
Linguatrust has also designed an ESOL for Healthcare Course with downloadable teacher guides and student workbooks covering essential English for healthcare situations (making appointments, describing symptoms, understanding medication instructions etc.) ​
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Some Testimonials
Linguatrust [Sharon's national language services] developed, piloted and customised an online Toolkit for the Sandwell Language Network (SLN) in 2021-22, as part of a boroughwide community ESOL programme. The result is a fantastic online resource for ESOL Tutors for basic/pre-entry skills level upwards, adaptable for informal community settings as well as more formal learning environments. We invited Sharon from Linguatrust to speak at the celebration event of the SLN programme in July 2022. She presented the Toolkit and spoke with in-depth knowledge and passion about the importance of language learning for wellbeing as well as to address social, health and economic inequalities. We're delighted to have the Toolkit as part of the legacy of the programme and would be very happy to work with Linguatrust again in the future.​
- Louise Kilbride, CEO, Sandwell Consortium CIC
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So pleased I found Sharon! I own a Spanish restaurant, Bar Limón. Sharon has translated several texts and documents from Spanish to English and English to Spanish. She has excellent cultural knowledge –ensuring Bar Limón provides an authentic Spanish / Hispanic experience. Sharon was professional, accurate and prompt. To sum up a pleasure to work with and I wouldn’t hesitate to call upon her services again​
- Lucy Dunlop, Owner of Bar Limón
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Sharon played a key role in helping my son to prepare for his French GCSC exams this year. My son was getting a little discouraged with his French lesson as he was not receiving proper support from his school. His grades weren't progressing towards his desired level. Sharon worked really hard with him to ensure he received the guidance and support he needed. Sharon had an in-depth knowledge of the GCSE French syllabus and the exam requirements, as well as a huge variety of resources and materials to draw upon and a solid teaching experience. My son really enjoyed his lessons with Sharon, and found her to be patient, motivating and encouraging, and this, in turn, helped him to attain a high grade in his recent GCSC exams. Although my son will not be doing French for his A Levels, he has decided to continue having regular lessons with her so he can continue to improve his knowledge of the language. Thank you, Sharon, for being an amazing tutor!​
- Binder K
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Eden Church runs an ESOL programme aimed at displaced people groups who have fled conflict in their own countries. We have used Sharon's services of the past 4 years in a consultancy capacity. I cannot recommend Sharon highly enough. Her knowledge around these issues is extensive and her support and advice timely, effective and appropriate. She has been a valuable source of advice when dealing with complex issues and has offered training opportunities and workshops to further enhance the knowledge and skills of staff. She has been, and continues to be, a valuable asset to our work.​
- Janice Watts, ESOL Coordinator, Eden Church
An amazing teacher who starts the lesson with 'Buenos días' and goes on speaking in Spanish. I was shocked that my son who never spoke in confidence started speaking fluently. Sharon made my son so comfortable and confident that he started paying more attention to Spanish which he always thought he will never pass. He's got an excellent Spanish result in his GCSE's and thanks to Sharon, mum is thinking of taking classes too. :) Highly recommend her to everyone. Amazing lady with great personality and your kids/yourself I believe will succeed! Thank you Sharon!​
- Sujata
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I think 5 stars are unjustifiable and inadequate for describing the work of Sharon! Regardless of the warm nature of her character, she is an amazing professional who will guide you according to your personal needs and the nature of the task you ask her to assist you with. The fact she speaks many languages and has lived outside the UK gives her the skills and knowledge to teach you how to write and speak accordingly, and easily reach you to the level of a native speaker. I asked Sharon to assist me improving my English academic writing skills, for implementing my PhD thesis. Within a period of three months my writing skills were improved dramatically. Proof of this is the 30k words consisting one of my chapters, that proofreading wrote within a month. No note here that i had zero writing skills, adding to this that I had to write not at my native language. Also, with her proofreading I managed to deliver an excellent chapter for the continuation of my thesis. There is not much to think regarding the quality of professionalism she delivers. Just email her for checking the validity of my words and have the chance to experience what I am describing.​
- Leah