At Word Aptitude, we offer personalised online language tutoring tailored to your specific needs and goals. Whether you're looking to improve your English or French, we provide one-on-one sessions designed to help you acquire the language in a way that suits your learning style. Our focus is on creating an engaging, supportive environment to help you build fluency and confidence. Contact us for more information or to schedule a session.
About
Our Team
Mary McGahan
Mary was born in England and educated in the south of France from the age of three when her family relocated there.Mary is bilingual in English and French, later learning to speak Spanish fluently. She completed her education back in England at an independent boarding school and Kings College London. In her early twenties, she became a trilingual PA and translator at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Green Park, London. Mary later worked in sports PR and corporate hospitality in a fund-raising capacity.Years and four children later, Mary became a qualified Montessori teacher, while taking up an editorial position at La Petite Fleur Publishing and proofreading for independent American PR companies. Currently, Mary is writing her first children’s book.Mary has an excellent command of both English and French with an expertise in grammatical exactitude and style of prose. She is passionate about the written word and the beauty of language.
Christopher Dines
Christopher is an Irish author and former DJ. He has published eight books with Hachette, SPCK Publishing and La Petite Fleur Publishing, and co-authored The Kindness Habit with Dr Barbara Mariposa. Christopher’s most recent book, Super Self-Care (Hachette) has been translated into Vietnamese and published by Vietnam AZ Communication & Culture Co. His books have been endorsed by Eileen Rockefeller, Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD—Harvard Medical School, and British parliamentarians, Richard Bacon MP, and Peter Kyle—Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.Christopher was born in August 1983 in the London Borough of Harrow where he attended independent and state schools until the age of fifteen, going on to pursue a career in the dance music industry.Having DJed at prestigious venues such as Ministry of Sound, Defected In The House at Pacha and London Fashion Week, Christopher’s DJ’ing career took him to Europe and Asia, where he travelled extensively. In 2005, Dines co-founded SuCasa Beats and served as the head of A&R until 2006.Christopher took an extended break from the music industry in June 2006 to explore other creative pursuits. He facilitated mindfulness workshops and corporate events, assisting people to reduce stress and enhance their serenity. In adulthood, Dines has been tutored by Professor Piers Bursill-Hall—Cambridge University, studying the history of science and pure mathematics. His adult education has been guided by Professor Terry Grundy—University of Cincinnati.Christopher tutors English as a foreign language to students while also pursuing creative projects in music and art, including the launch of the IGITRO music label in 2025.
Editing Books
Editing Books
We can provide editorial feedback for non-fiction books in American English, British English and French.We will provide critical feedback, suggestions and help to tighten up your work, an undertaking which is imperative prior to moving on to working with a copyeditor or proofreader. Editing and proofreading are different approaches during the revision process. Seeking an objective point of view, grounded in decades of collective experience, will certainly enhance the quality of your work.We will painstakingly sift through your work for language use, inconsistencies, errors and overall expression. We have no desire to alter or change your style of writing. We simply wish to assist you to get the best possible outcome.
Language Tutoring
Online Language Tutoring
Having a language tutor can significantly accelerate your language comprehension and understanding. Learning a new language is one of the most empowering things you can do, unlocking the ability to communicate with millions of people, explore diverse cultures, and expand personal and professional opportunities. That said, it can also feel overwhelming at times. A skilled tutor can make the journey smoother, serving as a guide throughout the process.At Word Aptitude, we focus on the principle of mass input—exposing yourself to the language through extensive listening and reading—before pushing for early speech output. The brain naturally learns language patterns by absorbing them through repeated exposure, which helps build a strong foundation for speaking and writing. It takes time to develop a robust vocabulary and grasp grammatical structures in a new language. A good tutor will encourage you to enjoy this journey, regardless of whether you're preparing to move abroad or staying in your current environment.At Word Aptitude, we assess where you are in your language acquisition and tailor a plan to help you achieve your goals. You have full control over what you learn, how you learn it, and how feedback is delivered.We offer personalised online tutoring in both English and French. For more information, feel free to get in touch.
Blog
How to Acquire a Foreign Language
Acquiring a foreign language is a rewarding but challenging journey. For many, the goal is fluency — to speak, read, write, and understand a language with ease. The most efficient strategies for language learning not only save time but also ensure steady progress. Additionally, frameworks like the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) can provide learners with clear benchmarks to gauge their language proficiency and guide them in setting achievable goals. Here’s an overview of the most effective techniques to accelerate your language acquisition, with a focus on the CEFR.Massive Input: Listening and ReadingOne of the most efficient ways to acquire a foreign language is through massive input, which refers to consuming a large amount of the target language via listening and reading. According to Stephen Krashen’s Input Hypothesis, language learners develop grammar and vocabulary skills by absorbing a language in context.Why does it work?
Consistent exposure to comprehensible input allows the brain to internalise language patterns naturally. This mirrors the way children learn their first language, building a strong foundation before actively producing speech.Language ShadowingLanguage shadowing is a technique where you listen to native speakers and mimic what they say in real time. This method helps with pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. At intermediate stages (B1-B2 levels of the CEFR), shadowing can help learners overcome the plateau many experience at this stage, where they understand a lot but still struggle with natural speech.To practice shadowing, choose short audio clips in your target language and repeat what is being said, trying to match the speaker's tone, speed, and pronunciation as closely as possible. This forces you to process language at a native pace, improving both comprehension and speaking fluency.Why does it work?
Shadowing pushes you to engage in active listening and speaking simultaneously, making it easier to internalise native-like speech patterns and improve fluency, particularly useful when moving from B1 to B2.Speaking early (with gradual progress)Speaking early can be intimidating, but it’s a highly effective way to apply what you’ve learned. The CEFR offers clear descriptors for each proficiency level, making it easy to see what you should focus on when you’re speaking. For example, at A1, you should aim for basic phrases and greetings, while at B2, you should be able to have detailed conversations on familiar topics.Don’t worry about excellence at the start. Even simple conversations can help you reinforce the vocabulary and grammar you’ve been learning through massive input.Why does it work?
Speaking regularly helps bridge the gap between passive knowledge (implicit knowledge) and active use of the language.Focusing on High-Frequency VocabularyLanguage learners can maximise efficiency by focusing on the most commonly used words first. Research shows that the top 1,000 words in any language account for a large portion of everyday conversations. Acquiring these words first helps beginners reach the A2 or B1 CEFR levels more quickly.Use frequency lists and apps like LingQ to learn these high-frequency words. Once you’re comfortable with these basics, you can start focusing on more complex or specialised vocabulary, especially as you move toward B2 and C1, where the emphasis shifts to mastering abstract and nuanced language.Why does it work?
Learning the most common words first ensures that you can engage in basic conversations and understand a significant portion of texts early on, accelerating your move from A1 to A2 or B1.Create a Language RoutineConsistency is key in language learning. Creating a daily routine — even if it’s just 90 minutes per day — will help you make steady progress. Listen to podcasts while commuting, read short articles during breaks (on apps like LingQ), or practice speaking in language exchange apps during lunch. Little efforts daily compound into major gains over time.Why does it work?
A consistent, balanced routine helps reinforce language acquisition in a sustainable way, especially when it’s structured around clear goals with an excellent private tutor.
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