French Ab Initio
Built for true beginners, from first words to a confident oral.
Book a free 15-minute callTop French Ab Initio tutors
Tap a card for their full bio and subjects, then book a call.
Etienne Le Guellec
IBDP Teacher
Vibrant, interactive teacher whose games and conversation-led lessons keep language learning lively and memorable.
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IBDP Teacher · Assumption College, Manila
Etienne Le Guellec
Alliance Française de Manille · DELF-DALF Examiner & Corrector (A1–B2)
Teaching in IB schools across the Philippines since 2014, specialising in French Ab Initio and B.
Vibrant and interactive — games, conversation, and positive reinforcement that keep sessions lively and memorable.
Saleh Ghoneim
IBDP Teacher
Focused, structured teacher who pushes students to express themselves with confidence, backed by IB examiner experience.
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IBDP Teacher · International Schools, France & Egypt
Saleh Ghoneim
Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas · Masters
Teaching IB French across schools in France, Egypt, and beyond, plus experience as an IB examiner.
Focused and structured — pushes students to think critically and express themselves with confidence, backed by exam-ready resources.
Imaad Bukhari
McGill University · Electrical Engineering
Empathetic tutor who listens first, having been in his students’ shoes not long ago — ideal for beginners building confidence.
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Valedictorian · Headstart School, Islamabad
Imaad Bukhari
McGill University · Bachelor of Electrical Engineering & Applied AI
His favourite piece of work: a Math IA combining football and machine learning into a full mathematical paper.
Empathetic and attentive — listens first, so students feel comfortable sharing where they’re stuck.
How we help
One tutor, matched to your current grade and school, covering every paper and the Individual Oral against the same criteria examiners use. Tap any item for more detail.
Paper 1 is a single written response — an email, blog post, or diary entry of around 200–250 words. We build the vocabulary, connectors, and message structure examiners are marking for: task completion, clarity, and grammatical control, all within the hour.
25% of final gradePaper 2 is worth half the total grade: short authentic texts — notices, emails, adverts — for the reading section, then audio extracts played twice for listening. We train students to extract meaning and spot detail quickly, rather than translating word-for-word.
50% of final gradeThe oral is worth 25% of the final grade: students describe a photo linked to a course theme, then the teacher opens a follow-up discussion before extending into a second theme. We run mock orals until the conversation stops feeling scripted.
25% of final gradeAb Initio is built for true beginners, so strong technique on Paper 1, Paper 2, and the oral all rest on the same foundation: core grammar, high-frequency vocabulary, and confidence speaking out loud. We build this steadily, week to week, alongside exam technique.
Before you book
Sessions run one-on-one over video, built around your child's actual school assessments rather than a generic syllabus.
We match on subject mastery and teaching style, informed by the free 15-minute call, not just who happens to be free.
Simply reach out to our admin team, and we'll work with you to arrange a replacement tutor better suited to your needs.
We recommend starting a few weeks before the beginning of term to allow adequate time for preparation, though starting earlier is always beneficial.
There is no minimum session requirement. We do, however, offer package options for families who prefer to commit in advance.
Yes — Language ab initio is an SL-only beginner course, with no HL option. Paper 1, Paper 2, and the Individual Oral are all timed to your school's assessment calendar.
Ab Initio is for true beginners with little or no prior French. French B is for students who already have some background in the language. If you're not sure which course you're enrolled in, check with your IB coordinator.
Yes. We run mock orals using a visual stimulus tied to a course theme, then practise the unscripted follow-up and second-theme discussion, with feedback mapped to the same criteria examiners use.
For IA, EE, and TOK-specific feedback, see our IA / EE / TOK Review service.