IB French Tutor — St Leonard's College Melbourne

Bonjour!

St Leonard's College is one of Victoria's most distinguished IB schools — the first in the state to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, back in 1982, and consistently one of the highest-performing IB schools in Melbourne, with a median ATAR of 95.5 for the Class of 2025. For students navigating the demands of IB French at St Leonard's, expert one-to-one support can make a significant difference to both grades and confidence.

We have worked closely with St Leonard's College students since 2011, supporting them at Ab Initio, Standard Level (SL), and Higher Level (HL). Many of our St Leonard's students achieve grade 7 in their final IB French exams.

To view our modules and book your first session, visit our IB French tuition page.

IB French at St Leonard's College — What Students Need to Know

St Leonard's College was Victoria's first authorised IB World School — a pioneer in international education since 1982. Located in Brighton East in Melbourne's Bayside area, the school offers both the VCE and IBDP in Years 11 and 12, with French taught from Prep through to Year 9 as part of the school's languages programme.

This means many St Leonard's students arrive in Year 11 having studied French for nearly a decade — which creates both an advantage and a specific challenge. Students often have a solid foundation in vocabulary and basic grammar, but struggle with the shift from classroom French to the analytical, communicative demands of the IB — particularly in the oral exam and written tasks. This is precisely where targeted, expert tutoring makes the biggest difference.

The St Leonard's IBDP is one of the strongest in Victoria, with a median ATAR of 95.5 for the Class of 2025. Successful completion opens doors to top Australian universities — Melbourne, Monash, RMIT — as well as to some of the world's most prestigious institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, and the Sorbonne in Paris. For students with ambitions in France or the Francophone world, a strong IB French grade is not just an exam result — it is a passport.

Our tutor works in full alignment with the St Leonard's IB French curriculum, collaborating with classroom teachers where needed to ensure each student's private lessons complement their school programme — not duplicate it.

A Native French Teacher — Not a Former St Leonard's Student

Some tutoring platforms offer former St Leonard's students as IB French tutors — young people who scored well in the subject and are now at university. While this peer-to-peer approach can be motivating, it has real limitations when it comes to French specifically.

A former student can tell you what worked for them. A certified native French teacher with over 20 years of international experience can explain why the language works the way it does — and adapt that explanation to each student's specific weaknesses, learning style, and exam timeline.

Our tutor is a native French speaker, born and educated in France, with a professional teaching qualification and decades of experience preparing IB students in Europe and Australia. She knows how IB examiners assess each component of the French exam, how mark schemes are applied in practice, and how to build genuine fluency — not just exam technique.

This is the difference that matters, especially at a school where academic expectations are as high as St Leonard's.

The Berthe Mouchette Competition — Expert Preparation

St Leonard's College students have the opportunity to participate in the Berthe Mouchette Competition — one of Australia's most prestigious French language competitions for secondary students. Success in the competition requires a high level of oral fluency, cultural knowledge, and spontaneous communication in French.

Our tutoring includes targeted preparation for the Berthe Mouchette Competition — helping students develop the confidence, fluency, and cultural awareness needed to perform at their best. This is a dimension of our support that is unique to St Leonard's students and not covered in our general IB French tuition pages.

Why St Leonard's Families Choose Our IB French Tutoring

  • Over a decade at St Leonard's — we have supported IB French students at this school since 2011, with a deep understanding of its specific curriculum expectations and academic culture
  • Native French speaker — a certified professional teacher born and educated in France, not a recent graduate or former IB student
  • Aligned with St Leonard's classroom teaching — lessons complement ongoing coursework and are coordinated with classroom teachers where needed
  • Berthe Mouchette preparation — targeted coaching for one of Australia's top French competitions
  • Grade 7 results — many St Leonard's students achieve grade 7 with consistent, targeted preparation
  • Online via Zoom or Teams — accessible from Brighton East and all surrounding Bayside suburbs, with no commuting

IB French Tutoring for St Leonard's Students — What We Cover

Individual Oral Preparation

The Individual Oral accounts for 25% of the final grade at SL and HL. We prepare St Leonard's students for all three parts of the oral — photo presentation, questions on the image, and general discussion on a second IB theme. We focus on the 3-layer approach, theme-specific vocabulary, and how to handle unexpected questions from the examiner.

Written Tasks and Paper 1

We cover all IB text types — letters, articles, blog posts, speeches, and diary entries — with particular attention to register, structure, and the vocabulary appropriate to each format. St Leonard's students benefit from detailed written feedback aligned with IB marking criteria after every practice task.

Grammar and Accuracy

Systematic reinforcement of every grammar point required for IB French — the subjunctive, conditional clauses, past tenses, relative pronouns, and complex connectors. Grammar is always taught in context — through IB-style tasks, not isolated exercises.

Reading and Listening Comprehension

Strategies for Paper 2 — how to extract meaning from unfamiliar texts, identify key vocabulary in spoken French, and structure answers to comprehension questions accurately and efficiently.

Past Papers and Exam Technique

Regular practice with IB French past papers under timed conditions. Students learn exactly what examiners reward — and what they penalise — so there are no surprises on exam day.

HL — Literary Analysis

At Higher Level, we provide full support for the literary works studied at St Leonard's — including oral presentation preparation and written commentary. Students develop the analytical vocabulary and structured argumentation required to score 6 or 7 at HL.

What St Leonard's College Students Say About Our IB French Tutoring

"I started tutoring with Laure at the start of Year 11, and I can honestly say I would not have done nearly as well in IB French without her. She is knowledgeable, organized, and always pushes her students to improve. Her guidance allowed me to feel truly confident with the French language. I highly recommend Laure to anyone needing support with school French or wanting to advance their proficiency."

Matthew Rassias — IB French student, St Leonard's College, Melbourne

"Laure has been an exceptional support for my daughter's IB French. She is thorough, attentive, and ensures quality learning. My daughter looked forward to every class and enjoyed working with Laure. We were delighted to receive higher results than expected, and now my daughter feels confident using French for the next stage of her life!"

Saba Bebawi for her daughter Sia — IB French student, St Leonard's College, Melbourne

IB French Tutor St Leonard's College — Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been working with St Leonard's College students?

We have been supporting IB French students at St Leonard's College since 2011 — over a decade of working with students in Brighton East and the wider Bayside area of Melbourne. Our tutor is fully familiar with the school's IB French curriculum, its academic expectations, and the specific demands of its assessment programme.

Do you help St Leonard's students prepare for the Berthe Mouchette Competition?

Yes — we provide targeted preparation for the Berthe Mouchette Competition, which requires a high level of oral fluency, cultural knowledge, and spontaneous communication. Many St Leonard's French students participate in this competition, and our oral coaching covers exactly the skills it assesses.

St Leonard's offers both VCE and IB — does it matter which pathway my child takes?

We specialise in the IB French pathway at St Leonard's. If your child is in the IBDP, our lessons are fully aligned with the IB assessment criteria — the Individual Oral, Paper 1, and Paper 2. We do not cover VCE French. For IB French at Ab Initio, SL, or HL, we provide expert one-to-one preparation tailored to the IB programme.

What IB French levels do you teach at St Leonard's College?

We teach all three IB French levels — Ab Initio, Standard Level (SL), and Higher Level (HL). At HL, we also provide support for the literary works studied and the extended essay in French.

Are lessons online or in person at St Leonard's College?

All lessons are delivered online via Zoom or Teams. This means students in Brighton East and the surrounding Bayside suburbs — Beaumaris, Black Rock, Hampton, Cheltenham, Sandringham, Parkdale, Moorabbin — can access expert IB French tuition without commuting. Lessons are available all year, including school holidays and after school hours.

How early should a St Leonard's student start IB French tutoring?

Ideally at the start of Year 11. However, we also work with students who come to us in Year 12 or even a few weeks before their exams for intensive preparation. The Individual Oral is typically assessed in Term 1 or 2, so oral preparation should begin early. An introductory session helps us design the most effective plan for your child's level and timeline.

Start Your IB French Journey at St Leonard's College

Whether your child is preparing for internal or external oral exams, written assessments, or the Berthe Mouchette Competition, our lessons are designed to help St Leonard's students succeed with confidence and clarity.

Do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a first session, or visit our IB French tuition page to view our modules and pricing.

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