IGCSE English · Literacy Specialist · Johannesburg

I don't just
teach the exam.
I fix what's
making it hard.

If your teenager has worked with other tutors and is still struggling — there is usually a root cause. I find it, diagnose it, and rebuild from there.

Book a trial lesson →
25+ Years teaching
2 Countries qualified
IB Aligned methodology

I meet each student where they are, and walk with them toward who they are becoming.

— Charmaine Albers

The problem most tutors miss

Exam marks don't improve when the underlying skills are still missing.

They've done sessions before — but nothing has stuck

Content tutoring treats the symptom. If a student can't decode complex text fluently, or can't structure written thought, practising past papers won't close the gap.

They avoid reading or write as little as possible

This is almost always a signal — not of laziness, but of a literacy gap that hasn't been identified. It's fixable, and faster than most parents expect.

English is their second (or third) language

Multilingual learners face a different challenge. They often need structured language acquisition support alongside curriculum work — not just more vocabulary lists.

My approach

Literacy therapy meets Cambridge rigour.
Root cause, then curriculum.

Step 01

Diagnose

Before we touch the syllabus, I identify what is actually holding your child back. Reading fluency, writing structure, language acquisition — I assess all of it in the first session.

Step 02

Rebuild

Using Phono-Graphix Reading Therapy, structured literacy frameworks, and Cambridge inquiry-based methods, we close the gaps that other tutors have worked around.

Step 03

Advance

Once the foundation is solid, exam preparation becomes genuinely productive. We build essay technique, comprehension skills, and the analytical confidence IGCSE demands.

Sessions

Choose the right programme for your learner

Teens · Ages 13–18

IGCSE & A Level English Intensive

A structured, progressive programme that builds the reading and writing mechanics your teen needs — and then applies them directly to exam technique.

  • Root-cause literacy assessment in session one
  • Essay structure, argument, and analytical writing
  • Unseen text and comprehension strategies
  • Language Paper and Literature Paper preparation
  • Past paper work and examiner insight

From R550 / session · Packages available

Young learners · Ages 5–12

Literacy Foundation Programme

For young readers and writers who need to build confidence, fluency, and a genuine love for language — not just catch up, but forge ahead.

  • Phono-Graphix Reading Therapy for reading challenges
  • Phonics and structured reading development
  • Creative and expressive writing
  • Cambridge-aligned inquiry-based approach
  • Support for multilingual learners

From R500 / session · Packages available

Flexible · All ages

Online Tutoring

Fully equipped for live online delivery via any platform. I have tutored online since 2018 — recorded sessions, shared resources, and the same quality as in-person work.

  • All programmes available online
  • Flexible scheduling including evenings
  • Shared digital resources after each session
  • International students welcome

Same rates as in-person · Also available via Preply

Schools · Groups

Curriculum & Literacy Consulting

For schools and homeschooling families who need instructional design support, literacy intervention frameworks, or Cambridge curriculum guidance.

  • Cambridge & IB-aligned curriculum design
  • Literacy intervention programme development
  • Teacher training and instructional coaching
  • Homeschooling programme structure

Consulting rates on request

Qualifications & experience

The training behind the method

UK Qualified Teacher Status Recognised in South Africa alongside SACE registration #1195827
Higher Diploma in Education & Honours in Fine Arts University of the Witwatersrand, 1995
Phono-Graphix Reading Therapy Certificate Specialist reading intervention training for students with literacy challenges
10 years at Lycée Jules Verne, Johannesburg Senior Teacher & Instructional Leader in an international multilingual school
Cambridge curriculum experience British International Preparatory School — inquiry-based learning delivery
Autism Spectrum & Emotional Literacy Training Differentiated instruction and SEL-informed practice

"Charmaine has a rare ability to find exactly where a student is stuck and unlock it. My daughter went from dreading English to genuinely enjoying it — and her IGCSE result reflected that."

Parent of IGCSE student · Johannesburg

Also trained in

Reggio Emilia Inquiry-based learning Play-based learning Child safeguarding Adult ESL Literacy intervention

Let's find out exactly
what your child needs.

Book a trial session this week. One session is often enough to identify the root cause and agree a clear plan forward.

Email me to book 084 340 4089

Or find me on Preply · Johannesburg, South Africa · Online sessions worldwide