LinguaThinking

Online A-level Courses in French and Italian | Online GCSE and IGCSE courses in French and Italian

Academic support for GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level, IB and beyond | University Preparation | Resources

Specialist Workshops | School Partnerships | Outreach | Pro-bono mentoring for under-resourced students

Welcome to LinguaThinking, a small, independent, academic practice

dedicated to French and Italian language, literature, and culture.

LinguaThinking provides full GCSE, IGCSE and A Level courses in French and Italian for independent candidates, alongside academically rigorous support for (I)GCSE, A-Level, IB learners, and heritage speakers.

LinguaThinking focuses on developing long-term intellectual growth, helping students to cultivate the communicative and cognitive skills needed not only for examinations, but also for meaningful human interaction and future academic study.

LinguaThinking is guided by an ethical commitment to widening access to the study of modern languages and literature and offers pro bono mentoring and academic support for under-resourced students, alongside outreach work with schools and universities.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching at LinguaThinking cultivates curiosity, cultural awareness, and deep thinking about language — from vocabulary and grammar to literary analysis and critical thought.

Lessons are culturally rich, engaging, and intellectually stimulating, - with a focus on fostering academic confidence. LinguaThinking views languages as a skill for life: a subject that students should enjoy and find rewarding.

Through thoughtful exploration of language and literature, students develop the capacity to express and justify personal opinions and to articulate complex ideas, supporting rigorous engagement with GCSE, IB and A Level study, and progression to advanced academic enquiry.  Students are supported to develop their language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence.

Working with students worldwide, LinguaThinking supports learners with varied educational backgrounds and linguistic experience, both within and beyond mainstream school provision.

Academic Standards

LinguaThinking is an educational initiative developed by Dr Catherine Buckwell, a UK-based teacher, linguist and academic mentor with a background rooted in scholarship. Her teaching draws on doctoral research in literature and textual analysis, extensive experience teaching languages and literature in schools, undergraduate teaching and examining, combined with a longstanding love of languages and literature. Catherine also has fifteen years of experience supporting students applying to UK universities - work which informs her understanding of the transition to higher level study.  This academic foundation means that intellectual development sits at the heart of her teaching, helping students to progress from GCSE and A-Level to university and beyond.

LinguaThinking Courses

Image of The Louvre, Paris.
Image of Florence

 A Level or GCSE courses:

For independent candidates preparing for:

  • French GCSE | IGCSE | A-Level | International A-Level

  • Italian GCSE | IGCSE | A-Level | International A-Level

Covering AQA, Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge, WJEC and International Baccalaureate Examination Boards

Independent Candidates: French and Italian

  • GCSE | IGCSE French & Italian

  • A-Level | International A-Level French & Italian

  • IB Language B (Ab Initio, Standard, and Higher Levels in French and Italian).

  • Speaking Preparation for GCSE, A Level, IB.

  • Support for Literary and Film Analysis for A-Level and IB.