Unlock your potential and connect with the world. At Leafy Language Coaching, I offer personalised, one-on-one coaching to help you learn a new language with confidence and fluency — built around real life, not just grammar drills.
Take the 5-minute survey & book a callThis Isn't a Class
Most language learning focuses on grammar, vocabulary lists, or "speaking practice" in isolation. This coaching is holistic — it's about how a language fits into your actual life: the people you interact with, your daily habits, and if you're an expat, the lifestyle you're building. Language and level agnostic, and built to work for complete beginners through to advanced speakers.
My aim isn't to hand you answers session after session — it's to teach you to fish, not give you the fish. You leave with a system you can run yourself, for any language, for life.
Don't Let Language Struggles Hold You Back
- Struggling to communicate in your daily life?
- Missing out on local experiences and friendships?
- Not knowing how to set effective learning goals?
- Facing anxiety about speaking a new language?
- Feeling frustrated and overwhelmed with traditional methods?
- Feeling isolated and misunderstood?
- Wasting time on ineffective language apps?
- Stuck in a cycle of disappointment and confusion?
Converse Confidently and Connect Meaningfully
- Learn with tailored strategies for pronunciation, using IPA and minimal pairs.
- Build lasting vocabulary retention with a personalised Anki (SRS) system.
- Develop real accountability through structured, personalised sessions.
- Gain a repeatable system you can run yourself long after coaching ends.
Hear From Past Clients
— Saphia Ezziane, British, learning French (improver level)
"Although I had studied up to A-level in French, while I could maybe discuss literature, I struggled with day to day conversations and I struggled with pronunciation having learned with a non-native teacher. Alefiyah and I worked on pronunciation and daily small actions like flashcards for common words. What I liked were the little challenges Alefiyah set me which gamified the skill of learning French. We explored ways of naturally folding French into the things I like doing anyway. This got me in the habit of speaking a bit here and there daily and I feel way more confident with my spoken ability. I get constant feedback on my level considering the length of time I have been here and that I have a good accent :) I'd recommend Alefiyah to those moving to France wanting a novel yet accountable way of sticking to language learning."
— Anila Babla, British expat in Lille, France
3 Easy Steps to Language Mastery
Complete this short online survey to get started.
Book a call to explore your specific challenges & find out more (link at the end of the survey).
Select the package that fits your goals.
Coaching Packages
50 minutes per session. £250 (£31.25/session). Your foundation: build your system, start your Anki deck, establish the habit. To be used within 4 months of purchase.
50 minutes per session. £125 (£31.25/session). New content add-on for continued progress once you've completed your core package.
30 minutes per session. £90. For clients who mainly need check-ins to stay consistent with a system they already have.
50 minutes per session. £80. For a specific issue you want to work through — not a trial of the full programme, and priced/booked separately from the Core Package.
How often we meet is agreed together based on your goals and availability — this is confirmed on your call.
How the Coaching Works
Spaced repetition (Anki) as the cornerstone
Vocabulary only sticks if it's reviewed at the right intervals. We build your own Anki deck together, so retention becomes automatic instead of a constant re-learning cycle.
Habit formation over cramming
Short, consistent daily practice beats occasional long sessions. Part of the coaching is building a routine you'll actually keep — not just a study plan you abandon after a fortnight.
Building real consumption habits
Most language learners don't consume anywhere near enough native content to develop natural conversation. I help you build real listening and reading habits into your everyday life — not just occasional practice — alongside the active work of speaking and writing, so the language becomes part of your routine, not a task you do in isolation.
Pronunciation with IPA & minimal pairs (where it's needed)
If pronunciation is holding you back, we target the specific sounds that are hardest for you using the International Phonetic Alphabet and minimal-pair drills — not generic tips, and only when it's actually part of what you need.
These are the recurring tools I draw on — alongside personalised Action Sheets and a shared Google Drive of materials where useful — but every programme is shaped around your specific goals and sticking points, not a fixed curriculum everyone gets.
The goal: self-sufficiency
By around session 8–12, most clients have a system they can run themselves — able to "rinse and repeat" the method independently to keep progressing. There's no magic wand, and it still takes consistent effort, but you won't need me forever. (Beginners, or those less comfortable with the tools involved, often need a bit more time to get there — that's normal, not a sign of falling behind.)
About Me
From nuclear safety to language coaching
I spent almost 8 years as a nuclear safety engineer, specialising in probabilistic risk assessment. That background means I bring genuine rigour and structure to your learning plan — no guesswork, just a method that's built to work.
Lived it, learned it
Started with GCSE French in 2006, moved to Lyon in 2019, and reached DALF C2 — the highest level of French proficiency — by 2022, with just 40 hours of formal tuition along the way; the rest was self-directed, using the same principles I now teach. I've also lived in Japan, studying Japanese at university while teaching English to local kids — so I've been on both sides of the language-learning relationship, as student and teacher.
A confident communicator, and an adventurer at heart
I spent around two and a half years active in Toastmasters, including mentoring other members, which taught me firsthand what it feels like to find your voice in an unfamiliar setting. I'm also usually out hillwalking, wild swimming, or travelling by campervan, and I bring that same curiosity and persistence to language learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from classes or language apps?
Classes and apps usually teach the language in isolation. This coaching is holistic — it's built around how the language fits into your actual life, habits, and interactions, and it teaches you a system you can run yourself, rather than keeping you dependent on lessons.
Do I need to already speak some of the language to start?
No — the programme is language and level agnostic, and works for complete beginners through to advanced speakers. That said, it runs most smoothly if you're already at an improver level or above; complete beginners can absolutely do this too, but should expect the early stages to take a bit more groundwork before things settle into a steady rhythm.
What's the minimum time commitment?
Outside of our sessions together, plan for around 5–7 hours a week — including 15–30 minutes a day working through your Anki reviews, plus additional weekly study time. This is the minimum for the system to work well. Sessions themselves run about an hour, usually followed by 20–30 minutes working through your Action Sheet.
What if I've tried and failed at language learning before?
That's exactly who this is designed for. The system is built around habit and structure rather than relying on willpower or motivation alone — which is usually what causes previous attempts to stall.
How quickly will I see results?
What you put in is what you get out — language learning takes time, whatever method you use. By around session 8–12, you'll have a self-sufficient system tailored to you; applying it consistently — rinsing and repeating it — over roughly 6–12 months is what reaps real results. Pace depends heavily on your starting level, and beginners in particular should expect a longer runway.
What if I only need help with one specific thing?
The Targeted 2 Sessions package is built for exactly this — working through a specific issue (like pronunciation before a trip) rather than the full 8-session programme.
Struggling to Converse in a Foreign Language?
Learning a new language can feel daunting, especially when you're trying to navigate life in a foreign country or connect more deeply with your partner's family and culture. At Leafy Language Coaching, I believe you shouldn't have to struggle alone. With personalised coaching that combines a proven language system with real accountability, you'll gain the confidence to engage meaningfully in your community. Imagine being able to converse fluently, build friendships, and enjoy every experience your new home has to offer. Say goodbye to isolation and hello to structure and support as you embark on this journey to language mastery.
Take the survey & book a call