About Me

I'm your typical Brit: I like standing in queues and I drink tea like it's going out of fashion. When I was a lot younger, I perhaps wasn't so typical because I enjoyed learning foreign languages and fell in love with German. Over time it has shaped my life (I live in Munich and have dual nationality) and my career. I translate from German to English, proofread English texts (architecture, art and design are my favourites) and I really enjoy teaching English to local youngsters. Whichever of these three services you need, drop me a line! I'm qualified, enthusiastic and looking forward to hearing from you.

-Stephanie Shellabear

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Tutoring

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Certified Translations

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Proofreading

Tutoring

“It’s not Nachhilfe, it’s Steph.”

That’s how the mother of two of my students summed up my English tutoring. I’m not just a teacher – I’m an English learning experience. My British roots, sense of humour, empathy, love of tea (of course), and my eagerness to see my students succeed create a combination you won’t often find. I’ve been teaching since 2003, and have a TEFL* qualification, and take part frequently in professional development training. I’ve helped many local children gain confidence and pass their English Abitur, Realschulabschluss, Hauptschulabschluss or FOS/BOS exams.

If your child is dyslexic or has ADHD, I can assure you that they will get the accommodations they need and the understanding they deserve to progress. I am a Dyslexic Smart Teacher who’s aware that school is challenging enough for neurotypical brains, let alone the neurodivergent. I have the knowledge and the skills to make learning easier and fun.

I teach one-to-one, in person or via Zoom.

* TEFL = Teacher of English as a Foreign Language

Stephanie holding blocks for tutoring
Stephanie Shellabear stamping a translation

Translations

English translations of German documents can be required for all kinds of purposes: mortgage applications, university applications, passport applications or renewals, to name just a few. I have Chartered Translator (German to English) and Specialist Linguist status from the Chartered Institute of Linguists in the UK. I can self-certify the translations I carry out, so if you need a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a salary statement, a driver’s licence, a school report or a university degree certificate translated, I can provide that.

In order to enter the UK, dual nationals now need to show either a British passport or have a digital version of the certificate of entitlement attached to their second nationality passport. If you require translations for this purpose, you’ve come to the right place.

*Member check

Contact me via the form below to request a quote.

Proofreading

Even the strongest texts benefit from fresh, experienced eyes going through them with a fine-toothed comb and pointing out the necessary corrections. I’ve been proofreading books for many years about architecture, art, design, and business. Moholy’s Edit (Chris Blencowe and Judith Levine) in the photo is one of my favourite early commissions.

English is my mother tongue, and my German is fluent, so I know the types of mistakes that can slip in unintentionally. A clean presentation or job application can help you achieve your goal, and a thoroughly proofread book will help you receive the acclaim you deserve. I’m also proficient in French and Swedish, so I can spot errors there, too.

 

Stephanie Shellabear holding a book she edited

Profile

TEFL Training Logo
ciep Intermediate Member Logo
Chartered Institue of Linguists Member Logo
Dyslexia Smart Teacher Logo
Book Titled "False Friends" by Stephanie Shellabear
Book "Business English" including section by Stephanie Shellabear

Testimonials

“Stephanie deserves special praise for her creative teaching style and strong expertise. She makes every lesson engaging and enjoyable, adapting flexibly to students’ needs and learning preferences. I can wholeheartedly recommend working with her!”

- Bayernwerk

From a former student:
“Some time ago, I completed my Fachabitur and received 15 points in English. I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have been able to achieve that without the support you gave me back then.

Thank you again for your help – it really made a difference!”

- T

„Die Zusammenarbeit mit Stephanie als muttersprachliche Englisch-Lektorin und erfahrene Englisch-Tutorin ist für meine Unterrichtsmaterialien äußerst wertvoll. Sie verbindet sprachliche Präzision mit einem feinen Gespür für authentisches Englisch und Didaktik. Besonders schätze ich ihre Sorgfalt, ihren Blick fürs Detail und die verständlichen Erklärungen ihrer Korrekturen. Dank ihrer fließenden Deutschkenntnisse erkennt sie auch feine Unterschiede zwischen beiden Sprachen.“

- Patricia, englishlove

“I needed an urgent, certified translation for solicitors in the UK. Stephanie produced a very accurate translation well within the time limit I had, despite it being shortly before the Christmas holidays. I can highly recommend her translation services.”

- Yvonne

“For my psychology master’s thesis, I had to translate an English questionnaire into German, which was then back-translated into English in line with standard scientific procedures. Stephanie provided excellent support with the back-translation, ensuring conceptual equivalence and giving me great confidence in the quality of my work.”

- J

Image of Stephanie Shellabear with headphones

Contact Stephanie Shellabear