About

20171213_113647Hi there.

So, a little bit about me.

I am 38, and was born and raised in Liverpool. I have a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Communication from London Metropolitan University (2004), and recently scored a distinction in a Masters of academic research from the University of Bath (2017).

Since I graduated from university in 2004 I have worked in various political and campaigning organisations, planning workshops and running training programmes, and working with all ages from secondary school upwards.

Christmas time means fun time

Since September 2017 I have been the English language course coordinator to a cohort of 17 Arabic-speaking refugee adults who arrived in Lancaster with their families as part of the UK Government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme from Syria and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. I am the lead teacher to a class of 7 advanced students, working to an ESOL curriculum towards National Entry Level One English exams.

In 2014 I gained an above-average Grade B in the Cambridge English Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) (QCF), 2014 (see certificate).

  • CELTA form1Have taught individuals and classes of up to 16 students
  • Adapted coursebook lessons and materials
  • Comfortable and experienced teaching one-to-one or multi-lingual classes
  • Can teach grammar at all levels, from very beginners to near-native advanced (including pronunciation)
  • Teach three different types of lesson: functional English, skills (reading, writing, speaking & listening),  and grammar
  • Tailor lessons to suit a student’s interest
  • Deliver lessons that are varied, interesting, and, wherever possible, fun.

When I’m not teaching, my hobbies include all things music (listening to records on my beat-up 1960s record player, and playing my guitar to anyone who can’t run away fast enough), writing short stories, politics, running and cycling, reading extensively, travelling, meeting wonderful new people and exploring new cultures, and learning German.

I hope you like what you read, and think that you would like to learn English with me. Just drop me an email from the Contacts page.

Hope to hear from you soon!