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Biography
I’m a native speaker of British English and have a great interest in people, how they communicate and how they learn languages. My first career was in architecture - I studied at Cambridge University and then worked as an architect for 15 years in London. I later moved to Berlin and have taught English as a foreign language to adults since 2015. I’ve worked for private, commercial and institutional clients, both online and face to face, 1 to 1 and in groups. I’m a certified teacher of English as a foreign language (CELTA) and a member of ELTABB, the professional body for English language teachers in Berlin and Brandenburg. I have learnt German and I understand from my own experience many of the issues connected with learning a foreign language as an adult.
Business English was a daily part of my work as an architect, experience which I’ve been able to bring to my work as a language teacher . I had contact with a wide range of people, situations and varieties of English, including British and American native speakers and many non-native speakers using English as a second language. I took part in the kind of meetings, negotiations and presentations that many of my current clients wish to practise. I learnt about the real-life challenges of written and spoken communication and saw both the successes and the mis-communications first hand.
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The skills which I bring to English language teaching are:
An excellent knowledge of the English language, its vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. I’m also aware of the different ways that English changes depending on the situation and the audience. This may be about varying levels of formality, complexity or directness, or finding the appropriate specialist vocabulary.
The ability to hold a conversation and correct my student’s English at the same time. I’m a good listener, both to the content of a person’s speech and to the way they speak. I can keep up with the thread of the conversation, asking questions at the same time as noting mistakes or making suggestions for improvement. Depending on the situation, I may correct immediately or wait for an appropriate moment to offer feedback.
Focus and Flexibility: I work with my students to find the right format and subject matter for lessons. As we progress I keep their goals in mind and through experience I know when to stick to the plan and when to change the focus or the pace of the lessons.
A friendly and patient approach to conversation and teaching, together with an interest in people, languages and the world.
A sense of humour and a strong motivation to help people communicate better.
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