English teacher (native speaker) / Учитель английского языка

Описание

M.A.
Teaching English
(Young Learners Specialisation 11-16yrs)
University of York (UK), 2007

Modules: Approaches & Methods, Assessment & Evaluation,
Classroom Sequences & Procedures, First & Second Language
Acquisition, Investigation & Action Research, Materials Design
& Evaluation, Syllabus Design, Teacher Training &
Development
B.A.
Humanities
University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), 1993

Majors: African Languages (Xhosa), Anthropology, Biblical
Studies & Religion | Minors: General Linguistics, African
Languages (Sesotho), Drama Theory

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Young Learners
International House Barcelona, 2003

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
International House Heliopolis Cairo, 1995
 
Guayaquil Ecuador
Teacher of English, 2016-2017

In addition to teaching EFL and exams to adults, I was involved
in supporting less experienced teachers with materials and
lesson planning. I designed and delivered targeted preparation
courses in IELTS Academic & General Training, Cambridge First,
and Cambridge Advanced. Significant contributions included:
On my own initiative, I overhauled, re-digitalised, and
significantly extended the school’s chaotic materials bank. This
included creating a cloud server of materials that could be
accessed by other branches of the school nationwide. In response to irregular student attendance and a
request for self-study materials, I created an online platform
for each course so that students could catch up easily and
download materials for additional practice. This platform was
successful and adopted by my colleagues.
To aid the school in its plans to move away from a
linear progression of levels and over-dependence on one
coursebook, I designed a 200-hour, modular syllabus at B2 level
which incorporates skills and language. This syllabus has been
implemented nationwide.

Astana Kazakhstan
Teaching Fellow & Resources Manager, 2010-2015

This position entailed designing and delivering a Foundation
Year programme (EAP) to enable students to bridge from a
Kazakhstani high school to a Western university.
As Teaching Fellow, I was not only involved in teaching
EAP on a daily basis, but I also participated in working groups
to design modules in Study Skills, Research Skills,
Documentation, and stand-alone materials for cover classes. All
modules were successfully implemented across the Centre for
Preparatory Studies. Secondary duties included tutorials,
report-writing, invigilation, and pastoral care.

As Resources Manager, I made two important
contributions to the university. First, as a voting member on
the Academic Council sub-committee, I advocated for funds,
materials, and procedures to develop the robustness of the
Foundation Year programme. Second, I morphed a shelf with a
few IELTS books into a multimedia EAP/EFL resource library of
600+ titles. I digitalised these titles and created a cloud server
for ease of online access.
 
Culiacán Mexico
Teacher of English & Assistant to the Languages Coordinator, 2007-2010

I designed and delivered courses in EAP / ESL and was regularly
involved in placement testing, materials evaluation, TOEFL
proctoring, teacher induction, and tutorials. Significant
contributions included:
In response to courses that were non-standardised
across classes and levels and that consisted of no more than a
collection of loose photocopies, I specified a course syllabus
with desired outcomes, organised materials into bound
manuals, and added PowerPoints. This greatly facilitated the
delivery of professional tuition. To bring students up to the minimum TOEFL exit grade
(B2), I designed an EAP course of language and skills Lengua
Extranjera which was implemented by the university
nationwide.
In response to student complaints that the existing
tests at the university were too stressful, I designed
experimental assessments based on role-play and movies.
These proved to be popular in courses where they were
implemented.
 
Riga Latvia
Assistant Director of Studies, 2006-2007

As ADOS of this school of 1500+ students, I was mainly tasked
to improve its exam courses (Cambridge Suite, IELTS, Latvian
State Exams) and to support its teaching staff. The latter
involved observation, materials design, and training. Significant
contributions included:
I designed and delivered an Academic IELTS
preparation course which proved to be popular among our
clients and lucrative for the school.
To address decreasing student numbers in exam
courses, I carried out qualitative research which showed inadequate teacher preparation and unsuitability of materials
to be the main culprits. On this basis, I was able to make
informed recommendations on how to turn the situation
around.
I was co-interviewed by the business magazine
Direktor for their article “Language Teaching to Top
Management Professionals”. Insights shared through this
medium contributed to raising the school’s profile locally and
in raising new business.
 
Tunis Tunisia
Teacher of English, 2005-2006

As well as carrying out placement testing, materials evaluation,
and exams promotion, I taught EFL, ESP (Business), and CALL to
adults and young learners (12+ yrs). I designed and delivered
EFL courses for corporate clients Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sudinvest Finance, Timelec Electronics, Aquarelle Clothing.
Significant contributions included:
To address a complete lack of assessment at the
Centre, on my own initiative, I established a committee tasked
with developing tests for each level. I was able to draw on my
network within the British Council worldwide to facilitate the
design. By sharing my extensive collection of exam materials,
I was able to updаtеand extend the resource bank at the
Centre. Hitherto, a lack of materials had been a constant
complaint among teachers.
In response to teacher concerns about the minimal use
of English in-class among adolescents, I carried out action
research over half a year. The research identified that the
standard seating arrangements in the classrooms were counter-
productive to oral production. On this basis, I was able to
suggest remedial strategies.
 
St. Petersburg Russia
Teacher of English, YL Liaison, Teachers' Association Representative, 2002-2005

Merate Italy
Teacher of English, 2001-2002

Florence Italy
Teacher of English & Teacher Trainer, 1996-2001

Alexandria Egypt
Teacher of English, 1995-1996

Certificate in Permaculture Design
Ridgedale Permaculture Sweden, 2014

Achievement Certificate in Spanish
Spanish Magic Oaxaca Mexico, 2008

Proctor TOEFL PBT
Tecnológico de Monterrey, 2007-2010 Certified Oral Examiner FCE, BEC, IELTS
British Council, 2003-2005

Achievement Certificate in Italian
Inlingua Sprachschule, 2001

IELTS Academic & General Training
Preparation Course
for International House, 2017

Modular General English Course CEFR B2
200hrs (EFL)
for International House, 2016

Chicago Referencing Style Guide (EAP)
for
University College London, 2013

Study Skills Course (EAP)
for University College
London, 2012-2013

Foundation Year Course (EAP)
for University
College London, 2010-2015
Lengua Extranjera Course CEFR B2 70hrs (EA P)
for Tecnológico de Monterrey, 2009

Investigation into Exams Courses for
International House, 2006

Perfect Business English Course (ESP)
for IRI
Institute of International Research, 2001

Core English Teacher’s Manual (Direct
Method)
for Inlingua Sprachschule, 2001

CALL Summer School Teacher’s Book (ESL)
for Modern Languages Training Services, 1996

How to Email and Communicate with Faculty
at University College London, 2014

Brain Dominance as a Study Skill at University
College London, 2013
Lesson Planning at International House, 2006
Little Boy Blue: Young Learners Best Practice
at British Council, 2003
Strange Views of the Present Perfect at
International House, 2001
Differentiated Learning by Tom Bolton at
International House, 2016
Teaching / Learning Vocabulary by Dr.
Lawrence Kinsella at UCL, 2014
Ways of Handling Feedback to Classroom
Activities
by Lesley Price at UCL, 2012
Writing Centres & Academic Style by Dr. Janet
Graham at UCL, 2011
Using Technological Platforms by Beatriz Téllez
at Tec de Monterrey, 2007

Contemporary art, architecture, and furniture design interest me, as do
languages, advances in scientific knowledge, and biblical scholarship. I enjoy
reading humorous prose and anything by Robin Cook and Dan Brown, am a music
lover – especially German opera, Bach, and Om Kolthoum – and practice yoga for
relaxation. A long time ago, I wrote poetry, some of which has been published,
as well as drama sketches, which were performed at my university.

Before I became a teacher, I held regular part-time employment in South Africa
in advertising at Media Coordination and medical publishing at Juta & Co.

In South Africa, I participated in programmes for the disadvantaged such as
Khayelitsha Project in Cape Town, Operation Mobilization in Gazankulu, and the
TWA Building Project in Decoligny Transkei.