I did my undergraduate degree in Literature, then completed the CELTA, DELTA and MA in ELT and Applied Linguistics. I’m now finishing up a second MA in Translation Studies (Portuguese to English). I also have a postgraduate qualification in online and distance learning. I’m currently working as a university lecturer in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and as Chief Examiner, and I have presented at international conferences and published my work.  My main research interests are e-learning and feedback practices.

Why did you become a TEFL trainer?

I wanted to pass on my enthusiasm for teaching, and I very much enjoy mentoring new teachers, a process which I believe is an essential part of becoming a good teacher.

Where have you taught before?

My first job, way back in 2000, was in a summer school with young learners in Dublin. I then spent six years teaching TEFL to 100+ nationalities in private language schools in London before moving on to Turkey, where I taught EAP for four years in various universities.

If you could go and work anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Perhaps China or the UAE, as both countries have many good EAP opportunities. But I’m actually quite happy to be back in London, as it’s my favourite city in the world!

How did your first UK-TEFL course go recently?

My first course as a teacher trainer far exceeded my expectations. I had such a wonderful group which gelled very quickly, and I learned a lot from watching their teaching practice. It showed me that the creativity that goes into teaching is truly limitless.

What is your favourite part of being a UK-TEFL trainer so far?

Seeing the eagerness of the trainees! I am so accustomed to teaching first year university students, whose motivation can be variable (to say the least), such attentiveness is a real treat. Given that it’s such an intensive course, delivered at the weekend, high levels of concentration are doubly commendable.

What is your favourite part of the course?

So far it’s delivering the foreign language lesson in Turkish. It’s exhilarating to teach in a language which is not your own to people who are absolute beginners. I was very nervous about doing this, but I was quickly encouraged by the enthusiastic response of my trainees.

Do you have a favourite age group to work with? If so, why?

I quite enjoy working with mature students (i.e. those who have returned to study after a long period of time). They’re very respectful of teachers and frank about what they don’t understand, which means I can tailor the teaching sessions to their needs. They also tend to have confidence issues, but for this reason they respond well to feedback and encouragement. I admire them a great deal, particularly when they are trying to balance family and work commitments with full-time study.

What are your future plans?

I intend to do my PhD either in Education or in Digital Humanities and to carry on with my scholarly research. I have also decided to learn German.

Any websites you can recommend for job hunters?

I recommend www.tefl.com for an overview of the types of jobs you can expect to find worldwide. You can also register and complete an online CV, which saves you time when applying for jobs.

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