2006 - 2006
English TeacherLanguage Studies International (LSI) - London, Соединенное КоролевствоThis was my first teaching job after completing my CELTA. It was a steep learning curve, but at the end of it all I have nothing, but sweet memories of learning the ropes with some very wise & knowledgeable teachers, & meeting a super group of students from all across the globe. After class, we would be involved in the "social programme" & take them all across London. I left this post after receiving a job offer to teach in Colombia, which was my dream destination, and would become my new home!
2006 - 2007
English TeacherBritish English - Santiago de Cali, КолумбияThis was the language institute where I cut my teeth as a teacher of English as a Second Language in the salsa capital of the world, Cali, Colombia! Cali is one of the three big cities of Colombia after Bogotá the capital and Medellín. It has a population of around 3 million people. The weather is tropical, hot, and humid! Most of the students were adults, but on a Saturday we would regularly be required to take charge of school-aged children. Levels right from beginner all the way to advanced.
2007 - 2015
English Language and Literature TeacherJefferson School - Santiago de Cali, КолумбияOne of the reasons I came to Colombia is that I had read it was possible to teach at private bilingual schools for minors with just a bachelor's and a teaching certificate for adults. This idea appealed to me more than spending another year at uni in order to get a PGCE! The stars lined up for me, and I was offered this job as almost a complete rookie with school-aged children! Here I learnt that I was passionate about teaching in all its forms including Literature and Writing in English.
2016 - 2017
Middle School English Writing TeacherBennett School - Santiago de Cali, КолумбияThis was an interim position that I took after taking a sabbatical year off work as a contracted teacher to pursue personal interests such as writing, which was my first passion in terms of language. At school from a young age, my teachers had regularly commented that they felt I had a gift for the written word! It was different when I spoke. I would often stutter and be unable to get the right words out due to nerves and a perfectionist nature! Another job offer would take me to pastures new!
2017 - 2020
English Language and Literature TeacherMontessori School - Medellín, КолумбияWelcome to the City of Eternal Spring, Medellín, the second most populous city in Colombia with approximately 4 million inhabitants if you include the entire metropolitan area which is actually called "el Valle de Aburrá". My mother is from the Fiji Islands, I was born in Hong Kong where I lived for the first 11 years of my life. Also spent 9 years in the Middle East. I've experienced some good weather around the world, but nothing comes close to Medellín: never too hot or cold - thank God! ;)
2010 - 2017
Cambridge/IELTS Oral Examiner and InvigilatorCambridge English Assessment - Bogotá, КолумбияThis experience gives me inside knowledge of how to get through standardised English tests such as IELTS, and Cambridge Main Suite. However, once one understands how one standardised English test works, one understands them all, at least to some degree, because much of the knowledge, know-how, and exam technique, is cross-applicable from one standardised English test to another.