Hi, I’m Gillian.
I’m a mother of two girls and a grandmother to two amazing grandchildren, aged 7 and 5 years.
I became an ESL teacher because of my passion for learning and teaching and from working in the field of scientific research and development for 30 years, where I had the privilege to supervise and teach many overseas students in a laboratory setting.
My specialist area is teaching college/university students and young adults to increase their competence, confidence and speaking abilities in both informal and formal settings. That could be any occasion, such as meeting up with friends at social events or having one to one conversations with a classmate or work colleague, or preparing to give an oral classroom presentation/exam or even to prepare for a job interview.
All of my classes are catered around the needs and requirements of the individual.
I have a TEFL Master certificate in English as a foreign language and 2 years classroom experience teaching English language and speaking skills at intermediate level to non native speaking students and young adults.
My online lessons are always fun, informal and involve audience participation and role playing
and are adapted to accommodate individuals as well as group sessions.
I use Headway Intermediate and Advanced resources - books and CD’s and incorporate quizzes, games and music compilations at the end of every session as a way to wind down and relax because I feel it’s important to keep an emphasis on fun and engagement while learning new concepts and ideas!
The biggest takeaway my students have is that it’s ok to make mistakes while learning.
Building confidence in your abilities and taking responsibility for your own progress is a big part of the learning process.