I have worked at ELT since 2008 and am the Director for the International Foundation for Medicine Programme. I have taught EFL, ESP and EAP in Italy and Britain for the past 12 years and recently completed a dissertation on Bi-literacy as part of MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at the University of Leicester. 

I was brought up in Hong Kong, Oman and the Cameroon, and feel a natural affinity with foreign students having spent a great deal of my life experiencing other cultures and languages. Between 1999 and 2005 I lived and taught in Italy and was fortunate to have been part of many projects with the Italian NHS (ASL), The Italian Tourist board and at Cagliari University.  On my return to Britain I worked free-lance for a time, and then worked with migrant workers and minority groups in the TESOL department of Fife Council before joining ELT.

I have taught English as a foreign language in Ecuador, England, Lebanon, Morocco, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Scotland and Spain. I have also been involved in language teacher education and development both in the UK and abroad. I am interested in the way reflection can be used by teachers to explore the contexts in which they teach in order to direct change and development. A second research interest is the impact of ELT on learners’ perceptions of their own languages.

Publications

• Learning to teach English in Lebanon. Near and Middle East Journal of Research in Education 2 (2011).
• Evaluating the testing course on an MA in ELT. ELTED 13 (2011)
• The ELT networking project: evaluation report. The British Council (2008)
• Learner perceptions of Interactive Whiteboards in EFL classrooms. CALL-EJ Online, 9:2 (2008)
• Back to square one – practising speaking in class. ATEL Journal 17 (2008)
• 21st Century Literacy: rising to the challenge. Revue Pédagogique. CERD, Beirut (January 2006)
• The FCE Speaking test: using rater reports to help interpret test scores. System 30:2 (2002)
• Writing, not boring. Modern English Teacher, 7:3 (1998)
• Backs to the wall? Modern English Teacher, 2:4 (1993)
• Fast Forward Advanced: a Review. Modern English Teacher, 2:2 (1993)
• Rods, silence, and CLL. Modern English Teacher, 2:1 (1993)
• Talking Sense. In Modern English Teacher, 1:4 (1992)
• Written Instructions: are they wasted? Modern English Teacher, 16:4 (1989)

Conference presentations

2010

• An inquiring light – learning reflective practice in ELT. 2nd International Conference on Cultural Dialogue, Minia University, Egypt.
• E-beam technology and whole class pedagogy. University of Balamand, Tripoli, Lebanon.

2009

• Evaluating the testing course on an MA in ELT. Program evaluation and assessment in universities. Ford Foundation regional conference at Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.

2008

• Localising the global: ELT websites as a context for teacher development. An evaluation of the British Council NENA region ELT Networking project. 1st International Conference on Cultural Dialogue, Minia University, Egypt.

2007

• Interactive whiteboards in EFL classrooms. University of Balamand Research Council.
• ELT and Beyond: rewards and challenges. Key note conference speech at Association of Teachers of English in Lebanon, Beirut.
• Back to square one – teaching speaking in class. Association of Teachers of English in Lebanon annual conference, Beirut.

2006

• Supporting change in teacher education. Key note speech at British Council/Hornby Foundation summer school, Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco.
• Interactive whiteboards – the difference that makes the difference? Learners speak their minds. IATEFL conference, Nicosia, Cyprus.

2005

• A Web of Words - stories from the internet. Association of Teachers of English in Lebanon annual conference, Beirut.

1999

• Is it purely subjective? FCE raters speak their minds. TESOL Spain, Madrid.
• In the eye of the beholder: rater perceptions of the new FCE Speaking test. Spanish Association of Applied Linguisitcs (AESLA), Madrid.

1998

• Holding their attention: making the ordinary something special. TESOL Spain, Bilbao.
• Lexis in Political Agitation. Language studies seminars, University of Valencia, Spain.
• From Alcott to Proux, changing focus in women's literature since 1848. Language studies seminars, University of Valencia, Spain.

1997

• Teacher and learner perceptions: Settling our differences. Language studies seminars, University of Valencia, Spain.
• Agitation as a Political Genre. Language studies seminars, University of Valencia, Spain.

1996

• “Intercultural Pragmatics: Implications for the teaching of foreign languages.” Language studies seminars, University of Valencia, Spain.

1993

• "Heart and mind: poetry in class." TESOL Spain, Madrid.

1992

• "Second Language Acquisition: theory, in practice, in the classroom." TESOL Spain, Alicante.

Work in progress

• An inquiring light – learning reflective practice in ELT. Research paper.
• University student perceptions of Arabic in Lebanon, and the formation of a national identity based on multilingual competence. Research project with Dr. Samer Annous, University of Balamand.
  

After completing my Masters degree in 2002 I began my working life in graduate recruitment for a major UK bank. I then spent time in Kenya, working in hospital administration, and teaching English to Zulu primary school children in rural South Africa. Since 2006 I have worked for UK universities in marketing and student recruitment roles, both within the UK and internationally, and I have lots of experience in advising students on their education choices. I joined the University of St Andrews in 2011, managing the work of the Administration team at the English Language Teaching Centre, promoting the programmes we offer and providing friendly and helpful advice and guidance to students and parents - my favourite thing about my job is being able to talk to people from all over the world every day.

I have taught English as a foreign language in Israel and in London to students from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Italy, France, Korea, Thailand and Japan. I very much enjoy meeting people from different countries and cultures and I am always interested in learning more from them. I now work part time in ELT, both meeting students for tutorials in speaking English and supporting the Administration Team. I am also a student myself, doing a PhD in Divinity. I returned to postgraduate study late in life and I thoroughly enjoy research and writing in connection with my previous professional life.