Native English teacher with a degree, training and 11+ years experience

Born and bred in Ireland, I currently live in Mexico. I have over 11 years of language teaching/coaching experience in Europe, Asia and Latin America working with beginners and advanced speakers, children and adults, in state schools, businesses, private academies and with private individuals, in-person and online.

My classes are student-oriented, which is to say we build meaningful relationships and use a variety of methodologies tailored to each client’s needs. I believe in creating an environment where people feel safe to venture into the unknown, using humor and compassion to facilitate learning.

Apart from an intimate knowledge of English, I understand learning both as a teacher and as a student. I have learned through experience how to help my clients maintain motivation in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and I am always updating my skills both through professional development and an active engagement with the learning process.

I believe that effective communication is context-dependent and that adaptability can be just as important as having a head full of untried and untested grammar rules. I teach that a strategic silence can be more powerful than speaking, even in an exam setting, and that problems really are opportunities to shine.

As an educator I feel privileged to have the opportunity to help my fellow humans face their fears and explore their discomfort zone in a safe environment. I am gratified when my students benefit from my advice, but I am not discouraged when habits prove hard to break.