Personal statement

English language teacher from the UK with a CELTA and an MA in English from the University of Cambridge, looking to teach English in Kunming. I have spent the last year teaching English in Argentina (both privately and for language institutes). This work has given me experience at all levels (elementary, intermediate and advanced) and the confidence to quickly adapt to a new culture and country.

Education

January 2009–April 2009: International House, London
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)

Pass. Teaching practice at pre-intermediate and upper intermediate levels.

September 2002–September 2003, King’s College, University of London

European Studies MA: Pass with merit. Top grade for dissertation.

September 1996–June 1999, Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge

English MA Hons 2.1

Work

February 2010–December 2010: English language teacher, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Taught private students and business English for the following institutes: Brooklyn Bridge, American Training Company and Andoveridiomas. Included experience at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels, preparing/monitoring exams and editorial/translation work for a school manual.

August 2007–February 2010: Senior Publishing and DTP Officer, NHS Confederation
Ensuring that high-profile publications, including health-related briefings, reports and promotional materials, are produced on time, to a high quality and within budget. Includes working with in-house writers to clarify and edit writing and training staff on the use of the content management system.

July 2005–August 2007: Communications and Information Assistant, HelpAge International (charity)

Included proofing and designing all inhouse publications and translating them into Spanish; working with the Latin America office to develop and launch the Spanish version of the website; and training communications officers worldwide in the use of design software and the website.

June 2005: Temp for FreshMinds
Included telephone research in Spanish into money transfer companies in Spain.

January–May 2005: Day Centre volunteer, Refugee Council (charity)

Producing and distributing newsletters and information materials in different languages; and collating information from local refugee community organisations.

April–October 2004: Information Intern, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (charity)

Collated, edited and produced ECRE Country Report 2003, on statistics, legislation and policy related to forced migration and refugees in 26 countries: worked closely with numerous contributors, primarily non-native English speakers, to clarify and edit their sections.

March–August 2004: Researcher, Mark Oaten MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary

Writing articles and press releases on Home Affair issues; researching and writing draft policy papers on immigration and asylum in the UK; dealing with media enquiries.

February–April 2004: Researcher, Simon Hughes MP

Dealing with constituency casework, particularly clarifying and communicating the status of applications to asylum seekers and refugees.

October 2003–February 2004: Voluntary work. Writing web copy and a weekly newsletter for Britain in Europe (campaign) and the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees in the United Kingdom (ICAR).

March 2000–September 2002: Copywriter then Web/Media Editor, Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia, Websters International Publishers Ltd

Commissioning, copy-editing, writing and proofing encyclopedic articles; developing educational materials and content aimed at engaging younger users for the website; providing web links from the electronic encyclopedia to educational websites.

December 1999–March 2000: Co-ordinating Editor for Physical Sciences, Gordon and Breach Publishing Group (academic publisher)

Managing a range of academic journal and book projects to ensure their quality and timely publication and effective promotion Duties included editing book chapters of scientific publications from non-native English speakers; and liaising externally with academic editors, authors and production departments worldwide.

Additional skills

Languages: native English, fluent Spanish, good French

IT skills: advanced Abode CS3 (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat ); QuarkXpress; advanced Microsoft Sharepoint; advanced Microsoft Office; advanced MS Access and basic SQL; XML and HTML; experience of various web content management systems.