Education:

Bedwellty Comprehensive school (1985-90) - GCSE passes in English, English literature, maths, history, biology, chemistry & Spanish.

Ystrad Mynach College (1990-94) – B/Tech OND in Construction Management. Pass with merit.

Writer’s Bureau ‘Distance Learning’ course in Freelance Writing (1997-99). Passed With distinction.

Southampton Solent University (previously Southampton Institute of HE) – 2.2 BA (Hons) degree in Journalism (2003 to 2006). Units included culture & mass communication studies, copy writing, media ethics, design and production, journalistic law, feature development, publishing management, public relations and marketing, understanding popular culture.  

Online Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course (2008). With extra ‘Business English’ module. (www.onlinetefl.com). Units included international communication, teaching skills, teaching practice, English language usage and the classroom environment. Pass with merit.

Work Experience:

Oral English teacher / Foreign expert, BUAA, Beijing, China, 2-semester contract working with trainee commercial airline pilots to improve their listening and speaking English (2007 – 08).

Oral English teacher at the Language School, Beihang University, Beijing (part time position). Teaching adults of various ages from a range of different backgrounds business English (2008).

Oral English teacher at Yuming Education Centre, Tianjin, China. Teaching children of grades 1-6 basic English (2008 – 09).

English writing instructor, Hunan Mass Media College, Changsha, China. Teaching college students writing and oral English (2009 – present).

IELTS Instructor, Foreign Language School, Changsha. Part-time position (2009)

Oral English Instructor, WEB International, Changsha. Part-time position (2009- present)   

Relevant Skills:

I consider myself an expert in the English language, a skill I try to utilize in all that I do. I have lived and worked in China since 2007, and in that time I have developed a great affinity with Chinese people and culture. I still continue my second career as freelance writer, having worked extensively both in the UK and overseas and contributing to numerous mainstream magazines and newspapers. I have also had three books published. In addition I have numerous editing, ghost writing, copy writing and proofreading credits.

Hobbies & Interests:

Listening to music, reading and writing fiction, travel, studying history and culture, socializing, football, hiking, and martial arts (brown belt level in Shotokan karate).