1st lesson free
Don's profile, diploma and contact details have been verified by our experts
Don
- Rate Ksh. 4,276
- Response 14h
-
Students7
Number of students Don has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
Number of students Don has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
Ksh. 4,276/hr
Contact
1st lesson free
- English Speaking
- English Vocabulary
- English Writing
- TOEFL
Professional English Teacher offering English EFL~ESOL lessons at all levels in preparation for the Cambridge ESOL and IELTS exams in the Hertfordshire/Cambridge/London areas.
- English Speaking
- English Vocabulary
- English Writing
- TOEFL
Lesson location
About Don
I have been teaching TEFL English and Business English since 1990 after having worked in previous careers in international and investment banking in The City of London, hotel hospitality management, retail and travel sales, translating and interpreting. I speak fluent Italian and some French as well as English. I grew up bilingually in England. My variety of experiences includes the preparation of learners for external assessments such as City & Guilds, Trinity and Cambridge ESOL PET, FCE, CAE and IELTS English language qualifications.
I have taught up to 20 students in a class, on courses for the Trinity GESE courses, the Cambridge PET and FCE and the IELTS exam courses. I have also taught in military police academies in Italy. The courses were General English communication skills. I am always looking for ways to design and prepare appropriate, interesting and relevant new resources to motivate learning further. I take active interests in the monitoring of students' learning, evaluating their progress, providing tutorial and welfare guidance to help them prepare their own action plans for success and all the administrative record keeping and report writing. I also enjoy venturing out of the classrooms where I believe that the 'real English' language learning process comes alive by accompanying students on educational visits to many places of historical interests such as The University of Cambridge Colleges, The British Library and The British Museum, all the famous museums of London, The Houses of Parliament, art and cultural exhibitions, lectures, trade fairs and tours of London.
Students see me has a friendly happy English teacher keen to understand and analyze students’ learning difficulties in order to design the best structured mix English language learning strategies that include lexical study, grammar and pronunciation skills to facilitate the key skills of listening and speaking. An initial discussion meeting to develop a needs analysis is paramount to approaching every student’s language learning requirements and establishing their level and ambitions. I aim to use the needs analysis as a structure for students to guide their record of progression and success. I like to implement a variety of teaching methods but my greatest interests are in using a variety of authentic written and oral communicative materials especially in the teaching of ESP English for Business subjects. I have taught IELTS as and when required over the past few years and do have some good experiences and knowledge of the IELTS exam. More importantly I know how challenging this exam can be and so I am always finding new ‘softer’ ways to adapt materials that essentially challenge the student’s knowledge to be able to process and work through the exam in a timely fashion. This means that I use real authentic materials where I like to test and almost challenge students to ‘run faster’ with their learning simply because the IELTS does demand this and it’s important that students are aware of how to respond.
I like to teach using topics that are of current interests in order to initiate debates to encourage the speaking skills in the English language. I find that this is what students want most; to be able to practice the language for themselves. I apply these learning skills to many real authentic learning resources wherein I develop my own materials. I also love to use the latest in media technology to teach English. I find this to be a real motivator especially when debates and conversations form part of the process of sharpening the listening and speaking skills. An example would be to watch the BBC radio and television programmes such as 'The Apprentice' or 'Dragon's Den' or brilliant TV documentary programmes such as 'Horizon' or 'Human Planet'. These 'authentic' media programmes can serve as a discussion point, a questioning session or analysis of the subject, what the business decisions or strategies were taken, how and why. It is a form of analysis and discussion to allow students to stop worrying about any mistakes and just be free with their speaking. We can then take the whole theme to a role play exercise where students are involved in their own discussions or sales pitch or decision making process which they can later present. I call this style of lessons 'Real Applied English learning activation' and students absolutely love the style, process and results.
Above all, I like to promote and develop effective self study learning relationships and collaborate with the teaching team to engage in new ideas by motivating others to share their knowledge. I am always keen to provide tutorial support. In fact I always aim to make this a priority as it is essential in establishing constant needs analysis. We all learn through our mistakes and my job is to facilitate encourage this ever evolving learning process.
I really love promoting the English language and to design courses that demonstrate how English is such a fantastic language to learn. I am highly competent in my organizational and administrative skills and above all my oral communication skills are always at my very best as indeed I believe in establishing a good example of correct English pronunciation and usage.
But it doesn’t stop there because in the real world the English language is distorted and misused according to cultural styles. So students also need to be exposed to the different styles of pronunciation, listening to the variant sounds and likewise develop speaking skills. We all notice this but students can be thrown off’ the tracks and feel that the language is forever different which it certainly is especially with the ‘Glob-ish’ phenomenon that now exists !
My teaching style is to mix study with creative fun, self expressionism and instill a relaxed but targeted environment in which students can enjoy studying the English language and how to use it for themselves. They need to possess the language. It is fundamental that they feel confident in expressing themselves and not be afraid to learn from their mistakes as well as learn from others.
I call it the ability to use English language observation techniques; observe, listen and apply. For example how is it that they know certain words but they never use them - Why? How can they apply themselves? These questions form part of the philosophy I like to use to get students thinking about their next steps forward in their learning achievements.
In the past students have often commented on my friendly happy enthusing style of teaching. I love to engage with students, encourage them to be free and creative in their learning. I am also determined to make sure students achieve their goals provided they take the time for self study in the reading and listening of any authentic English materials because learning does not only happen with the teacher alone. I like to instill a sense of purpose so the language learner can take ownership to freely develop their own self expressionisms in using the English language to their own gains. English learning should be tailored to individual needs and achievements and I believe this is absolutely fundamental. I certainly aim to encourage fluency in English.
Most importantly, I like to emphasize the study of pronunciation in order for students to progress further to higher levels so that they can confidently understand the spoken language. This can be a big impediment to their confidence in trying to master the English language. I have developed my own skills into showing students how they can best overcome their fears in responding to the spoken language by studying the phonetics. I firmly believe that an excellent teacher ensures students get an understanding of how native speakers use the English language. I like to show students the ‘reality of spoken English’ and develop a personalized system of listening and repetition to initially build up confidence which is paramount. The language needs to be "possessed" by the speaker so as to build confidence and I always aim to achieve this through a variety of vocabulary building and usage strategies. I have developed my own techniques and systems for instilling how the English language can be personally "possessed" and with the committed time and progress I am confident that students will achieve a level of proficiency that matches their desired needs.
Therefore my skills as a professional EFL teacher are in the training and development of students’ English language learning strategies through a variety of analysis, implementations and real language experiences because each student’s needs are unique. My passion is to encourage and develop communications in the English language by learning in an ‘applied’ style where students make mistakes and try to interpret the reasons why and how best they can use their own motivation and determination to succeed. Through my honest caring personality I am a highly committed happy empowering ELT educator who loves to inspire the linguistic talents of students learning the English language.
See more
About the lesson
- Lower Primary
- Upper Primary
- Lower Secondary
- +17
levels :
Lower Primary
Upper Primary
Lower Secondary
Senior School
Tertiary
Adult Education
Masters
Diploma
Doctorate
A1
A2
B1
B2
C1
C2
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Professional
Children
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
Dear students of English....my name is Don.
I am a qualified TEFL mother tongue Teacher of the English language from England. I have been teaching English for 25 years and I’d love to help you improve your English speaking and listening skills. I can help with exam courses such as the Cambridge PET the First Certificate, the Cambridge CAE and the IELTS exams.
I love teaching English for specific purposes such as English for business, finance, marketing and sales by using the very latest news from the world of business, commerce and management as well as topics of everyday general English and international news. I use multi media web based technology resources such as video and radio programmes which I adapt in lessons. I design courses using stories and music lyrics, tv and radio programmes in helping you to speak English - “Real English in the real world.”
I am passionate about English and languages and I love the Arts and history and culture. I am also a great conversationalist and can talk as well as listen on most topics of interesting contemporary knowledge especially the Arts, photography, technology, politics, sports, foods, travel and tourism, shopping, museums and theatres. I love socialising and building friendships with people and if ever you wish to visit the UK then I will be available to meet you for a chat, a drink or a meal and to take you on tours of places of historical cultural interests like the magical cities of Cambridge and Oxford.
My main emphasis is to teach you the English language by focusing on the skills and techniques and how to listen and understand the authentic spoken language.
I am also very keen on teaching you how to improve your pronunciation skills in order to speak clearly and more fluently.
Above all I can help you build your confidence in speaking English correctly.
I look forward to teaching you.
See more
Rates
Rate
- Ksh. 4,276
Pack prices
- 5h: Ksh. 21,379
- 10h: Ksh. 42,757
online
- Ksh. 4,276/h
free lessons
The first free lesson with Don will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 45mins
Similar English Speaking teachers in Hitchin
Elvis
Kitui & Online
- Ksh. 1,299/h
- 1st lesson free
Mukulu
Thika & Online
- Ksh. 1,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Nancy
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 750/h
- 1st lesson free
Veronicah
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 500/h
- 1st lesson free
Cynthia
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
Grace
Thika & Online
- Ksh. 1,000/h
- 1st lesson free
JOSEPHINE
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 500/h
- 1st lesson free
Beckie
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 300/h
- 1st lesson free
Books
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,800/h
- 1st lesson free
Maggy
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 3,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Joan
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 500/h
- 1st lesson free
Mercy
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Cynthia
Kisumu & Online
- Ksh. 700/h
- 1st lesson free
Sayo
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 2,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Shima
Diani & Online
- Ksh. 2,540/h
- 1st lesson free
Joseph
Meru & Online
- Ksh. 200/h
- 1st lesson free
Adel
Ruiru
- Ksh. 1,200/h
- 1st lesson free
Abraham
Nairobi & Online
- Ksh. 1,500/h
- 1st lesson free
Eunice
Oyugis & Online
- Ksh. 300/h
- 1st lesson free
Cindy
Mombasa & Online
- Ksh. 2,100/h
- 1st lesson free
-
See English Speaking tutors
