Recent Employment History:
English Instructor at English First – Eduka Group, Surabaya – East Java.
My first year teaching English as a second language has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have taught all ages, from our Small-Stars and High-Fliers programs (four to ten years of age) to our Front-Runner and Real-English courses which cater to adults from fourteen years old and upwards. I've taught all levels from absolute beginners to upper-intermediate students as well as conversational fluency classes. I've also spent time working for our franchise's CLT division (corporate language tuition) which has involved me travelling to the nearby town of Gresik to teach beginner English to adult manufacturing staff who needed to converse with English speaking ex-pats frequently. I am well liked in my school by the teachers, clerical staff and especially the students, many of whom have joked that they would not sign up to a new course if I wasn't their teacher in the next level!
Customer Advisor at EE, (formerly Orange / T-Mobile.)
While I was studying for my CELTA course with West Cheshire College I was working as a customer advisor for EE, a mobile phone network in a retail outlet in Shrewsbury, UK. The job involved customer service, soft-sales and technical support. My customers were from all age groups and from diverse backgrounds. It was important for me to treat them all as they would like to be treated. I was often told that I should have been more sales focussed, but I believed and still believe that treating customers right is the best way to ensure that people come back to do business with you every time. It's far easier to sell something if you find out what it is that the customer actually needs. We have a large community of people in Shrewsbury whose first language is not English and I was especially good at creating rapport with them. We were rated by our customers on both how helpful we were and how knowledgeable we were – I'm pleased to say I had the highest satisfaction rate in our store.
Support Worker with MENCAP, (Aberystwyth, Wales.)
Bryn Siriol, Penparcau, Aberystwyth, UK.
As a key-holding support worker at a respite home for MENCAP my days were spent accompanying my guests in their daily activities which ranged from going to the supermarket to doing the weekly shopping, taking them on outings to local tourist attractions or just for an ice cream and a coffee at the beach. In the evenings I would often take them to the local gateway centre which is a meeting place for people with learning disabilities. My key responsibilities included managing my guest's medication regimen, personal care, and in cases where guests disabilities were more severe – washing and dressing. Although the job was not strictly teaching, it did involve engaging our guests to create a happy and productive atmosphere. I undertook many training courses whilst with MENCAP, including Red Cross first aid and managing challenging behaviours.
Ambitions and Interests:
In my spare time I enjoy reading, writing, socialising with friends, long bike-rides and walks in the countryside. I go snowboarding every winter. Well, at least when the money allows!
My ambitions at present are first and foremost to continue teaching English abroad and to see as much of the world as possible. Indonesia has been a wonderful country to become involved with, although moving forward, an internationally worthwhile salary would be highly desirable to me as saving money is high on my priorities list.
Secondary: The Priory School, Shrewsbury.
9 GCSE’s at A-C Grades.
Further: Shrewsbury Sixth Form, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Media Studies (A) Level: B
Politics (A) Level: C
English Language (A) Level: C
B.A.Hons. in English Literature and Creative Writing 2:1
M.A.Hons. in Creative Writing with Merit.
