Joanna

Certified Tutor

I am a linguist, MFL and ESOL teacher working in the UK since 2005. I am experienced in working with all the English language levels and I can understand learners' problems well as I went through them myself. At the moment I am working with adult learners preparing them for the University entry. They are at a variety of language stages.

In early 2014 I completed CELTA and started working with teenagers and adults. Since then, I have done a lot of work in the ESOL field, assessing, planning and delivering lessons. I have worked with a variety of levels, from beginners to advanced. I have also experienced PET and FCE classes.

I am experienced in working with new arrivals (new to English, Polish, or other languages as I also taught MFL Modern Foreign Language) in the early stages of the language. On all fields (speaking, listening, reading and writing). Guiding people in developing their communication skills gives me great satisfaction.

Currently, I am working with adults whose ambition is to study further but their level of English does not necessarily meet the requirements set by universities or colleges they apply for. In my work I prepare lessons which are tailored to a learner's needs. As we work in a mixed-level class, it gives me an extra challenge of adapting my teaching daily. I have to be very flexible with my lesson plans because new students are allowed to join my class any day. Usually, I do not get any warnings about a new student joining. I truly enjoy all these challenges.

My earlier experience is working with EAL pupils which allowed me to get in contact with their parents. Often, I was helping parents in supporting their children in learning; as well as showing ways of living in contemporary European society. I could sympathize with them as I experienced similar problems when arriving in the UK in 2001 with no language and a clear understanding of the rules in the country. What is more, teaching in Brent, Barnet and Harrow one of the most culturally diverse areas in London, widen my horizons and made me used to working with people from different backgrounds, often without any knowledge of English.

Regarding my other skills, the organization is one of my strongest attributes. It is necessary when teaching mixed-level classes, a variety of skills and students who are not familiar to me. I am systematic and very precise when it comes to assessment and data collection. Running the EAL record keeping and monitoring EAL progression in DPS proved that.

I feel very confident when using IT as I have been using it since started teaching. In 2020, when the pandemic broke out, I started teaching online and I have been doing that since then. I teach via Teams and Zoom, delivering classes of English to adults. Occasionally, I run general English 1:1 classes. I enjoy both, group and one-to-one classes.

Working with many colleagues I never had problems with any of them, as I am flexible, adaptable and easygoing. People like me and I like people.

I am also a loyal, punctual and reliable person.