Born in Toronto, Canada to British parents, I grew up in Surrey, near London. My studies and research took me to India, Japan and Sudan, while close family in Italy made this another very important cultural reference point. After three wonderful years teaching there (in Lecce, Venice and Padua), I managed projects and events across the Middle East and North Africa. My favourite assignment locations? Istanbul and Marrakesh! In between, I’ve continued teaching, worked for two leading culture and communication agencies in the UK, and since 2003 with the University of Cambridge in a variety of roles. Along the way, I’ve studied at three different university institutions in London, and now share with my students the expertise and strategies I’ve developed to assist them in achieving their UK higher education goals.
Teaching and Educational Consulting
I’ve been teaching English to speakers of other languages for two decades, but my work with UK education began even earlier, just after I’d left school. Working as assistant guardian to 40 Japanese students in British boarding schools, I helped them to make sense of the UK secondary system and daily British life. Since 2008, I’ve taught Academic English to international students at British universities. I’m always thrilled to see them develop in confidence and ability during our time together, and founded Cambridge Study Consultants (CSC) in order to give UK-based international students the best chance to fulfil their academic potential.
Qualifications
Academic
BA (Hons) in Japanese (including 6 months at university in Hokkaido, Japan), School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
MSc in Social Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science
Postgraduate Diploma, International Liaison and Communication (specialising in international education), University of Westminster
Teaching and coaching
Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity London)
Certificate in Teaching English for Academic Purposes (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Teaching Intercultural Competence, Levels I and II, Richard Lewis Communications
Languages spoken
Being a life-long language learner, I so far have the following additional languages, at varying levels and now regularly used in my work and research:
Italian
French
Spanish
German
Japanese
Urdu
My current project is learning Arabic.