Michael Gladwell, Business Manager
Michael started the language school in 2012. He has been working as an ESOL teacher for the past 10 years. He started teaching in Oxfordshire and since then has taught in India, London, Derby and Burton.
He also studied Theology and Biblical Studies in Oxford, Project Management in Sheffield and Management and Leadership at the Open University. He enjoys teaching in different settings and countries and has a passion for making learning interesting and engaging for the students.
Much of his time is now spent managing the language school but he still teaches one day a week because he loves to meet the students and really enjoys the challenge of helping students learn English.
Anthony Adams, Teacher
Anthony trained as a teacher in Nottingham
earning his B.Ed.(Hons), and has been working in schools in Luton and Derby over a number of years since 1995. He has also tutored in Maths and English privately.
He has a Level 5 Additional Diploma in the Teaching of ESOL, and has taught English as a second language to people from a wide variety of countries and cultures, both in one-to-one contexts and in classes.
In 2012 he wrote the popular ‘Welcome to Derby’ basic English course which has been delivered through the NC Fusion initiative and the St Chad’s Trust with Upbeat Communities.
He travels to a variety of countries and loves to get to know different cultures and peoples – not least those to be found in Derby. Through this he has developed the ability to engage with people from many different backgrounds in his teaching.
Asma Guedot Mahdad, Teacher
I teach Arabic and French for Derby Language School. I grew up in Morocco and am a native Arabic speaker. I studied Literature and linguistics, and hold a B.A (Hons) in Applied and Psycholinguistics. I then trained as a teacher of English which led to my obtaining a postgraduate degree in teaching English as a foreign language.
I also hold a Teacher Education Certificate from Boston College, USA, and Level 5 CELTA from Hammersmith West London College. I have taught General and Business English in Morocco and France, and I currently teach Arabic, French and Functional Skills English in Derby. I also work as an interpreter with an agency based in London.
I love travelling and making new acquaintances with people from all walks of life, engaging with them “sharing similarities and celebrating differences”
Corinna, Teacher
Corinna grew up in Germany, where she obtained her BEd (hons) as a Primary Teacher before moving to Britain at the age of 25. Since then she worked as a teacher in a variety of settings, including teaching German to groups of primary school children and in one-to-one private tuition sessions, ranging from absolute beginners in German to A-Level and conversational German with adults and young people alike.
Her wide ranging teaching experience and understanding of what is required to learn a foreign language equips her well to adapt to any specific requirements of her students at any point in their language learning journey. She is in her first year of teaching at the Derby Language School, enjoying the international setting.
Elliott Cooper, Teacher
Elliot is a well qualified, experienced teacher who enjoys teaching students from different countries. As well as holding a CELTA qualification Elliot also has a B.Ed (Hons) and a M.A. in Education for International Schools.
Elliot has taught at primary, secondary and university, undergraduate and post graduate level both in the UK and abroad. One of Elliot’s recent highlights was planning and delivering a ten week employability programme for asylum seekers and refugees in conjunction with Upbeat Communities.
Elliot enjoys international travel, although eating fried grasshoppers and silk worms is not something he would like to repeat in a hurry!
Adam Sainty, Teacher & IELTS Specialist.
Adam is our IELTS specialist. He has years of experience of helping students to prepare for the exam. He has an excellent proven track record of helping students achieve the score they are looking for.
Adam was originally a biomedical science graduate before discovering a passion for teaching English at the turn of the millennium. He is now a qualified ESOL teacher with 17 years experience in the Far East and Middle East.
When he is not teaching, he likes to spend all his free time either on or under the sea.
Cristina Sales, Teacher
Cristina has a BA in Hispanic Philology and a Masters in education, specializing in her native language, Spanish. She is passionate about teaching and adapting her classes to the methodological and personal needs of each student. Whether you are getting started in Spanish, wanting to increase your fluency or pass exams, she can help you to achieve your goals quickly.
Her vocation is teaching and her main hobbies are reading and writing. She has a personal blog in which she captures experiences, emotions and situations from day-to-day life. She loves the sea and nature in general and enjoys being surrounded by her family and friends.
