Our Academic Team
Qualified and experienced
All our teachers and academic staff are well qualified to teach English to speakers of other languages.
The vast majority of our academic staff have advanced English language teaching qualifications as well as Masters degrees in language related subjects. A good many are also involved in the English language teacher training courses that we offer.
Additionally many of the teachers have considerable life experience having worked in a broad range of areas from the commercial world to the performing arts. Most have taught overseas and speak other languages.
All this adds up to an international and very cosmopolitan team, which is the way it should be for a city like London!
As we are also a teacher training organisation, validated by Trinity College London for our teacher training courses we know exactly what we want and expect from our teaching staff — interesting purposeful lessons using current materials, ideas and techniques... and that is exactly what you will get!
Max LoachSchool Director MBA from the Open University Business School, MA in Applied Linguistics from Birkbeck College (University of London), Cambridge Diploma in TESOL Max has been in the English Language Teaching (ELT) industry for 20 years and has extensive experience in all aspects of successfully running a language school. He started his ELT career teaching English in Northern Spain in 1987 and then went on to work at many different schools as a teacher, teacher trainer, sales manager and Director of Studies. He became School Director at SGI in 1994. Interesting fact: Before starting his ELT career, Max was involved in performing and teaching music for many years. |
Josh RoundDirector of Studies BA in French and German from the University of Bristol, Post Graduate Acting Diploma from Drama Studio London, Trinity Diploma in TESOL (Saint George International). Josh has over 15 years of professional experience in education and has been at SGI since 2002, first as a teacher and teacher trainer, before becoming Director of Studies in 2005. Josh started teaching in 1992, initially as a Drama teacher and also enjoyed a successful career as a theatre and TV actor. He speaks Spanish, French, German and Catalan. Interesting fact: You can see Josh in the Oscar winning film ‘Shakespeare in Love’. |
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Naz SienkiewiczSenior Teacher and Teacher Trainer MA in English from the University of Cambridge, Trinity Diploma in TESOL (Saint George International) Naz, with over 30 years of teaching experience, has been a teacher and teacher trainer since joining SGI in 1997. She is now the chief tutor and assessor of the SGI Trinity Diploma Course, in addition to being a regular teacher of IELTS. Naz was a university lecturer in Iran and Bahrain for almost 20 years, teaching English Language and Literature, as well as English for Academic Purposes. Interesting fact: Naz is known as ‘the guru’ thanks to her encyclopaedic knowledge of the English language. |
Clare O’NolanSenior Teacher and Teacher Trainer PhD from Oxford University, BSc (Hons) in Zoology from University College London, Trinity Diploma in TESOL (Saint George International) After a long career as a Zoologist, teaching and researching in universities around the world, Clare became a translator and editor before starting to work as an English teacher in 1999. She has been at SGI since 2005, as a teacher and teacher trainer and is now the course leader of the Trinity Certificate courses. Interesting fact: Clare is a specialist in Ornithology (birds) and has presented TV wildlife programmes. |
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Stephen BellSenior Teacher and Teacher Trainer PhD in History, MA in Communication Studies (Distinction) and BA in International History and Politics, all from Leeds University; Cambridge Diploma in TESOL Steve, who started working as an English teacher over 10 years ago, is a senior teacher, teacher trainer and administrator of the teacher training courses. Before joining SGI in 2006, he worked at various schools in London and Poland as a senior teacher and Director of Studies. Prior to this, Steve was a Legal Representative in a law firm. Interesting fact: In his younger days Steve worked as a sports teacher. |
David CharnaudTeacher and Teacher Trainer MA (Hons) in History from Edinburgh University, Cambridge Diploma in TESOL Dave is a teacher trainer and teacher, specialising in Business English and One to One tuition, and has been at SGI since January 2007. He started teaching in 2002 and has worked all around the world, including the Czech Republic, Slovenia and China, as well as working for Southampton University as a tutor of English for Academic Purposes. Interesting fact: While travelling around the world Dave earned money when and where he could – as a chef, a taxi rickshaw rider and a sheep farmer. |
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Barney SandellTeacher and Teacher Trainer BA (Hons) in History from Oxford University, Trinity Diploma in TESOL (Saint George International) Barney has worked periodically for SGI since 2002, and full time since 2007, as a teacher trainer and teacher of Business and General English. Barney first started teaching in 1996 in Chile, and has also taught in Spain and Italy. In addition he has also worked in politics as a researcher. He speaks Italian, German and Spanish. Interesting fact: Barney has lived in ten different countries, spending over half of his life abroad. |
Amelia DonaldsonTeacher and Teacher Trainer MA and BA (Hons) in English from London University, BA in Archaeology from Durham University, Trinity Certificate in TESOL (Saint George International) Amelia started teaching in 2003, at SGI, and has also taught English Literature at the University of London, where she is currently doing her PhD. Before going into teaching, Amelia specialised in Sales and Customer Services, working for various multinational companies, including Visa and Shell. Interesting fact: Amelia has also worked as an Archaeologist, working on ancient sites in Greece<. |
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Roger ParkTeacher BA (Hons) in Philosophy from the University of London, Cambridge Certificate in TESOL Roger taught in Northern Italy for a year before joining SGI in 2006 where he specialises in General English courses. Roger’s varied work history includes 8 years of teaching Philosophy at City University, being a research interviewer, and working for the government in the civil service. Interesting fact: Roger is an icon to hundreds of trainee teachers who have observed him while doing their teacher training courses. |
Rebecca BethellTeacher PGCE in Modern Languages (Italian and French), MA (Hons) in Italian and History of Art from Edinburgh University, Cambridge Certificate in TESOL Rebecca first started teaching English in 1994 and since joining SGI has specialised in general English and One to One tuition. As well as teaching English, Rebecca has worked for the government, owned an art gallery, organised art exhibitions, translated Italian poetry and worked as a secondary school teacher. Interesting fact: Rebecca is a talented sculptor and especially enjoys working on figurative marble sculptures. |
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Juliet MorganTeacher LPC Distinction from BPP Law School, BA (Hons) in English and Italian from Reading University, Cambridge Certificate in TESOL Juliet has been teaching English since 2000 and in addition to working in London, she has also taught in Northern Italy. She joined SGI in 2007 and focuses on General English and One to One tuition. Juliet has also completed her legal studies and has legal work experience, as well as speaking fluent Italian. Interesting fact: Juliet is a semi professional dancer, in jive and salsa. |