My world before TEFL

One of four children in my family, I spent my childhood living just outside the town of Stratford-on-Avon in the UK. I went to a local primary school and then, as a secondary student, to Marlborough College. What I mostly remember from my school is all the acting in school plays, singing in the choir, being a not-very-good trumpet player and learning to play the guitar.

After school I went to the University of East Anglia in Norwich, where I took a degree in English and American studies. Whilst I was there I spent a lot of time acting both in university revues and various plays, and also learning to become a passable folk singer and guitarist.

After graduation I tried my hand at various things – including studying unsuccessfully, for a bit, to become a barrister – before deciding to have a real go at making a living as a singer-songwriter. For two years I sang in clubs and earned money busking. But then someone told me about a short course he was doing which would give him a qualification to teach English around the world and I was immediately interested since not only had I always considered teaching as a real possibility, but seeing the world sounded interesting too. And so a few weeks later I went along to International House, London and got accepted as a student – and discovered almost straight away something I loved and could perhaps be good at.