Unique English lessons in Berlin or Online. General or Business English. Test preparation: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS. Intense or relaxed environment. You choose.

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• How is it that you speak this language fluently? Is it related to your origins, or did a teacher once awaken a passion for it in you?

  I speak English Fluently because it's my mother tongue, as I was born and raised in London, England. It's been the predominant language in my life for 30 years until I moved to Berlin, Germany in 2019.

• Name a personality, living, historical or fictional, who best represents this culture for you!

  The personality that jumps to mind when I think of the English culture is the great novelist, Oscar Wilde. For myself, his writing and character really personifies the essence of the English Language. I think his stories have inspired many linguists from generations before and after mine to pursue a life in the writing arts. The humorous irony which he conveys have a lasting effect on those that have read his work.

• Is there a word, expression, tradition, or typical behavior in the language you teach that particularly impresses or amuses you?

  As with many languages, one can learn a great deal from its culture through its language. It's no different with English, where it's wit and humor are extremely prevalent throughout its history. Humor belongs to everyone, but English has a certain way to bring about its dark undertone. From Shakespeare to James Bond, the language demands a certain level of sarcasm and jest because it has the ability to make light of tragic situations through the direst of times. For this reason, I enjoy teaching its expressions and euphemisms to my more advance students.

• Why do you think it is so important to know this language (whether for school/study, work or personal reasons)?

  Although English comes third in the ranking of the most spoken languages in the world from native speakers, it must be said that it's the most used when communicating between foreign counties. There's a good reason why English is taught throughout the world from an early age, as it has been established as one of 6 international languages by the UN. Not only will this aid diplomatic communication between nations, but it will also help develop personal relationships between individuals.

• What is the particularly difficult in learning this language, or why is it particularly worthwhile?

  From my experience, each non-native speaker finds English difficult in their own way, whether it be the pronunciation or its tenses. Although English has its roots in the Germanic languages, it has developed and mixed greatly with the Latin origins throughout the centuries. However, still to this day, many people have difficulty understanding and expressing themselves in English. Not only is this because the rules of the languages differ, but more importantly, the expressions and idioms used for colloquial conversation has its own effects in their own original language. This makes it hard to adapt to new phrasal verbs which are not native in their mother tongue. Learning these, however, is hugely rewarding and worthwhile as it shows the students not only the differences, but the similarities that both languages shares.

• Is there any anecdote related to this language from your professional life or your school days that you would like to tell us about?

  Anecdotes are plenty when it comes to English language learning. The most memorable was during my secondary school years, when the whole class was reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Sallinger. While there were students that were absorbed by the book and enjoyed the gripping storyline, there were also pupils with less enthusiasm. So much so that a classmate of mine fell asleep during the reading, with audible effects from loud snoring. This was met with great laughter from the class, but not so with the teacher. The repercussions for him were minor, but this left a lasting memory for those reading this book, as it is remembered to this day.

• Help us to get to know you a little better and tell us a little more about your previous travels and/or stays abroad (in relation to the language taught or in general).

  Travelling is more than a hobby. Since I can remember, I have been an avid explorer of everything the world can offer. I have travelled to over 40 countries so far and have no intentions of stopping there. There have been many adventures, but the trip which sticks with me the most is a volunteering trip I did in Napal as an English teacher. The assignment lasted only just over a month, but the children, who were between the ages 7-12, gave me an experience of a lifetime. It was heart-warming to see how grateful they were for a foreigner to teach them English in their beautiful, scenic country. It's hard to describe the full extent in which this journey has had on my teaching career, but for the sake of not boring you, the reader, I know it's a big reason why I am still teaching English today.

• In a nutshell, what makes you a Superprof? (In addition to successfully mastering several languages)

  It is an overstatement to say I have mastered several languages but growing up bilingual means I am able to comprehend the difficulties one may have when learning a new language. The struggles which students have are similar to those I've experiences, not just growing up, but during my time living as an expat in Germany. I plan to travel to every corner of this world and help those less fortunate than me with any troubles they may have, whether it be with my hands or my head.
  
  The experiences I've had domestically in London and abroad have considerably expanded my horizon about the people that live in this world. I've met humans from all walks of life, each with their own highs and lows, each with their own unique stories, I would just like to help them tell it.