Dear readers,

My name is Marc Welbourn and teaching our future generation of young adults the English language has been a dream of mine for a long time. I have worked with children and in schools since 2003. Firstly, as an I.C.T Technician, (after achieving a G.N.V.Q), then moving on to become a Music Technician for a world-class Music School in London, where I worked with students who would go on to understudy some of the top composers of our time.

I have always had a passion for the English language, and would spend my nights as a teen writing poetry. It always fascinated me how versatile the English language is, and how word orders could be manipulated to achieve a desired outcome, meaning, or rhyme. It was this fascination that led me down the path of wanting to teach; to teach others to see the beauty in words and sounds.

Eventually, I gained my TEFL qualification, and half of my dream was complete. Shortly after, the opportunity to teach English as a second language arose and my dream was fully-realised.

It is my pleasure to be able to teach the wonders of the English language to our future travellers, doctors, politicians, scientists, writers, engineers, et al. I truly hope that they enjoy the journey as much as I do.

I look forward to teaching your children at Big Ben School!

Marc Welbourn

Salut tuturor!
Ma numesc Ruxanda Topor si predau limbile engleza si franceza. Am absolvit Facultatea de Limbi Straine, sectia Engleza-Franceza, a Universitatii Bucuresti, in 2008, apoi mi-am continuat studiile urmand un program de master si scoala doctorala din cadrul aceleiasi institutii. Sunt specializata asadar pe literatura britanica a secolului al XVIII-lea si ma declar o mare amatoare de carti, filme, prelegeri si evenimente culturale. Stiu ca sunt doar doua meserii cu care ma simt compatibila – cea de profesor si cea de cercetator, si sunt fericita atunci cand reusesc sa le combin, pentru ca imi place in egala masura sa invat si sa predau; nu-mi imaginez ce altceva as putea fi! Pe parcursul celor 8 ani de experienta profesionala am predat atat copiilor prescolari si scolari, precum si adultilor/studentilor, iar aceasta munca mi-a oferit atat satisfactii emotionale, cat si provocari intelectuale. Imi place diversitatea, creativitatea, ludicul din activitatile didactice si ma stradui sa fiu un profesor modern, vesel, tanar mereu si conectat la nevoile si la spiritul jucaus al copiilor din clasa.
Va astept cu drag la activitatile noastre de la Big Ben!

I’m Samantha and I’m English and Irish. I’ve been teaching full-time since 2006, starting as an Instructor of English in secondary school in the U.K., where I taught English Literature, English Language and Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish). Since then, I have taught at private schools and academies in Indonesia, Spain and Thailand, and multinational classes over the Summer at prestigious schools in the U.K. I have experience of teaching all levels of adults, teens, children, and very young learners, both in a traditional classroom setting and in a digital environment. I have an Honours degree in Cultural Studies, a Celta, a Celta YL, a TKT (band 3) and am a Speaking Examiner for Cambridge English.

I am passionate about teaching and believe that teachers should encourage students to become autonomous and motivated learners. Creating fun, engaging lessons, where different learning styles are catered for, and effort and results are equally valued is an excellent way to begin this process.

I have a serious case of wanderlust and in my free time I delight in travelling and experiencing other cultures. I’m also an avid bookworm and read every day. My favourite authors are Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Markus Zusak and Khaled Hosseini.

I can’t wait to meet you all!

Dear parents and children,

My name is Philip Starling and I’m an English teacher at Big Ben and the coordinator of the KET, PET, FCE and CAE teaching department. I have made the move to Romania from the UK where I spent most of my life living in and around London, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. Despite having grown up and having spent most of my life in the South East of England, I have travelled extensively, but Romania was the country that I fell in love with, and it is here that I look forward to calling home!

As an individual and as a professional I have a deep love of learning and self-development, this is why when I am not teaching, my time is devoted to my own studies. I have a degree in German and Spanish with the Open University UK, a well-respected university and British institution designed for individuals who wish to continue their academic development well into their adulthood. I have also successfully completed an intensive professional training course for teachers of English as a second language, CELTA, a course designed and regulated by Cambridge University. Over the years my own personal language studies have seen me studying Spanish in Colombia and Argentina, French in France and French Guiana, German in Germany, and Mandarin in China. Looking to the future, it is my intention to complete my Cambridge University regulated DELTA (Diploma of English Language Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages), and my Masters in Linguistics.
It is my personal belief, not only as an English Language Teacher and Tutor, but as a life-long language student, that learning should be enjoyable and engaging, and that the learning process should also be diverse. To become proficient in using the English language I would advise that alongside classroom learning parents also encourage their children to read English books/magazines, listen to music in English, and also watch suitable English language movies. The use of authentic media and materials can not be understated in the acquisition of language, and for this reason it will be used in class to supplement student coursebooks.
It is my wish, that, as well as increasing children’s understanding of English, and their confidence with integrating it in to their everyday lives, I hope they may also take away a love of language learning and a passion for self-development that will continue in to their adult lives.

I look forward to teaching your children.

Hallo tuturor cititorilor! Ma numesc Ana Maria Bratu si ma bucur ca ati ajuns pe pagina echipei din care fac parte.

Trebuie sa va marturisesc ca doua dintre pasiunile mele sunt limba germana si copiii. Cand acestea se intalnesc am ocazia sa ofer ce am mai bun celor din jurul meu.

Am absolvit facultatea de limbi straine, sectia germana-engleza si predau limba germana atat copiilor cat si adultilor.

Tin ca fiecare minut din timpul orelor de curs sa fie valorificat, constructiv si in acelasi timp relaxant si distractiv. In clasa copiii trebuie sa se simta ca si acasa si incerc in permanenta sa le transmit din entuziasmul meu si pasiunea pe care o am pentru limba si cultura germana. In plus, imi propun sa le insuflu copiilor incredere in fortele proprii si disciplina si perseverenta tipice germane.

Va astept sa facem cunostinta!

 
Hallo!
Ma numesc Andreea Crutescu si imi place sa lucrez cu elevi de toate varstele. Am absolvit Facultatea de Limbi si Literaturi Straine a Universitatii din Bucuresti, sectia Filologie, Germana-Suedeza. Am finalizat masterul Strategii Comunicationale Interculturale, Literare si Lingvistice in limba germana, din cadrul Universitatii Bucuresti. Este al treilea an de cand predau limba germana si pot spune ca mi-am descoperit pasiunea. Am lucrat cu elevi de toate varstele, folosind metode interactive precum jocuri, cantece, jocuri de rol, toate adaptate varstei si nivelului cursantilor.

Va astept cu drag sa descoperim misterele limbii germane in cadrul cursurilor scolii Big Ben!
Frau Andreea Crutescu

Dear readers,

 

            I’m Thomas King (Teacher Thom is what my students like to call me). I’m originally from the great state of New Jersey in the United States. I’ve spent several years volunteering with a private school for special-needs children, and attended Rowan College in Burlington County. I’ve also spent 5 years studying German with German natives. I am most proud of the fact that my enthusiasm, dedication, and passion for teaching and helping others are ever-present. I am fortunate in that I feel inspired and I’m extremely happy with my career.

I’ve always been a person with a lot of heart who wanted to help those around me, and educating children is a rewarding way to help young people advance their lives. This is also why I so enjoyed my years at Archway School for Special Needs Children. While the work was sometimes difficult or frustrating, getting to know each student and work with the teachers to improve lives was something very special for me. I am now honored to have students of my own which I get to watch grow, learn, and use their education in practical ways throughout their lives. I believe that is an awesome thing to see and I am grateful for the opportunity.

                I get a lot of joy from learning more about teaching and about people around the world, so teaching abroad is a natural fit for me. Having students start the year shy and unsure, and hearing them be able to confidently express themselves by the end of the year is very heart-warming and inspiring. This is why I enjoy what I do and feel very confident about the constructive year ahead for myself, my students, and their families at Big Ben School.

 My name is Ewan Hobbs and I’m a new member of the Big Ben family. I’ve heard amazing things about the Big Ben students and I’m really looking forward to meeting you! 

               I am a native English teacher from Bristol, England who has been teaching English since 2016. I studied at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and I obtained my CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teaching qualification in 2016.  I have taught English in Spain and in South America for four years.  I speak English, Spanish, Catalan and French, so I understand what it is like to learn a foreign language. Being a student myself helps me understand the problems my students might encounter when studying a new language.

             As a teacher, I am very approachable and happy to communicate with parents on a regular basis.  I expect students to come to the Big Ben lessons ready to learn with an open mind and interested in learning the English language and its culture.  In addition, I encourage students to collaborate with one another, respect each other’s opinions and values, be pragmatic, reliable and patient. 

            I am very happy that I can continue my teaching career here at the Big Ben Language School. The Big Ben School is a great building with a lot of spacious and comfortable classrooms to learn languages in. Moreover, the whole Big Ben School team are tremendous with a vast amount of knowledge and skill to help your child grow.

          I invite you to come and see for yourself what the Big Ben School has to offer and I can’t wait to be your teacher!

Dragi cursanti,
Ma numesc Hrista Georgescu si sunt directorul Big Ben School of Languages. In numele echipei din care fac parte va urez bun venit!

Sunt absolventa a Facultatii de Limbi si Literaturi Straine din cadrul  Universitatii Bucuresti, specializarea Franceza – Engleza si a Institutului Bancar Roman, specializarea Finante – Banci. De asemenea, am obtinut definitivatul in invatamant.

Lucrez in invatamant inca de cand am absolvit Facultatea de Limbi si Literaturi Straine, ceea ce imi confera o vechime de 16 ani in acest domeniu. Am predat ca profesor de limba engleza si franceza atat in Romania cat si in afara ei, ca voluntar.

Am pus in practica ideea infiintarii unei scoli de limbi straine datorita afectiunii fata de copii si dorintei de a oferi satisfactia de a putea comunica cu oricine, in orice colt al lumii. Consider ca educatia  trebuie sa inceapa de la cea mai frageda varsta, si sa continue pe tot parcursul vietii, fiind cel mai de pret bun al unui om. De aceea am decis sa oferim un program complet de predare a limbilor straine,  adresandu-ne in aceeasi masura si adultilor.

Pregatirea pe care o am in domeniul economic s-a dovedit foarte utila in gestionarea scolii Big Ben. Atat spiritul antreprenorial, pasiunea si implicarea mea si a echipei cu care lucrez, cat si atitudinea pozitiva si abilitatile de lucru in echipa au contribuit la dezvoltarea rapida a scolii.

In zilele noastre invatarea unei limbi straine a devenit mai mult decat o necesitate, un fapt indispensabil. Pentru a avea un succes garantat, o a doua limba straina este si ea necesara.

Cred cu tarie ca pentru a obtine rezultate excelente in special pe partea de comunicare intr-o limba straina, contactul permanent cu vorbitori nativi este esential. De aceea din echipa Big Ben School fac parte vorbitori nativi de limba engleza si germana care le ofera cursantilor nostri experiente autentice de cultura si limba engleza si germana.

Indiferent ca doriti sa invatati o limba straina sau sa va imbunatatiti nivelul conversational, sa aflati mai multe lucruri despre cultura altor tari si in acelasi timp sa va faceti noi prieteni, ca acest lucru va este necesar la serviciu sau doriti sa va angajati in strainatate sau ca va propuneti aceste obiective pentru copilul dumneavoastra, oricare ar fi motivul sunt convinsa ca impreuna putem reusi.

Imi doresc sa va cunosc si sa putem discuta si planui impreuna cum Big Ben School of Languages va poate ajuta sa va atingeti obiectivul propus!

Va astept cu drag!