NATECLA Training (in-house)

Aleks is Head of Sanctuary at the University of Leicester. She has been heavily involved in developing University of Sanctuary work at her institution and across the HE sector, particularly by widening participation to HE for refugee-background students through trauma-informed English language provision. Her recent work has included her article entitled ‘Towards a Trauma-Informed ELT Pedagogy for Refugees’ and 'Beyond Resilience: Facilitating Learning and Wellbeing in the Refugee Language Classroom'

Carol is an ESOL and Functional Skills English teacher and also taught digital skills and employability while at Adult Community Learning, Essex. She also works with KS4 students to bridge the gap between GCSE English and ESOL. As a freelance materials writer, she has written for NOCN-British Council, contributed to Teaching Tracks Top Ten (including some of the illustrations) and blogs about matters relating to sustainability. Carol is also the current Branch Chair of NATECLA East of England and is a member of the NATECLA EDI working group.

Chloë (QTLS, ATS, CTEACH) has a particular interest in action research and developing the digital literacies of learners and staff alike.

She teaches in her local college and is also involved in a variety of freelance projects including: course design and training on the ETF’s Award in Education and Training (ESOL); community space lead for AmplifyFE; e-learning facilitator for NILE; and trainer and consultant for NATECLA.

Christine has been a member of NATECLA for over 20 years and has been teaching ESOL in Birmingham for the same length of time. She currently works at South and City College Birmingham as a CELTA trainer and continues her ESOL teaching in the voluntary sector.

Emily Bryson is an author and teacher educator with a visual twist. She has written various print and digital materials, including National Geographic Learning’s Voices and Impact series, 50 Ways to Teach Life Skills and A-Z of ESOL.

She taught adult ESOL learners at City of Glasgow College for sixteen years and dedicated herself to supporting the acquisition of life skills such as digital, literacy, employability and communication. She has also led the New Scots strategy while on secondment at Education Scotland and the Peer Education programme for Scottish Refugee Council.

Her passion is sharing the magic of visual thinking and storytelling with ELT professionals.

Eve has been teaching ESOL and Functional Maths for nearly 20 years at a general FE college. Since 2019 she has worked as an Advanced Practitioner, responsible for CPD and coaching for teachers across the college. She has worked on several action research projects, including a Digital and Blended learning project with Greater Manchester colleges and an OTLA project investigating vocational provision for ESOL students. She loves using digital tools to support learning and is a certified Level 2 Google Educator.

Isla is a creative ESOL and community practitioner with extensive experience teaching teenage and adult ESOL learners, coaching, training and developing staff and working with technology to enhance learning. Currently working as Head of Learning Technologies (and still teaching ESOL) with a mission to improve staff and students digital skills in order to enable them to learn better and develop more.

Judy has over 35 years’ experience in ELT as a teacher, trainer, examiner, consultant, and materials writer. Specialising in ESOL literacy, she co-developed an online CPD course and contributed to the 'New to ESOL' resources on the Excellence Gateway. At LLU+ London South Bank University, she worked on various projects and created resources for the British Council’s ESOL Nexus. Judy currently volunteers with Herts Welcomes Refugees and is a former trustee and co-chair of NATECLA.

Mary Osmaston is an experienced ESOL teacher, manager and teacher trainer (CELTA, Level 5 ESOL and PGCE), and one of the trustees of NATECLA. She now works mainly in teacher development and quality improvement, and as a part time Ofsted inspector. She has led professional development workshops for ESOL teachers and teacher trainers for many years, focusing on practical teaching and learning as well as teachers’ knowledge about language and evidence-based approaches to language teaching.

Michaela is a passionate teacher and trainer with considerable experience working with refugee and migrant learners, both in the UK and abroad. She delivers inclusive, trauma-informed lessons for teenagers and adults that build language, confidence, and resilience. With a background in English, Classics and Development Studies, she has designed curriculum on literature and social justice. Her action research focuses on trauma-informed practice, and she is currently qualifying as a TISUK (Trauma Informed Schools UK) Practitioner. Michaela’s training helps ESOL and vocational staff better understand and respond to diverse learner needs. She mostly works at a large FE college but loves to travel!

With an MA in Linguistics and CELTA qualifications, Olena worked in different countries, including Ukraine, China and Czech Republic, teaching ESOL, European Culture, and other subjects in schools and universities for over 20 years. Since moving to the UK, Olena has been teaching ESOL and Community Interpreting for the Workers' Educational Association.
Olena is passionate about multilingualism and ESOL. She has also been delivering ESOL CPD workshops and developing courses for the WEA, supporting ESOL tutors and being an active member of NATECLA East.

Rachel is a freelance Education Consultant and teacher trainer specialising in Essential Skills in Further Education, in particular English and ESOL, CPD delivery and resource development. She is the current National Co-Chair and Trustee of NATECLA, as well as sitting on the East of England Branch Committee. She is a Fellow of SET, a holder of QTLS, ATS and CTeach, as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Teachers. Rachel has been awarded with an Advanced Virtual Trainer qualification and runs various online training and networking events. She has experience in various FE settings including work-based, community and prison learning.

Sam is a language learner, teacher, trainer and translator. As Advanced Learning Practitioner at a North London AdultEd college, he leads the CPD program and ESOL curriculum quality. He is also an active mentor and coach. He works freelance as a CELTA course tutor both online and in person. ESOL initiatives Sam has created include the ESOL Participatory Podcast, Peer Mentoring in ESOL and Self-Study workshops to encourage learners to embrace the identity as English language learners and users. Sam has written for ELT publications and platforms including IATEFL-SIG, FE Week and the Ascentis blog on innovative ESOL.