Who am I?
My name is Lochlann (pronounced: lok-lun), and I am from a small town called Luton in England. Since 2024 I have been living in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, which I fell in love with since visiting in 2023 and seeing the linguistic diversity of the country, and the natural beauty of the landscape. My accent has changed since moving to Wales, so while I do still sound very English, I have a adopted a Welsh twang to some of my words!
Having come from a multicultural background, I am passionate about languages and have learned multiple to fluency as an adult, and I love helping others on their journeys.
Experience
I started teaching English in 2021 and since then have amassed thousands of hours in the classroom, working with learners from all around the world and of all ages, in groups and individually. I have previously taught Cambridge and IELTS examination practice to students looking to study at UK universities, as well as those already in the country looking to improve their quality of life and join in with community activities and make friends. I’ve also supported those not looking to move to the UK in their high school English exams, and provided support for lesser known examinations specific to certain countries.
My experience working with such a diverse range of learners means I am very capable of anticipating mistakes speakers of certain languages make, as I have educated myself on the grammar of the languages my students speak. For example, despite not speaking Russian or Polish to a high standard, I am aware of the mistakes a lack of grammatical articles and the systems and free word order can lead to when speakers of Slavic languages learn English. I am familiar with the grammars and mistakes speakers of Slavic, Romance, and Chinese languages often make, as well as speakers of various Indian and West African languages due to my work with these learners in the apprenticeship sector in the UK.
As a language learner myself, I also know what it is like to be a student in a language classroom, and have refined my method of learning and teaching languages through learning three additional languages as an adult: Spanish, French, and Welsh. I have worked through all of these languages and have made friends and joined communities in Spanish and Welsh, so you can be confident I know the process of learning a language to a high level, and how you can too.
I have worked in the British education system providing support to learners with additional learning needs such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other issues, as well is in the apprenticeship sector where I primarily taught and assessed students working in the care sector English and maths, so I have quite a wide range of experience in the education sector and have learned best practices to go by from frequent observation and rigorous training.
Qualifications
With regards to my training and qualifications, I undertook a Level 5 Trinity CertTESOL (the gold standard in English language teaching qualifications) course in 2024 with Active Language in Cadiz, Spain, where I passed with distinction after undergoing rigorous assessment in lesson planning and delivery, analysing learner needs, creating materials, and observing tenured teachers. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in Language Studies where I majored in language acquisition and teaching, alongside English language and linguistics, so I have sound knowledge of all the most effective teaching methods.
Teaching Method
My approach to language education is quite different from a lot of tutors, in that I focus not just on teaching the language, but also teaching my students how to learn the language in a way which doesn’t feel like a chore. Other tutors I have found either don’t do enough of this, or overcomplicate it and make everything more difficult than it should be, and I believe I have found the perfect balance.
Depending on your goals, lesson will look quite different, however for most of my learners taking one to one sessions, we focus on doing communicative, structured conversations where we choose a topic relevant to your life, and I provide vocabulary, phrasal verbs, grammar structures/explanations, and idiomatic expressions alongside the aforementioned study support to help you make quick, easy improvements to your fluency. I will then provide you with a homework task to either increase your vocabulary or a specific skill using study methods taught in the lesson, as well an additional writing or project task.
For learners who are studying for an exam, I also provide exam prep sessions and mock examinations so you can get the grades you need for your school, university entrance, or visa.
All lessons take place either online, or in/around Cardiff, Wales, so if you are living nearby and would prefer in person lessons, this is an ideal option for you.