Emilia
Lecturer in ESOL and Employability
My journey…
I started learning English when I was 11 years old. I attended a high school with an extended English programme and then did English studies at uni. It was so hard I cried for the first six months; I didn’t give up though. I was sure I was going to be an interpreter, but I did my teacher training, too. I arrived in London a few months after my graduation in the summer of 2003 with one bag, £300 in my pocket and no plan… well, I knew I hated teaching and wanted to be a waitress. On day five I got a teaching job, a week later I loved teaching! I got my Qualified Teacher Status a year later and did my DELTA course a year after that. This opened doors to an FE college in West London, where I worked as an ESOL Lecturer – this was a time of tremendous professional growth, I was lucky to be surrounded by incredible teacher, mentors and coaches. I fell in love with coaching and made it an integral part of my teaching. After I took my IELTS exam, I began working as an examiner for Cambridge and devoted my teaching time almost exclusively to IELTS preparation and supporting my students with their academic English skills.
My journey through Weston College…
I have been part of the Adult and External Education team since March 2022. ESOL students wishing to improve their English and employability are the main group I have been privileged to support in Bridgwater, Taunton, Bristol and Weston.
A little bit about me…
I moved to Weston just before the pandemic, in January 2020 after 17 years spent living and working in London. It’s one of the best things I’ve done! I love living so close to the beach and scouting the Somerset countryside and its nature reserves while nurturing my new passion - birdwatching. I keep active by hiking around Sand Point, Middle Hope, Crook Peak or Brean Down and constantly look for new places to explore.
I have a passion for learning new things, so I read a lot of books. I have been learning Brazilian Portuguese for almost a year now, which brings me a huge joy. My dream is to learn kite-surfing so I can do it in Weston bay and beyond.