Kevin Child

Head of English Language Training Services

I joined Swansea University in January 1993 as a temporary fulltime tutor of English as a Foreign Language. My duties at that time were to prepare and deliver up to 18 hours of English language classes to students from all over the world. I am now in my fifteenth year of employment with the University. Over this time I have gained a PGCE in Special Needs/Dyslexia, a Post Graduate Diploma, and a Master's Degree in Education & TEFL.

In addition to my language teaching commitments, I have also been responsible for managing the EFL courses offered by the University, the delivery of 3 undergraduate modules dealing with language teaching & learning, and worked as a senior member of the teacher training team.

I became Head of ELTS in August 2007, and my ambition is to see ELTS continue to grow into a department with a reputation for delivering a constantly improving, highly professional service, promoting a high-standard learning and working environment for Swansea University’s students and staff alike.

Joanne Wade

I am the director of the English for University Studies course. I have taught at the University for the past 8 years, during which time I completed a Master's in TEFL. Prior to this I taught English for 7 years in Japan, Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey and Barbados. I am also a qualified CELTA trainer and hold a European Computer Driving Licence.

Lisa Langley

I have worked in this department for the last 6 years, after returning from teaching English in South Korea, Brazil and then Columbia. Since being here I have completed an MA in TEFL, and also hold a European Computer Driving Licence. I am currently the Deputy Co-ordinator of the EUS course, and I am also involved in CELTA training each year.

Lucy Lewis

My name is Lucy Lewis. I am a tutor in ELTS. Most of the year I teach on the English for University Studies course, but, come the summer, I coordinate the General Summer Intensive Course. I started teaching in Swansea University in 2003, having spent 2 years teaching in Bali, Indonesia. I completed an MA in TEFL in 2007.

Jo Seaton

I have been working as an EFL tutor/ CELTA trainer in Swansea University for the past six years. Prior to that I was teaching in Lisbon for two years. In 2004 I completed an MA in TEFL & Education, and in 2007 completed an MA in International Relations.

Jo Moore

I have been working in ELTS since 2006. Prior to that I was working as part of the Business department, as an academic support officer. Since joining ELTS, I have taught on both the English for University Studies Course and the International Foundation year. I gained a degree in Early Childhood Studies and am currently studying for an MA in TEFL

Kate Kindred

I joined ELTS in 2006. I have taught on both the Summer and English for University Studies courses. After gaining a degree in Psychology and Economics from Liverpool University, I taught EFL in Dublin, and also worked as a Primary teacher. I am currently doing my Master's in TEFL, and am just completing a European Driving Licence qualification.

Alison Davies

I have worked in the EFL industry since 2000 – mainly at ACE, Sydney, Australia, where I worked as a course co-ordinator, teacher-trainer, senior teacher and head teacher. I have also taught in China, Laos and Japan. My experience in teaching is in General English, Cambridge (FCE – CPE), Business (LCCI/BEC), IELTS, and TOEIC. Prior to working in the EFL industry, I worked in the corporate world as a Business manager after gaining a degree in Accounting and a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Accounting. I joined Swansea University in 2007, teaching on the English for University Studies, Pre-Sessional, and International Foundation Year Programmes.

Sandy George

I have a degree in English and Art and a PGCE in Primary Education. I worked at Swansea University 11 years ago (for around 5 years), teaching English on a variety of courses. I took a break from teaching to work in media sales, firstly radio advertising and later as a media consultant for radio, press, television, and design and print. I returned to teaching 3 years ago, working at Carmarthenshire College before coming back to work at the University in the summer of 2007. I taught on the summer Pre-sessional course, and am currently teaching on the English for University Studies course.

Irene Turner

I have been teaching at Swansea University since 1993, and have been involved with EFL / EAP, Foundation, Pre-sessional, and Language Support teaching during this time, as well as some lecturing on BA programmes. Prior to this, I taught English and Music in state schools, and later EFL / EAP and ESOL at colleges and in the community, in the South of England. I also spent some time overseas, setting up an English course and teaching in Pakistan. I have been an examiner for Cambridge and IELTS examinations. I am currently responsible for the Academic English Support programme for all overseas students taking degree, Master's and PhD courses on the campus. I enjoy writing new materials, and am in the process of completing a Language Support Blackboard site.

Steve Tanner

I graduated in Russian and French at Cambridge, later adding a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching English as a Second Language, and an MA course in Linguistics at Leeds. I have taught in a variety of overseas postings, including Nigeria, Senegal, France, China and Cyprus. Following my main interest in language testing, I worked as an examiner and item writer for UCLES, AQA, RSA and the Institute of Linguists. In ELTS I am coordinator of the Swansea English Language Test (SWELT). Outside work, my interests include chess, genealogy and rearing sheep and goats on my small farm.

Syrie Banner

I am the International Foundation Year Admissions Tutor at Swansea University. I teach English Language on the International Foundation Year Course and the Pre-Sessional Course. I have been teaching English Language at Swansea University since 1999, and particularly enjoy teaching English for Academic Purposes. I have experience of  teaching in Spain, France, Italy, Iran and the UK. I have a BA Honours Degree (French/Italian), a CTEFLA and a Master’s Degree (French/Italian) in Translation with Language Technology.

Jerome Bradnick

I have worked as an EFL teacher in private and commercial language schools in London, Bournemouth and Milan; with the British Council in Sao Paulo and Curitiba, Brazil, and more recently in Cardiff and Swansea Universities. I teach on Pre-sessional courses and the International Foundation Year, which I am helping to co-ordinate. I am also a student, working towards my MA in Modern Celtic studies, which includes Welsh language, Welsh and Irish writers and modern history. I love travelling, having been to China, South America, Morocco and most European countries.

Emma Main

I am the co-ordinator of the Pre-Masters Management Programme and teacher trainer on the CELTA Course. I also teach on various EAP courses within the ELTS department. These include the International Foundation Year and the Pre-Sessional Course. I have previously lived in France and Turkey. I spent five years in Tokyo, Japan, where I worked as a teacher trainer and head teacher within a large corporate company. I have studied French, Business Management and European History at university level. I have completed my postgraduate diploma in Applied Linguistics and am currently working on my Master's dissertation.

Val Godwin

I’m Val Godwin, and I coordinate and teach modules for the International Foundation Year and Pre-Sessional English course, and undergraduate Applied Linguistics courses. I have been teaching in Swansea University since 1992, and before that worked abroad in Greece, Spain and Malaysia. My first degree is in Modern Languages, Spanish and Italian, and I also have a Master's degree from Aston University in Teaching English for Specific Purposes and Applied Linguistics. My dissertation topic was a study of Socio-Rhetorical Variation amongst native and non-native university-essay writing.  I continue to be very interested in writing development for International students.

Lynda Wilks

I’m Lynda Wilks and I’m the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Co-ordinator in ELTS. My BA was in Russian and English, and my MA was in Applied Linguistics. My Master’s dissertation was based on a piece of empirical research into lexical richness in teacher-talk in the EFL classroom, using word frequency counts as the basis for my evaluation. I have worked in Swansea University since 1991, lecturing on a range of undergraduate modules, acting as Admissions Tutor and Year Tutor, and teaching EAP on summer Pre-Sessional courses. Currently, I am involved with Academic Support for overseas students, plus the production of Swansea’s English Language test. I am also a member of the ELTS management team.

Peter Neville

I have worked at Swansea University for 20 years as an EFL teacher, a trainer on postgraduate TEFL programmes, and on undergraduate degree programmes. I have experience of working in Oman, Bulgaria, Sweden and Germany. I hold an MEd from Cardiff University and an MA TESOL from London University’s Institute of Education. My main area of interest is in e-learning.

Lisa Bowen

I am an experienced administrator and have been with the department for 3 years. Prior to that, I worked in a similar role in the School of Health Science for 10 years. I am also a qualified first-aider.

Viv Lethbridge

I joined the University in July as a departmental administrator. Before working in ELTS I worked in the banking sector, and as an administrator in a solicitor's office.