Heather

Hi! I'm Heather 👋 I'm a passionate, certified TEFL/TESOL English teacher from Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 8 years of teaching experience. What makes me different? I bring together two worlds: 7+ years of early childhood education (I owned and ran my own preschool!) and 17+ years in international banking and finance. This unique combination means I truly understand how to teach both young learners AND business professionals, and I absolutely love working with both! 🎓 MY QUALIFICATIONS 250-hour Expert TEFL/TESOL Diploma 40-hour Teaching Online Specialist Certificate 8+ years of active teaching experience 7+ years: Preschool Owner/Lead Teacher (Zoo Babies Preschool & Day Care) 17+ years: International Banking & Finance Professional (FNB South Africa, Barclays Corporate Banking) Background in trade finance, healthcare marketing, and corporate communication 👶 FOR YOUNG LEARNERS (AGES 5-12) If you're a parent looking for an engaging, patient teacher for your child, I'd love to help! With 7+ years of experience running my own preschool and vocational training in child day-care, I know exactly how children learn best, through play, encouragement, and FUN. What we'll do in class: ✨ Games, songs, and interactive stories. ✨ Build reading skills through phonics and storytelling. ✨ Develop speaking confidence in a safe, supportive environment. ✨ Practice pronunciation with fun activities. ✨ Support with homework and school English. ✨ Age-appropriate vocabulary and grammar (disguised as playtime!). My goal: Your child will actually LOOK FORWARD to English lessons. 💼 FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS If you need English for your career, I bring something most teachers can't: real-world corporate experience. With 17+ years in international banking, trade finance, and corporate environments, I understand the communication challenges YOU face because I've lived them. What I teach: ✅ Professional Email Writing - Clear, confident business correspondence. ✅ Presentation Skills - Deliver presentations that impress and persuade. ✅ Meeting Language - Lead meetings, participate confidently, negotiate effectively. ✅ Interview Preparation - Practice, feedback, and confidence-building. ✅ Business Vocabulary - Industry-specific terms (banking, finance, healthcare, general business). ✅ Accent & Pronunciation - Clarity and professional communication. ✅ Workplace Communication - Phone calls, networking, small talk, client relationships. My approach: I don't teach textbook phrases you'll never use. I teach PRACTICAL, job-focused English that gets results. My lessons are personalised to YOUR role, industry, and specific goals. ✨ MY TEACHING STYLE Patient • Supportive • Dynamic • Results-Focused No matter your age or level, my teaching philosophy is the same: 🌟 Personalised Learning - Every student is unique. I assess your goals and create customised lessons just for YOU. 🌟 Encouraging Environment - Mistakes are how we learn! I create a safe, judgment-free space where you feel comfortable practicing. 🌟 Practical & Engaging - Whether it's a game for a 6-year-old or a business case study for a professional, my lessons are interactive and relevant to YOUR life. 🌟 Progress Tracking - We set clear goals together and celebrate every milestone along the way. ✨ MY TEACHING METHODOLOGY For Children (Ages 5-12): Play-based learning through games, songs, and interactive activities. Positive reinforcement to build confidence and celebrate progress. Multisensory approach using visual, auditory, and hands-on activities. Child-centered lessons adapted to your child's interests and learning pace. For Business Professionals: Practical communication focus on real workplace scenarios. Task-based learning through role-plays, simulations, and case studies. Needs analysis customized to your specific job and industry. Constructive feedback that improves without discouraging. Goal-oriented progress with clear milestones you can measure. I come from a family of educators, so my passion for continuous learning and teaching is deeply rooted. What excites me most is sharing knowledge and helping others grow and develop their language skills, it's incredibly fulfilling. 🌍 WHAT TO EXPECT IN MY CLASSES Before We Start: I'll ask about your goals, challenges, current level, and what you want to achieve. This helps me design the perfect learning plan for you. During Classes: Interactive & conversational with lots of speaking practice! Structured but flexible and I have a plan, but we adapt to YOUR needs. Supportive feedback, which I correct gently and explain clearly. Real-world focus, you'll use what you learn immediately. After Classes: Optional homework/practice materials. Progress tracking and feedback. Adjustments to lessons based on your development. 📚 WHO I'VE HELPED Young Learners: Children preparing for English-medium schools. Kids needing extra reading and speaking support. Young learners building foundational English skills. Students wanting fun, engaging lessons that reduce anxiety Business Professionals: Banking and finance professionals (my specialty!). Professionals preparing for presentations. Jobseekers preparing for English interviews. Anyone needing workplace communication confidence. 🎯 WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT? ✅ Dual expertise: Early childhood education + Corporate business experience. ✅ Real-world knowledge: I've LIVED the business English I teach. ✅ Child development expert: 7+ years, running a preschool means I truly understand how kids learn. ✅ Certified & qualified: TEFL/TESOL certified with specialised online teaching training. ✅ Flexible & adaptable: I meet you where you are and take you where you want to go. ✅ Genuine passion: This isn't just a job, I love seeing my students succeed! 💬 LET'S START YOUR ENGLISH JOURNEY! Whether you're a parent looking for the perfect teacher for your child, or a professional ready to advance your career through confident English communication, I'm here to help. Book your trial lesson today and let's achieve your English goals together! 📚 I'm excited to meet you and be part of your English learning journey. Learning English opens so many doors, better opportunities, confident travel, global connections, and personal growth. Let's make this year YOUR year of English success! 🌟