TEFL Tutor – Thomas Kerr
My name’s Thomas Kerr, from Paisley in Scotland. I am Head of Teacher Training at an ELT school in the North of Madrid. We have over sixty teachers, so it can get a bit hectic sometimes, but it keeps me on my toes. I provide our teachers with seminars, which I often give myself or invite other trainers from other centres. I am also directly responsible for the quality of our classes, and work very closely with the teachers, providing them with constant support.
After several years in London, I decided to change career, so I took a CELTA course and moved to Madrid, Spain. That was fourteen years ago, and I’m still here. At first life in a new country was tough, but I slowly made new friends and integrated into Spanish society and culture. A couple of years ago I bought a house in the mountains, in the north of the city, so I can safely say I’ve settled down, at last!
Four years ago, whilst working with the British Council, I set up a support system for learners with difficulties, and I also successfully completed the Trinity Diploma. This gave me a greater insight into the world of EFL, and I became very interested in “Systemic Functional Linguistics” and the “Communicative” approach. This has encouraged me to embark on a Masters of Education, which I am presently studying for with the Open University.
Over the years, I have also been involved in various projects such as exams with Cambridge University, for which I have prepared teachers and students for the First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency exams. I have had the opportunity to design and execute seminars for English teachers who work for Spanish secondary schools, which I found thoroughly fulfilling, as I enjoy very much being part of teacher development.
