Walk and Talk
- Do you know you need to practise your spoken English but never find the time?
- Are you tired of screen-based language learning?
- Are you a shy student and find it intimidating trying to make conversation in your first language, let alone in English?
- Do you enjoy getting out and about and discovering new things about the ever-changing city of Porto?
Walk and Talk arose out of my sense that not everyone benefits from conventional language lessons. Students wanted conversation lessons because they knew they lacked fluency but didn't always have much to say; theme-based conversation lessons felt more like interviews and students felt anxious and exposed while I was waiting for them to formulate their ideas in English.
Walk and Talk offers a more relaxed environment and a natural context for language to arise. Porto is a wonderful place to walk around because it is constantly changing and this generates a great deal of conversation.
Recent walks and talks have included the Clerigos and Ribeira areas, the Eco-Caminho do Rio Leça, Ribeira da Granja in Ramalde, Parque do Carriçal and Sete Bicas neighbourhood, Senhora da Hora.
If it's raining we will find a nice café, shopping centre or museum to go to.
Choose a learning method
that works for you.
About me
I have over 18 years of language teaching experience and a real passion for linguistics. I have taught in well-established language schools in the UK, Spain and Italy, and now as a freelancer here in Portugal.
I have taught Business English in companies and pre-sessional Academic English courses for Master’s and PhD students at the University of Leeds, UK. I have worked one-to-one with a huge range of students of different ages, language levels, professional and academic backgrounds, and nationalities.
I speak fluent Portuguese and Italian and good French and Spanish, having completed a Master's in Translation from the University of Leeds, UK, specialising in English translation from Portuguese, Italian, French and Spanish. I have worked as a translator and now teach Portuguese to holidaymakers and international residents in Portugal.
I have a range of post-graduate level teaching qualifications, including the Cambridge CELTA and DELTA certificates. I have also worked freelance for Trinity College London as an International ESOL Examiner, administering the ISE and GESE oral exams in state and private institutions in Italy and Spain. Over the years I have helped a number of students prepare for the Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced and IELTS exams.
Times are changing...
and I'm changing with them.
Times have changed since I first started teaching 18 years ago. Firstly, with globalisation, people are not just learning English to work or study in the UK or other English-speaking countries, but to communicate throughout the world. Levels of English comprehension have improved, thanks to Netflix and other English media, and people have less time and patience for text-book or grammar-based learning. The Internet has made language learning more accessible but people often find the range of choices overwhelming and can get lost. That's why I'm offering flexible options to guide you on your language-learning journey. No-one should feel that language learning is just a lonely uphill slog.
Yet the main reason clients contact me is because they lack confidence speaking English as they don't have regular contact with English speakers. Many have had stressful or negative language learning experiences at school. Some fear being judged when speaking in front of colleagues. Grammarly and AI have helped millions to improve their written communication, but these tools can only go so far. There is a risk of becoming blindly dependent on technology and losing your own voice. Let me help you build your linguistic independence!
Address
Avenida Fabril do Norte, 1129,
Senhora da Hora, Matosinhos, Portugal
Phone
PT tel:+ 351 920 362 696