Information About James - Bristol teacher

Personal Description:

I am a lecturer in Creative Writing, researcher, and English-language teacher. I have an MA (w/distinction) and a BA (first class) in Creative Writing, both from Bath Spa University, and I am currently working toward a PhD, also in Creative Writing, with Manchester Metropolitan University. I have taught and published various writing genres, including poetry, prose poetry, narrative fiction, feature writing, and music journalism.

Between 2015-2020, I worked as an Associa**Contact Detail Removed**cturer in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, specialising in poetry and fiction. The key responsibilities of this role included planning and delivering seminars and lectures to undergraduate Creative Writing students, developing teaching materials that fit into a learning plan with specific learning aims, providing ongoing constructive feedback on students' creative and critical work, grading assignments, and providing individual tutorials.

My poetry has appeared in literary journals including Poetry Review, Poetry Wales, New Welsh Review, New Walk, The Warwick Review, Stand, and Ambit, and my debut poetry pamphlet ("How to Parallel Park") was published by V.Press in 2018. Before returning to the U.K. in 2014, I spent three years living and working in Catania, Sicily, as an English Language teacher.

Teaching Experience:

Since 2015, I have lectured in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, specialising in poetry, prose poetry, and short fiction.

I have a certificate in TESOL from Trinity College London, and am an experienced English-language teacher, having taught English both in the U.K and abroad since 2009, including general English, exam preparation (PET, FCE, CAE, IELTS, TOEFL, ESOL Skills for Life), business courses, one-to-one, and mentoring. I have taught students of all ages (juniors to adults) levels (beginner to proficiency) and backgrounds, including four years teaching English to adult refugees and asylum seekers with a focus on developing functional language skills, social integration, and preparation for external examinations.

Between 2012 and 2014 I was the Director of Studies at a private language school in Catania, Sicily, responsible for organising teaching schedules, level testing, observing teachers, monitoring students' progress, and teaching. In addition to this, I tutored two advanced teenage students in A-level English Literature.

Teaching Approach:

All teaching is student centred, so my approach depends on the needs and preferences of of the individual student. Speaking generally, I prefer the communicative approach to teaching as opposed to the book-centred one. I'm interested in my students, in what they think. Personalising learning, finding ways to make the subject relevant to the individual student is often the best way to engage and enthuse them, and in turn to achieve greater learning outcomes. But ultimately there is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching.