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Anne Margaret

I started my teaching career in Kenya and have since worked in Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and the UK, in private schools, primary schools, colleges, universities, people’s front rooms and all kinds of work places.

I became a dyslexia assessor and a teacher trainer, and most recently I have trained to be a speech and language therapist. I currently work for the NHS in Preston, in the Specialist Autism Team. We support Autistic adults in their interactions with mental health professionals.

Along the way I have picked up the following qualifications:

  • BA (Hons) in English Language and Linguistics (York University)
  • Certificate in TEFLA (GlosCAT)
  • MA Language Teaching / Language Studies (Lancaster University)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties (Edinburgh University)
  • PGCE (Post-Compulsory Education) (UCLAN)
  • PhD in Educational Research / Linguistics (Lancaster University)
  • Assessment Practising Certificate issued by PATOSS
  • MSc Speech and Language Therapy (UCLAN)

My PhD combined my experience in English Language teaching and Learner Support and explored how the issue of inclusive education is addressed in teacher training and education for EFL teachers.

If you would like to have a look, follow this link:
Smith, A.M (2006) Inclusion In English Language Teacher Training and Education. Unpublished PhD Thesis; Lancaster University

I think it is important for teachers to be on the other side of the desk from time to time, so that we remember how it feels. Language classes that I have been a student in include: Ancient Greek, Anglo-Saxon, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Luo, Maori, Swahili, Swedish and Polish. I hold qualifications in some of these languages, and sometimes even conversations!

Just for the record, I am a member of the following organisations:

  • the British Dyslexia Association (Associate Member of the BDA)
  • the National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA)
  • the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL)
  • the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS)
  • the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists