Brandon Fitzgerald

Hello,

I'm a full time English teacher here in Barcelona. I love English because I grew up surrounded by it. As a native speaker, it's the language that is home. My job as teacher is to share this love of my language; to bring in engaging videos, readings and listenings from the English world. My job is also to keep them interested in participating and feel comfortable enough to speak whatever they can. Many students haven't been given the chance, in rigid classes, to use English to communicate their ideas, experiences or opinions. They've just practiced to practice, used English to get through a lesson. That's a dead language. They're using words with little true meaning. My duty is to bring more life into the class than that. Maybe then they can fall for English too.

As for my education and experience, I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and I graduated with honors. I advanced in courses dealing with languages, social problems and educational theory. I also have a Level 5 Certification in TESOL (equivalent to CELTA/ Trinity) and have taught many different ages and backgrounds. I've worked with A1 to C2 students and have learned to adapt (or entirely create) lessons that were relevant and enjoyable for my students. Overall, I am a very curious learner and thinker myself; knowing that if I'm bored then they're bored and no one is learning. To do this, I employ the communicative approach, guided discovery and a student-centered environment. They need to be involved. After all, you can't truly practice speaking unless you truly have something to say.

I am happy to talk further with you and am available to by phone, email or in person.

Sincerely,
Brandon Fitzgerald