We are a team of experienced, competent and dedicated trainers with a wealth of expertise in English Language Teaching, Training and Corporate Coaching and Training. As a team, we have experience in a variety of contexts: Business, Banking and Finance, Univerisity Lecturing, Writing and Publishing English Language Learning Materials, Teacher Training and Development and Corporate Training.
About Us
EXTRA ENGLISH is a small, efficient, professional, and dedicated team of English Language Teaching Specialists in Chester.
Sophie Freeman, the Academic and Business Director, works ‘hands-on’ delivering training alongside her highly qualified team of trainers, teacher trainers and authors in the field.
Picture across: Two EXTRA ENGLISH students studying for the Cambridge BEC Higher Certificate in their place of work.
'I wanted you to know that sister got an email from NCS, they have accepted her request to become a Nurse.
I really would like to thank you for your help. The best exam she ever had was after your lesson, so part of this success belong also to you.'
Virginia Disacco, Pirelli.
Staff Profiles
Sophie Freeman
I have been involved in corporate training, teaching English and managing trainers for over 20 years as well as having a degree (BA Hons) in English Language and Literature and the Cambridge University (ESOL) postgraduate Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults (Level 7- Masters).
I have worked in several top language and business institutions in Brazil and Kuwait as well as in Paris, London and Chester. I also have a background in Investment Banking working in Sales, Account Management and Training for the multinational Thomson Financial (now Thomson Reuters). I have significant business experience, including devising, managing and delivering the roll-out of a Europe-wide internal and client training program. Clients included Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, CSFB, UBS Warburg, ING Barings. I was also part of the teaching and Academic Management team at English in Chester for over 10 years. In Kuwait, I worked as the Senior Trainer at the Institute of Banking Studies focussing on Business and Banking English.
I also currently work part-time as a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at the University of Chester in addition to developing course materials for them.
I have a great deal of experience training all levels (Beginners – Proficiency) in many areas, from Business English, Academic English and Cambridge exam classes like IELTS and FCE to General English classes and speciality courses.
'I can strongly recommend Sophie as a teacher of English to all kinds of learner..she has a wide range of experience and works effectively and professionally. She is very highly qualified in this field.'
Nigel Paramor: Principal, English in Chester.
You can meet Sophie here via our YouTube channel:
Eva Lake
I have been teaching English language skills for over 25 years. I have worked in Greece, The Czech Republic and all over the UK.
I also train English language teachers (CELTA & DELTA) and have done examining work for both Cambridge and Trinity ESOL at all levels. I worked on the ESOL team at West Cheshire College from 2000 - 2013, and am currently working as an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) tutor at the University of Chester.
I have an in depth knowledge of grammar and the language and am a very enthusiastic teacher who genuinely cares about the progress of every student I teach.
You can meet Eva here via our YouTube channel:
Roger Hyde
I was born near Manchester and went to university there to study philosophy and literature. After this, I decided on a radically different direction. I went on to be a chef. I really enjoyed working in a team but after twenty years of working in the service industry I decided I needed another change of direction. I spent a couple of years trying different careers before making the leap into teaching English.
I have now been teaching for over twenty years and still enjoy the challenge of how best to work with individuals or classes. I have worked with students from all over the world, from people with no English to fluent speakers. Whether students need the basic building blocks of language or a final flourish on pronunciation, there is always something new and interesting to be done.
For most of my career in teaching I have worked in colleges preparing students for a wide range of exams and helping to prepare students for living in the UK. Now, I have started working for Extra English because this allows me the opportunity to develop much more bespoke courses for groups or individuals which reflect their needs, interests and ambitions.
You can meet Roger here via our YouTube channel.
Jim Freeman
I have around 10 years of teaching experience, having taught at West Cheshire College, English in Chester, Extra English and the University of Chester. I also have significant experience working in Marketing and Adminstration and Project Management in Higher Education.
As well as being a highly qualified English teacher with the Cambridge CELTA and part of the post graduate Diploma, I have a Masters degree in medieval history and an interest in Academic English and IELTS. I speak some Arabic and have been studying towards a PHD related to the Crusades.
I am a careful, prepared and thorough teacher but I also like to make lessons more interesting with some humour.
You can meet Jim here via our YouTube channel:
Annie Macdonald
I started my teaching life as a secondary school teacher of History before discovering I could pursue my love of teaching, travel and getting to know other cultures, all at the same time.
I have worked in English Language Teaching for 25+ years in EFL/ESP in Turkey, Brazil, Spain and England, teaching secondary/university/adult students at all levels.
My main skills are in writing ELT materials. I have co-authored several English Language Teaching books for Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and Delta Publishing, all with Mark Hancock. I am currently writing teaching materials and working as an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Lecturer at the University of Chester.
In 2018 Annie was part of a team that won a national award for their brilliant work on a new Pronunciation book.
This is the OSCARS of the English language Teaching world!
You can meet Annie here via our YouTube channel:
Alex May
I have over ten years of experience in the EFL industry working with students of all levels with a variety of needs: English for exams (IELTS, OET and Cambridge exams), General English, Academic English and Business English. I travelled the world, teaching in Turkey, Uzbekistan, the USA and Sri Lanka. Since being back in the UK, I have taught English at various further education institutions and more recently at English in Chester and the University of Chester.
I have the Cambridge University (ESOL) postgraduate Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults (Level 7- Masters) and a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Agriculture and Business Management from the University of London.
The rewards of teaching English are threefold: seeing students make progress and celebrate their achievements, seeing growth in confidence, and helping students to achieve their ambitions. I consider myself an enthusiastic, motivational and conscientious teacher; I am able to identify individual’s strengths and weaknesses and ensure that lessons focus on student’s needs.
I also have an interest in marketing and business development. I am working with Extra English as both a teacher and the marketing manager.
Carolyn Lord
I graduated with a BA Hons and a post graduate teaching qualification of a PGCE from Reading University and taught French to Secondary School Students for many years. In 1999 I completed the Cambridge CELTA Course to teach English at West Cheshire College and started working at ECTARC in Llangollen as an English teacher. In 2013 I took up a position to teach ESOL (English) at Cambria College in Wrexham and remained there until moving to Extra English 2 years ago.
I have lived away from the Chester area for many years whilst teaching in Hampshire, France, Indonesia and Thailand and have significant experience teaching a range of learners, nationalities and learning styles. I returned to the UK eight years ago and was happy to come back to live in the Chester area which is equally as lovely as all the exotic places that I have seen overseas.
I love teaching English and like to encorporate topical items in the news into my lessons, when possible, depending on student goals. I have experience in teaching Cambridge ESOL exams including Skills for Life, Residency exams and the Cambridge Main Suite exams.
Maisie Langridge
I have over 25 years of teaching and workshop experience mainly, but not exclusively, in schools and colleges at post 16 level. I have taught a number of communication based and creative subjects including Performing Arts, English Literature, English Language and ESOL. I have wider teaching skills - for instance I am a qualified and certified Iyengar Yoga teacher.
I am a highly qualified English and Performing Arts teacher with a Cambridge CELTA, a first class BA honours degree, an MA in Theatre Studies and further post graduate teaching qualifications.
I am a friendly, funny and approachable teacher who also likes to encourage confidence, focus and self-discipline in the student. Your lessons will be carefully prepared, considered and bespoke to your strengths and weaknesses. I am particularly good at explaining and clarifying the differences of vocabulary and meaning and helping overcome any problems you might have with pronunciation.
You can meet Maisie here via our YouTube channel.
Who are our students?
Excellent feedback from our students (102 questionnaires):
100% of our students were very happy or happy with their lessons overall
100% of our students were very happy or happy with their teachers
96% of our students were very happy or happy with the materials used
100% of our students were very happy or happy with the teaching methods
97.6% of our students were very happy or happy with the speed at which the group moved
99% of our students were very happy or happy with the administrative procedures
100% of our students would recommend Extra English
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