Andrew Tweedie
Assistant Director of Studies (ADoS)

After spending a year living and going to school in Panamá, I studied Psychology and Spanish at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Following this I completed a Cambridge CELTA, and went to teach English in Japan. I chose Japan because it was a neighbouring country that I was interested in, with our family having hosted many students while I was in high school. I lived in Japan for over a year, and it was there that I met my wife (who is English!). So teaching English has literally changed my life!

I believe my experience in learning a second language helps me understand the needs of ESL students. I try to show my students the ways I have found helpful in learning to be proficient at Spanish, and how they can be applied to their English study. I have travelled extensively through Spain and Latin America, and remaining in contact with my friends there means that I continue to practice my Spanish, while at the same time helping them with their English. I enjoy my profession because I’m able to meet people from lots of different countries, learn about their cultures, and share my own with them.

I’ve lived on the Gold Coast for 18 years, having moved up from Sydney when I was in primary school. My dad’s a high school teacher and my mum’s an editor, so I guess teaching English was inevitable! At school I was a bit of a nerd, and English was one of my favourite subjects. In my spare time I like to read, listen to music from all over the world, watch DVDs (especially Japanese horror movies, and British comedy), play soccer, run and swim, and go camping with my wife, though I especially like travelling. I’d really like to get a diving license.

Saturday, January 10, 2009
2:17:00 AM