Qualified ESOL teacher (British native); fun & dynamic classes! Conversation, business English & exam prep. Over 20 years' experience; helps you to attain your goals.

Find out more about Mark

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  English is my native language, but I was inspired to communicate well by my parents, who were academics and often corrected me as a child.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  There are so many, but an obvious choice is Shakespeare. His plays are full of historical references and he created many words still in use today, such as "dawn" (the first light of the day).

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  My favourite word is "inkling", which means to have a suspicion about something.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking English helps you communicate with the world! If you like travelling or networking for business, English is a good start.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  I have learnt a number of languages over the years and am fluent in Portuguese. I think the best way to improve is to practise as much as possible and not worry about making mistakes.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  At school, I acted in some plays which helped to improve my confidence. Looking back I think I was a terrible actor, but I had a lot of fun!

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Having lived and worked in five continents, I always try to communicate a little in the language of the country I am visiting. However, having a good level of English has always helped me to communicate with people.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I started reading from a very early age and could read and write before I went to school. This gave me a head start with English and I still read a lot today.