I trained as an actress and an English language teacher in 1991. With STILE, I combine my two passions: empowering English language learners and language teachers with storytelling, theatre practises and improvisation. I help my learners to take a breath, a leap of faith and to learn to trust themselves.
Storytelling in English language learning can be used to build connection and influence people. It’s not just a soft skill, it’s a power skill. We’ll find storytelling in every walk of life from small talk conversations, to presentations, to data analysis, marketing, in interviews and so much more.
‘If you can tell a good story, then you can learn to be a good speaker’. Patsy Rodenburg
Theatre skills include using role play to work through those challenging situations that you might face with colleagues, your boss or your clients. It can include interview practice or networking at a conference. We can also work on projection, breath work, body language, owning the space, pronunciation and intonation.
Improvisation helps you to become more spontaneous, creative, fluent and a better listener.
Finally, I am passionate about building meaningful relationships whether you’re a language learner or a language teacher. I want you to reach your full potential and achieve your objectives. I’m an optimist and believe that everything is possible if we put our minds to it. So, if you have a dream, I want to help you realise it.
I am highly qualified and have over 30 years’ experience as an English language teacher and coach. I also work as a professional actor.
2021-present Running AC English coaching which has become English with STILE
2021- present Online Trainer for Business Class language solutions, Paris
2016 – 2020 English Language trainer at the London School of English in Canterbury.
2019 – 2020 Online English Language Trainer for Transfer, Paris.
2011 – 2016 Lead teacher on short courses at the University of Kent.
2011 Teacher at Canterbury Christchurch University
I have also lived and taught in Berlin.
Neurolanguage Coach® 1 (certified by Efficient Language Coaching and accredited by the International Coaching Federation) 2020
MA in TESOL (Merit) Canterbury Christ Church University 2011
My specialist subjects were gesture, language acquisition, and communication.
Diploma in TESOL Canterbury Christ Church University 2010
RSA Cert TEFL International House, London 1991
Diploma in Acting Welsh College of Music and Drama 1991
BA (hons) in Drama Bangor, University of North Wales 1989
I was born in Australia but have lived in England for most of my life. Now, I call Faversham home as I have lived here for 27 years with my husband, an antiquarian bookseller. It is also the town where we brought up our three children. Faversham is a beautiful, historic market town on the northeast coast of Kent and is famous for having the oldest brewery in England and a stunning quay with fantastic Thames Barges. In my free time, I’m very active. I love cycling, yoga, Pilates, and dancing the tango. I also belong to an acting improvisation group and we perform regularly to sell out audiences. What I learn in improvisation, I bring to our sessions to help you become more spontaneous and fluent speakers and more active listeners.
I loved working with Amanda Croft, her classes are really interesting. With Amanda, we could speak freely about current issues, this helped me to be more confident in daily conversations. I was a little shy before, I was scared about possible mistakes, now I know that the most important thing is to communicate with people.
Claudia - Faversham
