Educational History:
Viv went to school at Midsomer Norton Comprehensive School. He left school in 1979 with six O-levels and two A-levels.
He went to university at Plymouth for one year and then transferred to what is now North Staffordshire University. He graduated from there in 1983 with a BA (hons) in Modern Studies (politics and sociology).
After a year travelling and working in various countries (France, Greece and Israel), he returned to the UK and did an intensive preparatory course at International House in Hastings. In October 1985 he passed and was awarded the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Preparatory Certificate for TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Between 1988 and 1989, Viv prepared for and passed the Royal Society of Arts Diploma for TEFLA (Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults) .
In 1993, he passed the Open University Fundamentals of Computing course (M205). He has also done courses in database construction and basic first aid. Viv has passed the ICC Spanish exam and speaks Portuguese fluently. He is currently in his final year studying for a Master's in Applied Educational Leadership and Management with the University of London.
Professional Experience:
In 1986 Viv travelled to Barcelona in Spain, where he worked as an English teacher for three years, teaching both privately and in schools and companies. He also worked at the British Council in Barcelona. He taught English in the summers of 1987 and 1988 at the Cicero School of Languages in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where he also worked one summer as Social Organiser.
In 1988, Viv went to work at the Military Language Institute in Kuwait, where he spent one year. While in Kuwait, he also taught at the British Council in Kuwait City.
In 1990, he moved to The Sultanate of Oman, where he worked for four years as both an English language teacher and computing instructor. He was seconded to the Omani oil company (PDO) by The Centre for British Teachers (CBfT).
In November 1993 Viv moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For two years he worked as an EFL teacher for Britannia and New Start Communications, then in March 1996 he became a freelance English language teacher and computer assisted learning specialist, giving private classes in companies and at home. In 2015 he taught English at the Rio Olympic Organising Committee. He worked privately in Brazil until November 2015, when he moved to the United Arab Emirates where he worked for the Ministry of Education as a Lead Teacher in the EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) Departments of schools in the Emirates of Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah, three of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. This job involved responsibility for department HR (21 members of staff in three locations), administration of speaking and listening examinations, lesson observations, liaison with school admin. and day-to-day administrative and academic management as well as streaming and additional projects. Lead Teachers were also responsible for implementing all Professional Development training, organising and running both weekly training sessions and all-staff orientation sessions at the beginning of each academic term. During staff shortages, Lead Teachers were asked to teach in addition to their other duties, which were gradually extended to include pre-school, primary and secondary schools. As well as his leadership role, he has experience teaching (both in person and online) Emirati primary and secondary pupils in Government schools in the Emirates of Ajman, Sharjah and Dubai. He taught English, Business Studies and Creative Design and Innovation courses. Viv designed and implemented an online digital English notebook for students and set up Computer Assisted Learning laboratories in his secondary schools in the UAE.
Viv lives in a small town in the Rio de Janeiro Lake District in Brazil, where he is teaching privately and studying for his Master's Degree.
He enjoys travelling, reading, playing chess and watching films.
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