EFL instructor working and residing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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 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.
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 taught English in the summers of 1987 and 1988 at the Cicero School of Languages in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
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, then in March 1996 he became a freelance English language teacher, only giving private classes in companies and at home. He has been working privately since then.
Viv lives in Gavea with his girlfriend, Lidia. He enjoys travelling, reading, playing chess and watching films.
