The school:The team

Our permanent tutors are all diploma qualified with a passion for teaching English.

Principal Director of Studies English Teacher English Teacher  English Teacher Accommodation Officer 

Pat O'Donoghue

Principal

"I started teaching English in 1991 and joined Stafford House in 2001. I love meeting people from all over the world and seeing how they get on together.

It is my hope they go home with a better understanding and view of different cultures, and of course of ours.

I feel my role is to be like an Ambassador in my own country!"

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Vicky McWilliam

Director of Studies

"I’ve been involved in English Language teaching for many years now and have been a Director of Studies for the last 8 years. I taught in Greece and Italy and then worked in London for several years.

I first lived in Canterbury as a student and am delighted to be back. I enjoy working in a multicultural environment and having the opportunity to meet so many different people."

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Vonny Hartanto

English Teacher

"I’ve taught EFL at Stafford House in Canterbury since January 2000 and enjoy it enormously, particularly the interactions with students from so many different linguistic, cultural and educational backgrounds, which make English teaching so much more interesting. The school also has a very supportive working environment.

Prior to Stafford House, I lived and worked in Indonesia, the Philippines and Turkey.

I have a B.A. in ELT, an M.A. in Mass Communications and RSA Diploma in TEFLA. I am especially interested in learners’ English; what and how their linguistic and cultural backgrounds contribute to their English learning and what this does to the development of English as an international language."

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Jane Austin

English Teacher

"I started teaching English in 1992 and I came to Stafford House in 2002. I enjoy meeting people from all around the world.

I love English and it makes me happy to help students to understand my language. It's lovely to see them get better and better at speaking English.

It's also important for me to tell my students about Britain and our way of life.

Prior to coming to Stafford House, I worked as a Teacher Trainer and also co-wrote a book about one-to-one teaching."

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Janice Wiles

Accommodation Officer

"I have worked as one of the accommodation officers at Stafford House School of English for almost 5 years.

I was born in Canterbury, attended the local schools, married and raised 3 children here. I have had various jobs in my working life i.e. Personnel Clerk, Sales Assistant, Checkout Manager and was a host family for about 15 years whilst my children were growing up.

As I have lived in Canterbury all my life I know the area well. I also know a lot of the host families from my own school days, my children’s school days or through my previous jobs."

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Anne Newell

English Teacher

"I have worked for Stafford House since January 1997, mainly in Canterbury, but also in Austria and Korea. I have experienced teaching all levels and examination classes, in 1:1 and classes of different sizes and enjoy the different challenges that each class brings. Over the years I have enjoyed developing my skills in the classroom, enabling me to help students progress and realise their aims and potential.

The close relationship in the staff room with colleagues allows the chance to discuss a wide range of topics and problems to get different views and advice to further hone my skills.

A great thrill is to have contact with students, years after they have left the school, hear what they have done and are doing with their lives and know that I have played a part in their development."