|
 Following her BA degree in languages at
Durham University, England in 1989 Shelley Vernon took a TEFL
qualification and became a teacher. She taught in language schools in
the UK and privately around the world for several years.
Having been largely bored to death herself
while in school Shelley was determined not to put her own students
through the same desperate clock-watching and she always strove to
prepare fun, stimulating classes that pupils would enjoy and remember.
She taught using a variety of methods, including the driest textbooks
imaginable, which called for large amounts of creativity in order to
make lessons more interesting. However it was only when she started to
teach children French as a second language in 1999 that she really
discovered the joy of teaching.
She created a method from her experiences to
share with other teachers. She has since shared her ideas with
thousands of teachers around the world, bringing enthusiasm and a love
of learning into the classroom, as well as great results. Shelley's
approach concentrates on enhancing listening and
speaking skills through language games which involve repetition
and through fluency activities which have genuine
communicative value rather than artificial conversation.
She created her best-selling "English
Language Games for Children" and followed this up with badly needed
resources for preschool children, including games and a curriculum laid
out in twenty illustrated stories. Having taught preschool children at
a Montessori nursery Shelley knows exactly what a
teacher needs to do this successfully and stories are a
stunningly useful element. Her ESL Games and Activities for Adults are
also highly praised by teachers around the world.
In addition to her degree in foreign
languages, Shelley also holds a university degree in music (2000) from
Canterbury Christchurch College. She loves classical music, and enjoys
keeping fit with skiing, yoga and walking her adorable cocker spaniel.
She also writes songs and has preschool songs CDs too! She speaks occasionally at conferences. (IATEFL Cardiff 2009 and YALS Belgrade 2011)
Her new year's resolution is 'Be kind to all
people, animals and things, all of the time, no matter what.' (Hawkins)
Teaching English Games supports Charities
around the world.
|
