ABOUT

The Full Story

I started teaching Swedish before Skype had gone mainstream and was only in its infancy. I was studying at university, and I took on another couple of students – the idea of teaching Swedish was so much more appealing than working extra in a pub.

Some of my students popped in for a lesson or two, whereas some have now been with me for over 5 years. Some have studied intensively, some less frequently. Some stopped and then come back again. Some now live in Sweden. Some have now got children. Some have lived in Sweden and now moved somewhere else. Some got married, and some are now divorced.

I have talked to teenagers and pensioners, men and women. I have talked to doctors, nurses, midwives, authors, IT programmers, students, lecturers, managing directors, editors, archaeologists, solicitors, store managers, computer game designers, psychologists, priests, football coaches, sales people, HR people, marketing people, embassy workers, postmen, economists, bankers, musicians, film makers, translators, dancers, dog kennel owners, marine biologists, veterinary surgeons, post docs, PhD students, pharmacists, recruiters, entrepreneurs, unemployed and more. I have taught via Skype from the UK, from Sweden, from the US. My students have Skyped in from all over the world, into my little computer, across time zones and space.

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I have taught Swedish conversation, grammar, pronunciation, culture and quirks. My students have shared their life stories with me, taught me their culture, shared their experiences. We have together seen the fruits of their labour (and sometimes it has been hard), and I have been so proud of their progress. Like the first time they asked a Swede something on the streets and got a Swedish reply back. Like when they first watched a Swedish movie without subtitles. Like when they read your first Swedish book. Or managed their job interview in Swedish. And got employed. Like when they started speaking Swedish more regularly with their partner. All those little moments that have been so rewarding for both me and my students.

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Language builds bridges.

Language builds cultural understanding.

Language is integration. 

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I love the connection you get with people from all over the world, helping them develop their language skills and see them grow. I also love the freedom of working for yourself, and the opportunities that technology brings - both in terms of life style and creativity. Helping people is my passion, whether it is teaching a language (in my case Swedish), helping language teachers and wannabe language teachers to set up their own business, or inspire language learners to develop their self-awareness. 

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Beyond setting up and running a successful online Swedish school (Swedish Made Easy) and writing a course book (Teach Yourself Complete Swedish) I have been featured in numerous media outlets, including the BBC and The Guardian, and worked with organisations such as Örebro University, Lund University, Jönköping University and STIM, as well as large multi-nationals including Abercrombie & Fitch, E-ON and Spotify and various language agencies.