tahn

Hello, my name is Penelope Tooks. I recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kutztown University. I majored in English with a concentration in Professional Writing and Minors in Literature and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies. I was the Vice President of our school's literary magazine, a tutor at the writing center, and a student assistant for a professor in the English Department.

I have a deep interest in people and their cultures. I've studied abroad in two separate programs. I went to Ireland for a month last summer. The program helped me learn about Irish history while studying poetry and literature. At the beginning of this year, I went to Italy for three months to complete an internship. I did research on the local historical monuments and museums. Then, I wrote articles for a tourism company.

Much of my experience has revolved around writing, grammar, and literature. I love to study English, and I learned that I love teaching it as well. My tutoring position was one of my most fulfilling experiences. I love guiding people through their learning journey. It would be a dream to get the opportunity to help children, who are at the beginning of the educational path.

I have 25 plus years teaching experience

I am qualified to teach grade R, grade 7,8,9,10,11,12 and post school and adults

I have an honors degree in education, I am a qualified assessor and moderator. I am registered with the teaching council in South Africa. I am hard working, very meticulous and have exceptional organizational skills. My admin work is always up to date, as well as my planning for teaching and assessments. I am computer literate and i have have excellent communication skills.

I am British by nationality, I grew up in Hungary and attended the Lycée in Budapest until I moved back to the UK to complete my A Levels. This cross-cultural upbringing has made me open to living and working abroad. My degree at the University of Manchester where I studied Arabic and French consolidated this ambition, when I lived in Amman, Jordan for eight months. Travelling has always featured strongly throughout my life, for example I have travelled solo around South America and worked at a Summer Camp in France.

I speak French, English and Arabic, and enjoy communicating with and learning from each new encounter in my life.

My involvement as an educator began while I was still at school; I did a work placement at a Preparatory School assisting with French and Drama. During my second year at University, I tutored first-year students under the PASS scheme (Peer-Assisted Study Sessions) alongside private tutoring, teaching English to IELTS students from South Korea. I then went on to teach English to Syrian refugees for the Manchester Refugee Rights society. During my year abroad I completed my Level 5 Ofqual TEFL qualification and taught Somali and Sudanese refugees English in Amman. In all of my teaching roles I strove to create an engaging and active atmosphere in the classroom.

I currently work with Global Nomads Group, an NGO facilitating cross-cultural understanding and relationships between youth across the world. Within my role I encourage discussions on global issues between American and Middle Eastern students.