Teaching English and Soft Skills with Drama: Blended Programme

Alex is a versatile educator and teacher trainer for Trinity College London's CertTESOL programme with English for Asia since 2021. With over a decade of experience teaching English to diverse learners and managing language centres, she brings practical expertise and creative rigour to her work. Her background combines theatre studies and anthropology with professional training in acting, voice, and physical theatre, including improvisation at The Second City - enabling a creative, holistic approach to language education and teacher training.

Trinity CertTESOL, Trinity DipTESOL

Mary Ann Tear is a Performing Arts lecturer, BIFF adjudicator, Trinity College London examiner, choreographer, director, and performer whose work has taken her across Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. She spent 13 years in Singapore as a senior consultant for Trinity in South East Asia and co-founded the Singapore Performing Arts Festival, before relocating back to the UK in 2023. Her lecturing credits include LaSalle, NAFA, SOTA, and the Universities of Hertfordshire and Middlesex, alongside a professional theatrical career spanning drama, musical theatre, pantomime, physical theatre, and chamber opera. She has created and delivered programmes in Voice for theatre, public speaking, and debate, and has long run her own drama and dance schools for students of all ages. Teacher training remains a particular passion, and she continues to deliver CPD programmes and workshops for educators internationally.

Sharon has over 16 years’ experience teaching learners of all ages and levels, from very young learners to teens and adults, covering business, exams and ESP, including phonics, pronunciation, HKDSE and IELTS. In Hong Kong she has taught with ESF, British Council and as a kindergarten NET.  Sharon previously  taught at language schools in the UK.

MA TESOL, CertTESOL, PGCE in EYT, Diploma ELT, BA

Dr Chattell lived in China for over 10 years. His research focused on experimental teacher training programmes related to encouraging creativity. His projects included collaboration with the Centre for Teacher Education Research at Beijing Normal University. He was a member of the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong and served as Head of Academic Training and Support for Drama and the Performing Arts for China at Trinity College London.

Eve has worked in Spain, Vietnam and Mexico as both a teacher and TYLEC trainer as well as having worked on shorter projects in the UK, Italy, Azerbaijan and Peru. She worked for over six years for the British Council, where she discovered a love for working with children, particularly Early Years learners. Eve is a keen conference speaker and occasional writer for ELT magazines and publications.

Trinity DipTESOL, MA Applied Linguistics, BA English language

Kevin has been teaching English since 2009 to adults, teenagers and, notably, young learners. His career spans private, public and international schools and language centres in Australia, mainland China and Hong Kong. As the Director of Teacher Training at EfA, Kevin oversees the TESOL Department, guiding teachers to reach their full potential and create inspiring learning experiences for their students. He shares his expertise globally, extending his reach beyond Hong Kong to provide online training for teachers worldwide.

CELTA, PGCE, BA Journalism and Politics

Maria Bjorning Gyde is an examiner, moderator and marker on all Trinity TESOL panels, including the DipTESOL, CertTESOL, TYLEC, CertPT and CertOT. She has more than 25 years’ experience in New Zealand, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Maria also dedicates her time to education and projects related to animal welfare issues and behavioural change for a One Health approach in Bali.