The aim of all of our staff is to make your whole stay at ELC an enjoyable and successful learning experience.
"ELC exists to give all of our students the best teaching and learning facilities we can. We are committed to providing you with excellent courses in a warm, friendly and professional environment, as well as caring for every aspect of your stay. We look forward to welcoming you at The English Language Centre."
Alex Thorp MA, BA(Hons), DELTA Head of Teacher Training
Alex has worked for ELC since 2000, having previously taught English in Mexico, Sweden and India. Alex teaches on all of our courses but specialises in teaching business English and teacher training, especially CLIL. He has run a number of highly intensive business English courses for executives in Sweden and Portugal, and CLIL training courses in Spain. Alex runs a recording studio and is an excellent singer. He regularly performs on stage singing in musicals.
Pam Lewis NCSD, DTEFLA Teacher/Teacher Trainer
Since joining ELC in 1977, Pam has taught on nearly all of our courses. She specialises in teaching Cambridge examinations courses (FCE and CAE) and training on our English in the Primary Classroom course for overseas teachers. As well as teaching at ELC, Pam is an examiner for Trinity Skills for life exams. Pam is the teacher representative on "Friends of Palmeira", the committee dedicated to conserving the heritage of 33 Palmeira Mansions, the wonderful Victorian mansion where ELC is based. In her free time Pam loves dining out at good restaurants and going to concerts.
Steve Jones BA (Hons), DTEFLA Teacher/Teacher Trainer
Steve joined ELC permanently in 2001, having taught for ELC for many years during the summers. Steve teaches on all of our courses but specialises in examination courses (IELTS, FCE, CAE, LCCI) and teacher training. He is an IELTS examiner and also an oral examiner for FCE, CAE and CPE. In addition, Steve enjoys representing ELC on marketing trips to Spain and Japan. Before joining ELC, Steve taught in Spain for 16 years so speaks Spanish fluently. He also speaks very good French and visits both countries every year to visit friends and enjoy the wonderful wine and food.
Jeff Brewer BEd (Hons), DTEFLA Teacher/Teacher Trainer
Jeff joined ELC in 1989 and teaches on all of our courses, especially exam courses (IELTS and Cambridge FCE/CAE). Jeff has also taught English in Sweden, Kuwait and Croatia. In addition to working for ELC, Jeff is an examiner for Trinity oral exams all over the world. On recent trips he has been to China, Italy, Spain and Sri Lanka. A fluent German speaker, Jeff also speaks very good French. Jeff is a big fan of world music and cinema, and a keen photographer.
Penny Moon BA (Hons), DTEFLA Teacher/Cambridge Course Coordinator
Penny has taught at ELC for more than 30 years. She teaches on a range of courses at ELC but specialises particularly in Cambridge Examination courses (FCE, CAE, CPE) and our courses for PAs and Secretaries. A fluent French-speaker, Penny visits France a number of times every year. In her free time she is also a keen gardener, excellent cook and lover of fine wines.
Mike Foy BA (Hons), DTEFLA Teacher
Mike joined ELC in 1990 and has taught on most of the courses we run. He specialises in the use of audiovisual materials and technology in the classroom and was responsible for filming the promotional ELC DVD. From 2000 to 2002 he set up and developed the Media Services Centre at the Abu Dhabi & Dubai campuses of Zayed University, UAE. Before working for ELC, Mike taught in Italy and Germany. In his free time Mike loves playing the guitar and travelling.
Simon Cummings MA, DELTA Teacher
Simon has been teaching English since 1996 before which he worked as an accountant for twelve years. Since becoming a teacher he has worked in Croatia, Thailand, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. He teaches on general English, business courses and specialises in IELTS and has been an examiner for six years. When not working Simon likes nothing more than to relax with a book, listen to music or watch a film.
Martyn Ford BA (Hons), PGCE, DTEFLA Teacher/Teacher Trainer
Martyn has more than 30 years’ experience in EFL. Martyn teaches on most of our courses but specialises in teacher training and independent learning centres. In addition to teaching at ELC, Martyn is a materials writer and conference speaker. Amongst the books Martyn has written are Instant PET for CUP and The How to Be British Collection. In his spare time Martyn performs as Mrs Joyce Hoover, Brighton’s Leading Landlady for Overseas Students and the Queen of English Cuisine!
Paul Emmerson MA (App Ling), MSc, BA Teacher/Teacher Trainer
Paul Emmerson works as a writer, teacher and teacher trainer. He is the author of numerous Business English books published by Macmillan and Cambridge University Press, including Email English. Over the summer period he works at ELC Brighton as a teacher on our business courses and a teacher-trainer on our Teaching Business English course. He has two Masters degrees, including an MA in Applied Linguistics, and is a regular presenter at international conferences. His website contains a Business English Ideas Bank with tips and techniques for Business teaching.
Matthew Devere BA (Hons), DTEFLA, Cert IBET Head of Business English
Matthew joined ELC in 2010. He has been teaching English for more than 10 years, in Barcelona and in the UK, and in most of that time has specialised in teaching Business English. He has a degree in economics and prior to becoming a teacher he worked for the Inland Revenue and Mobil Gas for 10 years. Matthew speaks very good Spanish and some Catalan. In his spare time he enjoys DIY and gardening, playing the guitar and spending time with his children.