About Page

Ottawa English’s Story

Like many of my students, I’ve had to jump over countless hurdles since moving to Canada. Although I’ve always been a Canadian, I grew up in Tanzania, Kenya, Sweden, Germany, France, and England.

With my master’s degree in my pocket, I expected life in Canada to be easy; however, I soon discovered that every province and territory wanted me to spend a year upgrading and a couple of years substitute teaching. The barriers were endless!

In 1999, I left the public education system and devoted my time to teaching adults, preparing them for language tests, and supporting their transition to Canadian workplaces and society.

When COVID hit, I moved all of my classes online and relocated from Red Deer to Ottawa, changing the name of my exam preparation company from ESL Red Deer to Ottawa English for Immigrants.

With all the experience and knowledge I’ve gained through the years, I hope I’ll be able to support you during your journey too.

About me!

My favorite moment is hearing that you’ve passed your exam, secured a promotion, or realized you’re no longer being asked to repeat yourself. I know how frustrating communicating in a second language can be and how disheartening it is when you don’t understand jokes or feel confident at work.

I’ve been teaching English for over thirty years. During that time, I’ve helped many international students improve their English and prepare for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and CAEL.

I know that your next step towards achieving your dream and goal depends on gaining confidence and fluency in English. That step might be a language test for Permanent Residency or Citizenship, or it might be professionalizing your English for a promotion. I would love to be part of your journey!

Publications

My greatest passions are teaching, research, and writing. I’ve written three books and four ESL workbooks. As well as that, I’ve created programs for all 12 CLB English levels, and specialized training programs for the aviation, agricultural, hospitality, and oil and gas industries.

I’ve just published my fourth workbook. It’s much like my CELPIP Speaking Practice Workbook but, unlike that earlier workbook, this one includes sample answers for each of ten tests, along with tips and tricks for a high score.