KTDC IELTS Trainers

KTDC is proud to have highly experienced, accomplished IELTS trainers with solid backgrounds in education. All our trainers graduated from top universities and own International English Teaching certificates such as CELTA, DELTA, and TEFL….

IELTS Trainer

Denise Thomson

From New Zealander. TEFL (2006) Bachelor of Arts in Education and Advanced Studies for Teachers and Post Graduate Diploma in Business – Auckland University 1988.

IELTS Trainer

Denise Thomson

Nationality: New Zealander

Degree:

– Bachelor of Arts in Education – Auckland University 1988

– Advanced Studies for Teachers – Auckland College of Education 1989

– Post Graduate Diploma in Business – Auckland University 2000

– TEFL 2006

Experience: 15 years teaching

Ms. Denise Thomson grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education from New Zealand’s top performing University – The University of Auckland. She continued her studies to complete a post graduate diploma in Business at the University of Auckland.

Prior to teaching she worked for the New Zealand Government at the Ministries of Health and Education in developing new policies and programs to ensure more efficient and accessible services to the public.

Before teaching at KTDC, she held the position of Academic Manager at Apollo English in Hanoi for both the BEP Schools program and the 360 Adult program. She went on to work as the Regional Service Manager for Wall Street English in HCMC. In both of these roles she developed and taught the IELTS programme.

With a passion for travel, learning languages and exploring new cultures she has worked as an English Trainer in many countries including China, Thailand, Myanmar, Argentina, Taiwan and Vietnam. She has intensive experience in teaching general English at all levels but has predominantly focused on teaching IETLS, Business English and test preparation programs.

Denise believes in the communicative approach to learning where she creates a safe and comfortable environment for students to interact, enquire and reflect on their learning. She believes supporting student autonomy is a key to academic success.

She enjoys outdoor pursuits like trekking, biking and camping in appreciation of and respect for the environment. She is also an avid reader always seeking to gain more knowledge.

IELTS Trainer

Andy Robertson

From UK. Master of Education (M.Ed) Elementary Education and English Immersion. TEFL (2006). Teaching License.

IELTS Trainer

Andy Robertson

Nationality: UK

Bachelor of Economic Science (BSc.Econ with Honours) in Politics, University of Wales, Swansea, UK

Master of Arts in (MA) in European Politics, from University of Lund, Sweden.

Master of Education (M.Ed) Elementary Education and English Immersion. University of Phoenix, Arizona, US.

TEFL – 2006

Teaching License (Elementary full curriculum K-9) and English Language Immersion for English Language Learners (K-12), 2010, Department of Education Certification Departments, Arizona, US.”

Andy Robertson M.Ed, MA, is a fully certified K-12 classroom teacher with 14 years of international teaching experience. He has been examination preparation instructor for IELTS, SAT and TOEFL iBT since 2007, and has also served as a senior exam prep instructor and head teacher both in Korea and in Vietnam.

Andy has a Master of Arts in Education from Universiry of Phoenix, Arizona, USA and Master European Politics from the University of Lund, which is one of the Europe oldest and Scandinavia’s largest universities. It is the house of many notable people in various fields, highlighted in Humanities and economic, Biology and Medicine, Mathematical and Technical, Politicals and laws, Literature and Culture, Business and Entrepreneurs. He received his BA in Economics from University of Wale.

He originally comes from the UK but has lived, worked and studied in six other countries. He enjoys mountain climbing, movie festivals and in his younger days was a corporate sales manager for British Airways, the UK’s national airline.’

IELTS Trainer

Hamish Mcnair Wilson

From UK. CELTA (2009). TKT Band 4 (2015). Bachelor of arts in History and polictis, Durham University, UK.

IELTS Trainer

Hamish Mcnair Wilson

Nationality: UK

Bachelor of arts in History and polictis, Durham University, UK

CELTA – 2009

TKT Band 4 – 2015

Hamish was born in Colchester, Britain’s oldest recorded town, and graduated from Durham, one of its most prestigious universities. In 2001, Hamish embarked on a successful spell as a writer and editor, overseeing the launch of and editing SVI magazine, an electronics publication which still thrives today. As a professional writer, Hamish has published articles on many subjects from interior design to travel. He retains a keen eye for writing and has been able to help IELTS students in Vietnam accordingly.

In 2007 Hamish moved to Asia, where he feel in love with teaching. Following two years in Japan, his certification and a year in South Korea, Hamish moved to Hanoi. As Apollo’s Senior Teacher for Teenagers and Adults, Hamish taught a succession of high-profile clients including the Ministry of Labour and Piaggio. He also became a certified Cambridge speaking examiner, conducting PET and KET tests across Hanoi.

Between 2012 and 2015, Hamish was the Academic Manager of Apollo Danang, where he successfully launched IELTS, CAE and FCE preparation courses in this rapidly growing centre. However, in 2015, to fully engage with his love of teaching, Hamish became an IELTS instructor at ELI, a collaboration between the Universities of Queensland and Danang. Here students commended his fun, engaging and collaborative approach.

Elsewhere, Hamish has appeared as a football and education expert for VTV, featured on Olympia and Khi Toi 18 and was the face of Anantara Hoi An’s video marketing and Color Me Run Hanoi’s online advertising. Hamish’s interests include trying new foods, football and exploring Vietnam by motorbike. He’s presently working hard on his Vietnamese and in training to compete in Danang’s International Marathon 2016. He can’t wait to begin helping the students of Ho Chi Minh City reach their IELTS-related goals.

IELTS Trainer

Aaron Hedrick

From USA. Bachelor of English – University of Montana – USA. CELTA (2009), DELTA Module 1 (2014)

IELTS Trainer

Aaron Hedrick

Nationality: US

Bachelor of English – University of Montana – USA

CELTA – 2009,

DELTA Module 1 – 2014

After growing up on the east coast of the United States in Connecticut, Aaron studied and graduated from The University of Montana – Missoula with a Bachelor’s of English, with an emphasis in Applied Linguistics.  Founded in 1893, the university ranks 5th among public universities in producing Rhodes Scholars, a prestigious award which allows recipients to study a Master’s program at Oxford University in England. It is also renowned for its Creative Writing and Wildlife Biology programs, both of which are considered among the very best in the nation. Notable alumni include Jeannette Rankin, the first female elected to the U.S. Congress and Jim Messina, who was White House Deputy Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama from 2009-2011.

He first came to Vietnam in 2009 to complete his CELTA certificate and began his teaching career shortly thereafter. He has taught Academic English and IELTS at ACET over the last several years and realized that preparing students for success in the IELTS exam is what he is most passionate about when it comes to teaching English.

Outside of work, he enjoys listening to audiophile-quality music and occasionally writes reviews of new audio products on headfi.org, the most popular audiophile forum in the world. He also enjoys travelling in SE Asia and seeking out the best coffee in HCMC.

IELTS Trainer

John Kelly

From USA. TEFL (2015), Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California

IELTS Trainer

John Kelly

Nationality: US

Degree:

– Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego

– TEFL – 2015

Mr. John Kelly graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego – One of the leading universities in the US and the world. This is also one the most prestigious universities in the University of California system, with many faculty members winning Nobel Prizes in many fields. After graduating, John spent time working for some of the largest financial institutions in the US, including J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo. He held a number of positions, ranging from business analysis, sales and customer service.

In 2013, John made the big decision to move abroad to live and start teaching. This decision was not only based on his passion for travel, but also to expand his knowledge of the world and to develop himself. In 2013, he completed a TEFL certification, which is a prestigious certification for teachers of English. During his time in Vietnam, he focused solely on preparing students for the IELTS exam and is a former IELTS examiner with IDP.

John is passionate about teaching and loves working with his students. In his classes, he loves interacting with his students and tries to incorporate his sense of humor whenever possible. Seeing his students achieve the scores they need to progress their careers or study abroad is what he enjoys most about his position.

Outside of the classroom, you can find John working out at the gym or at a cafe reading a book on personal development.

IELTS Trainer

Tony Ahn

From USA. CELTA (2019), Bachelor of Economics at the University of California

IELTS Trainer

Tony Ahn

Nationality: American

Degree:

– Bachelor of Economics at the University of California, USA

– CELTA (2019)

I worked for 3 years at Wall Street English as a Center Head of Teaching where I was able to create new and engaging methods for the students’ English language learning journey as well as help career-minded teachers further develop professionally. Prior to moving to Vietnam, I worked and managed in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, Nevada for several major corporations including the MGM Mirage Corporation.

I decided to move abroad to Vietnam to find a career that would allow me to help others reach their goals and achieve new heights while also expanding my own horizons and experience. I am truly passionate about mentoring students and consider it to be a privilege to be a part of their path to success.

Overall, I enjoy teaching because helping others achieve specific goals to improve their way of life is extremely rewarding to me.
IELTS allows me to assist real people with real goals overcome a difficult challenge to achieve a real result. In addition to the necessary knowledge and skills needed to obtain a desired IELTS score, I find that many Vietnamese students struggle with the confidence aspect of taking the test as well. As I believe that confidence helps in all ways of life, I make an extra effort to help learners in this area and take extra pride when improvements are made.

Outside of the classroom, I focus a lot on improving my physical health through exercise and martial arts. Also, I take on pro bono projects to further help the Vietnamese student community through academic counseling, interview and CV preparation, and general business advice.

IELTS Trainer

Dominic Ryan

From Ireland. BA in English and History 1996, MA in History 1998. CELTA (2013)

IELTS Trainer

Dominic Ryan

Nationality: Ireland

BA in English and History 1996, MA in History 1998

CELTA – 2013

Dominic Ryan has been living in Vietnam since 2013. He arrived in HCMC shortly after completing his CELTA in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He decided to move to Vietnam because of its rich history, culture and cuisine.

Dominic is an experienced IELTS teacher and has taught General English as well as Business and Professional English to students of all levels at Wall Street English and VATC. He is passionate about helping students to reach their goals. Dominic believes that teaching is both an art and a science. His teaching philosophy is centred on enabling his students and motivating their desire to learn. He aims to deliver a remarkable IELTS learning experience that focuses on learning in a systematic and fun way.

Besides his teaching experience, Dominic has extensive training experience from working in the service and retail sectors for more than a decade. During this time he trained legal professionals and co-workers in research methods, how to use databases and customer service procedures.

Dominic graduated from the National University of Ireland Maynooth in 1998 with a Master’s Degree in History. NUI Maynooth is not only Ireland’s second oldest university, but it is also the country’s fastest growing university.
Renowned alumni and distinguished scholars include the Nobel Laureate John Hume who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998, Tony and Olivier Award winning playwright Brian Friel and astrophysicist Professor Susan McKenna-Lawlor who has worked on projects with NASA, the European Space Agency and the Russian Space Agency.

In his free time Dominic loves to read and to listen to music. He enjoys hanging out at Vietnamese street cafes, drinking Ca phe sua da and people watching. He is a passionate traveller who loves visiting and exploring new cultures.

Dominic is very excited about joining the KTDC family and believes in its absolute commitment and dedication to students.

IELTS Trainer

Paul Davison

From UK. CELTA (2010), DELTA (2013) Master’s in Mechanical Engineering.

IELTS Trainer

Paul Davison

Nationality: UK

Master’s in Mechanical Engineering – Newcastle University – UK

CELTA – 2010

DELTA – 2013

Paul graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and promptly decided that he wanted to live abroad and experience new cultures. He first taught in South Korea in 2007, after which he moved to HCMC and taught for 3 years, followed by a year of teaching in China. The desire to return to Vietnam was too strong and in 2013 returned to HCMC to continue teaching IELTS preparation courses.

Paul worked for the British Council and ACET teaching IELTS before coming to KTDC. He has taught adults and young learners of all levels but now exclusively teaches adults only, qualifying in this area further by completing his Cambridge Delta in Bangkok last year. He has taught general English, business English and exam preparation courses in a range of establishments, including language centers, public schools and universities.

Paul describes himself as approachable and relaxed in the classroom, believing that creating a relaxed environment will create relaxed students, which in turn aids learning and language acquisition. His personal interests revolve around fitness, particularly enjoying boxing, Thai boxing and running.

IELTS Trainer

Martin Firth

From UK. Bachelor of Science: Management, University of Warwick, England. CELTA

IELTS Trainer

Martin Firth

Nationality: English

Bachelor of Science: Management, University of Warwick, England.

CELTA: British Study Centre, Oxford, England.

Martin is a proud Yorkshireman (Yorkshire is the largest country in England, situated in the North-East of England) although he spent many years living close to Oxford in the South. He has 3 adult children, 2 of whom are following in his footsteps as teachers in England. He is a keen sailor, although whilst living in HCMC he has to content himself with his other passion; watching his favourite football team (Arsenal) on the TV.

Following his graduation from the University of Warwick Business School (one of the top-ranked business schools in the UK), Martin had a very successful 30 year career in international Information Technology sales and marketing. During this time he worked at Director level for several companies including a multi-billion Dollar US Corporation and start-ups in Asia, America and Europe. He also spent 3.5 years living and working in Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf as General Manager of a local IT distributor. A highlight of this career was managing a network of IT distributors in 50 countries which involved him in developing and delivering product and soft-skills training for local staff.

In 2016, he decided on a change of career and studied for his CELTA in Oxford. Shortly after completing it he moved to Vietnam and was immediately enchanted by the people and culture. Martin has been teaching IELTS in HCMC for 4 years. He is currently an IELTS lecturer at Bach Khoa University (HCM University of Technology) and was previously a senior IELTS teacher at Wall Street English. He tries to create a welcoming and relaxed learning environment in his classroom, whilst recognising the demanding nature of IELTS exam preparation.

IELTS Trainer

Chad Meek

From USA. Bachelor of Science Degree in History and Anthropology. TEFL Certificate (2007)

IELTS Trainer

Chad Meek

Nationality: US

– Active California attorney (since 1999) licensed as a legal consultant in Vietnam.

– Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of North Dakota.

– Bachelor of Science Degree in History and Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

– TEFL Certificate – 2007 and IELTS Educator since 2016.

Prior to becoming a full time educator in Vietnam, Chad Meek began his educational journey in the Midwest of the United States, eventually moving to California to begin his legal career. An active litigation attorney for 12 years in Los Angeles, Chad honed his abilities and critical thinking skills while representing numerous clients in trials, arbitrations, mediations and counseling. Presently, in his free time he contributes legal articles on developments of the law in Vietnam to an online forum. The most valuable takeaway from Chad’s legal experiences, however, was the realization that gaining knowledge is a life-long process that requires hard work, dedication and, most importantly, patience.

Arriving in Vietnam for the first time in 2005, Chad was immediately enthralled by the culture, customs, and cuisine of this beautiful nation. However, it was the friendliness of the people that left an indelible mark on his memory, resulting in his permanent move to the country in 2012. Traveling extensively throughout the country, he developed a further appreciation for the depth and beauty of its culture, from the mountain vistas of the North to the street food of Ho Chi Minh City. As he does his best to acquire the rudiments of the language, Chad considers Vietnam is home and is honored to be a part of enabling students to achieve their educational and life goals.

Today, Chad utilizes his background in the legal field to assist his students to successfully prepare for the IELTS examination. In fact, advocating a legal position, both in writing and in oral arguments, is directly applicable to the thought process of the IELTS examination. Similar to the courtroom, having a clear and concise structure and supporting your ideas with well-reasoned detail are two of the keys to effectively unlocking a higher band score on the exam. Chad assists students to build their IELTS test-taking abilities from the ground-up and offers a personalized approach for each student. Developing a candidates’ examination skills and boosting their confidence at the same time are the fundamental objectives of his courses.

There is no science in this day