I am really excited to be joining the languages department at Otago Girls'. I have most recently been working as a student support officer at the University of Otago Language Centre and Foundation Year.

Prior to that I taught Japanese and ESOL at Marlborough Girls' College in Blenheim for seven years. After graduating from the University of Otago I spent just over a year working as a teacher at Sapporo Intercultural Technological Senior High School in Sapporo, Japan. This has been my second week at Otago Girls' and the atmosphere and the enthusiasm the girls' show for learning is awesome. In my free time I enjoy reading, gardening and spending time with my family. I also volunteer as a coach with the Dunedin Swim Club, and and English tutor for English Language Partners. I am looking forward to helping students on their language learning journey and encouraging them to be brave and just have a go at communicating in a new language. In the words of Nelson Mandela "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart" As our world becomes increasingly connected being able to communicate in a second language helps open new doors and possibilities, and build new friendships.