British Council Young Learner teachers are all trained to teach English as a foreign language and have an internationally recognised teaching certificate. They have been carefully selected for their qualifications, teaching experience, passion for teaching and suitability to work with young learners. Classroom practice is supported by a dedicated and expert academic management team which provides continued professional development for teachers through regular observations, training and performance reviews.

Our minimum requirements for teachers are:

  • education to degree level or equivalent qualification
  • a certificate level qualification in teaching English as a foreign language such as Cambridge University CELTA or Trinity College London CertTESOL
  • high proficiency in the use of the English language.

Other qualifications our teachers hold include:

  • Masters in English/ Applied Linguistics/ Education/ Young Learners
  • TYLEC/CELTYL - Young Learner teaching course
  • PGCE- Post Graduate Certificate in Education (or equivalent)
  • SEN- Special Educational Needs Certificate 
  • Learning Technologies Certificate 

Meet some of our teachers

Rachel Kaberry, Head of Young Learners

"Hi, I'm Rachel and I'm the Head of Young Learners at the British Council in Korea. I love teaching English because it's wonderful seeing students learn and develop. It's also fantastic to have the opportunity to travel the world, live in different countries and meet people from different cultures"

Andrew Edward

"I am particularly interested in using authentic materials to get students engaged and using language with confidence and imagination. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, going to museums and the cinema, but my absolute favourite hobby is photography."

  • CELTA 
  • MA (Hons) French & Business Studies, University of Edinburgh 
  • Has been teaching English for over 5 years in Korea and Italy

Eliza Deacon-Evans

"I am passionate about yoga and musical theatre and like to incoporate drama, physical activities, and creativity when teaching in the classroom. In my free time I enjoy writing, hiking, and making art."

  • CELTA
  • BA in Modern Languages
  • Has been teaching English for 4 years in Korea, Brazil and the UK

James Barron

"In class I like doing student-centered speaking activities which encourage students to use English in a practical and fun way. On sunny days off I enjoy hiking and tennis, otherwise I like learning about history and watching films."

  • CELTA and TYLEC teaching qualifications. 
  • Over four years of experience teaching in Korea.

James Lewis

"I am particularly interested in creating materials that motivate and engage young learners. When I have some free time, I enjoy playing board games, and taking day trips around Korea with my family."

  • TYLEC
  • DELTA - module 3 YL specialism
  • CELTA 
  • BA in Russian Language, Nottingham University
  • has been teaching young learners in Korea for 13 years

Jonathan Strand

"My name is Jon Strand, and I’m from the East of England. I've been living in Korea now for over 7 years. My favourite thing to do (apart from teaching!) is hiking, and my favourite mountain is Seorak-san - especially in the autumn!"

  • Trinity Diploma in TESOL (on-going)
  • Trinity TYLEC
  • Cambridge CELTA

Michael Porritt

"I like to get students of all ages speaking as much as possible during the lessons. For me it's very important that the students are active and so I use games and other communicative activities. I enjoy running and reading in my free time."

  • Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Phillip Babcock

"As a teacher, I am enthusiastic about students as people! I aim to help students learn skills like speaking and writing through teamwork and interaction. I enjoy playing soccer, finding new restaurants with my wife, and my favorite podcasts."

  • Cambridge CELTA
  • Trinity College TYLEC ongoing
  • Bachelor of Arts in English
  •  Has been teaching English since 2011 in South Korea, Hong Kong, China, and Cambodia

Richard Taylor

"My favourite thing about teaching is seeing the boost in confidence students get from learning a new language, which helps them express themselves in a new ways. In my free-time I enjoy playing guitar, hiking and cooking healthy food."

  • Teaching Young Learners Extension Certificate (TYLEC), Trinity College
  • CELTA, University of Cambridge, ESOL
  •  Teaching Young Learners Course, Oxford TEFL
  •  Business English Certificate, Oxford TEFL
  •  10+ years teaching young learners and adults in Korea