Meet the Team
Principal
Originally a furniture designer, workspace planner and project manager, Kerem has 15 years’ experience in strategic workspace management. He has been working in the education sector for 5 years. He is committed to giving the best possible experience for all students. In his free time he spends time with his family and he is a big fan of sports and travelling.
Teaching Staff
Director of Studies – Cambridge CELTA, DELTA, YL, QTS, DSL, Teacher Trainer
Kasia Malkowska
Kasia, originally from Poland, has been teaching English for nearly 15 years. She has been passionate about the culture of English language from a very young age and within her career she worked with students of all ages from all over the world. She has not only taught in Europe but also Asia and Latin America. She then decided to get qualified as a teacher trainer, to be able to share her experience with other teachers. Her hobbies include travelling, dancing and learning foreign languages.
Director of Studies
Chris Hopson
During his twenty-plus years in English language education, Christopher has been a teacher, teacher trainer, academic manager, and course writer. He has worked in the UK, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia. Christopher has a diploma in teaching English and a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics. His academic interests include learning and recall through narrative. He enjoys woodland and coastal walks, cricket, motor sport, Japanese culture, and writing fiction for both children and adults.
Activity Coordinator
Stuart
Stuart is our Activities Coordinator here at LanguageUK, bringing valuable experience from his time as a teacher in a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school and a background as a senior member of law enforcement. His diverse skills and intimate knowledge of the county help create engaging and inclusive activities for all students. His quick decision making and pragmatic approach are invaluable in his additional role as crisis manager for LanguageUK. Outside of the office Stuart loves spending time with his family and loves the outdoors, but also doesn’t mind a day of gaming. A heavy metal music enthusiast, Stuart has played guitar for over 20 years. You can find him sharing a laugh (or a sarcastic quip) with colleagues. Stuart’s blend of seriousness and humour makes him a valued team member and a great friend to have around!
Activity Monitor
George Bikandy
Originally from Syria, George bridges diverse worlds. He is qualified as a music producer and he’s on his way to become an electrical engineer. He’s bilingual and a true explorer of cultures. In Canterbury, he and his family own a restaurant that is ranked number #1 on Tripadvisor which is popular with our students.
Teacher
Emma Dee
Emma has taught at various degrees of study, from Primary School to University level, and holds a PhD in The Contemporary Novel from the University of Kent and is an Associate Fellow of Higher Education. As such, she is enthusiastic about all aspects of English teaching and learning, in particular literature, the arts, and literary culture. Originally from London, Emma enjoys travel and exploring different customs, as well as meeting new people. When not reading or writing, she can often be found at the coast, or at home with her black cat Bram.
Teacher
Anna Robinson
Anna’s career has been mainly involved in business. After the pandemic she decided to train for a more rewarding career, and now loves teaching the English language and culture.
Teacher
Izzy Drew
Izzy, our English teacher, qualified at International House in Barcelona in 2009 and has since gained extensive experience teaching both adults and children. She takes a unique approach to teaching, getting to know her students before planning lessons. With five years of teaching experience in Barcelona and a wealth of experience in the UK, Izzy brings a fresh perspective to English language education. Her students of all nationalities enjoy her engaging and personalized lessons as much as she enjoys teaching them.
Teacher
Kate Jordan
Kate is a PGCE-certified teacher with over six years of EFL teaching experience. She spent five years living and teaching in Japan and it was there that she found her talent for teaching. She is a bubbly and friendly teacher with a love for grammar. She loves spending time with her partner and their dog, brushing up on her Japanese, and trying new coffee shops.
Teacher
Kate Jordan
Details coming soon
Teacher
Michelle Taylor
Details coming soon
Teacher
Jack Crossley
Jack, our English teacher, lives in Ashford, Kent. He loves teaching English and helping students achieve their goals, whether for personal satisfaction, academic study, a new career, or exploring new places. Jack holds a BA Honours in Comparative Literature, an MA in Creative Writing, and a Cambridge CELTA, and is preparing for his DELTA module 1 exam. He enjoys running, weight training, and reading poetry, classics, and memoirs about ultramarathon runners. Jack is dedicated to inspiring students and believes everyone can achieve great things one step at a time.
Part time Teacher – RSA TEFL
Virginia D B De Costa
Virginia has worked as a TEFL teacher since 1982, prior to this she worked as a French teacher and a translator with UN agencies in the UK and Africa. Virginia speaks fluent French, Spanish and Italian. She also has a working knowledge of German. Virginia works part time at the school and is a wonderful teacher to have.
Office Team
Head Of Operations and Safeguarding
Accreditation and Academic Consultant
Prof.Ece Inan, PhD
Ece has BA degree in English Language and Teaching; MA in Applied Communicative Sciences- Public Relations& Marketing Communications; and PhD in Public Relations and Business Communication. She has been teaching since 1993 and has held various academic management positions including Vice-Rector, Academic Dean and Head of Department. She has authored 3 books, several articles, and chapters in academic books. She has editorships in various international publications and chaired at many international conferences. She is a bibliophile and a keen theatregoer.
Finance Officer
Temi Liadi
Temi, our finance officer, has a degree in Accounting. He is a real team player who supports the whole team whenever needed. He is passionate about music and in his free time he likes to attend music festivals.
Accommodation Officer
Anastasiia Maliukina
Anastasiia, our accommodation officer, has a Ph.D. in Economics and over 15 years of experience as an Associate Professor. She is a dedicated team player who ensures a smooth accommodation experience for everyone. She is passionate about Science, Psychology, Photography, and Traveling. In her free time, she enjoys cooking traditional Ukrainian dishes and spending time with her large family.
Admissions Officer
Max Durden
With a reputation for exceptional organisational skills and a background in property management, Max is the go-to person for keeping everything running smoothly. He guides our students through LanguageUK’s onboarding process, often being the first friendly face they encounter upon arrival. His approachable nature helps put everyone at ease on their first day. Outside of work, Max is a passionate Formula 1 fan and an avid gamer. He also has a deep appreciation for British wildlife, frequently spending his weekends exploring nature reserves. Whether he’s cheering on his favourite F1 team or enjoying a peaceful walk in the countryside, Max’s diverse interests reflect his dynamic personality.
HR
Tracey Bessent
Tracey, began her career in Banking at 16 and quickly advanced to Financial Advisor, Mortgage Advisor, and Branch Manager. In 2013, she transitioned to Human Resources, becoming CIPD qualified. Outside of Language UK, Tracey is the Head Coach at the City of Canterbury Swimming Club, coaching swimmers to excel. She has two talented daughters involved in sports, one as a Gymnastics Coach and the other as a competitive swimmer and swimming coach. Tracey enjoys traveling, swimming, reading, and spending time with her family.
Receptionist
Evie Maddison
Evie is a recent HND Graphic Design graduate who has a passion for all things creative and has a keen eye for organisation. She will welcome you into the centre with a wide smile and friendly persona.
Accommodation Officer
Anastasiia Maliukina
Anastasiia, our accommodation officer, has a Ph.D. in Economics and over 15 years of experience as an Associate Professor. She is a dedicated team player who ensures a smooth accommodation experience for everyone. She is passionate about Science, Psychology, Photography, and Traveling. In her free time, she enjoys cooking traditional Ukrainian dishes and spending time with her large family.
Sales & Marketing Team
Sales & Marketing Executive
Csili Szajko
Csili (Chili) is a Masters, CELTA and DELTA trained teacher with 14 years of teaching experience in Europe, North and Central America. She has been working in student recruitment and marketing with other prestigious schools for the past 4 years. She’s also a Cambridge examiner and an OET interlocutor. Her passions are travelling the world, baking and dancing salsa.
Sales and Marketing Officer
Marwan Jamal
MJ has a Computer Science degree and speaks four languages. He played football for the university and local team. Marwan shares his love for the game with our students, building strong ties and boosting our community spirit.
Sales and Marketing Officer
Selen Teksöz
Selen, Originally from Turkey, Selen has a degree in architecture and is passionate about meeting new people and exploring different cultures. Currently, she is pursuing a career in sales while also nurturing her love for learning languages. In her free time, Selen enjoys drawing, playing video games, ice skating, 3D modelling and gardening.
Building Maintenance
Maintenance
Lukasz Iwanski
Details coming soon
Maintenance
Suleyman Erdogan
Suleyman has been with us for many years. He is responsible for maintenance, landscaping and general upkeep of the building and its grounds.