Language Link Corporate Site. Mark Dixey

Answer: Since August 2003

Second question : Why?

My answer: I enjoy what I'm doing and Language Link has always offered something new each year.

I graduated with a II.I. MA. Hons in European Studies from the University of Aberdeen. I enjoyed the language component of my degree and, during the summer of 2001, taught English in a summer camp in Ufa, the Bashkir region of Russia. When at a career's fair, I saw an advert for teaching English in Russia or China. My interest in teaching English as a Foreign Language and Russia/the CIS led me to choose Russia. I have taught at Language Link for most of this time, except for a brief period doing Editing and Research at KPMG, in the Corporate Finance and Forensics departments.

I chose Language Link because of the support base it offers: LEGAL visa support (something quite rare for a lot of language schools in Russia), company-provided accommodation and academic support. All these things convinced me Language Link is a serious and professional company and not one of those 'Mickey Mouse' schools sadly and frequently found in the EFL industry.

I've taught in several branch schools: Balashikha, Dolgoprudniy, Mitishi and Domodyedovo. I've taught a wide range of students, classes and levels from Young Learners to the Cambridge Exam courses such as KET/PET, FCE, CAE and CPE as well as a brief period teaching Business English exam courses and IELTS. I was an ADOS in Zelenograd, before being moved to a new project at Pavlovo and have now been appointed ADOS for the Corporate Client Department, also known as In-Company.

I was offered several options and I chose In-Company because I enjoy teaching Business and General English to people working in a variety of industries, of which you quickly acquire knowledge of their sphere. Several of Language Link's clients include VSMPO-AVISMO (a titanium plant that manufactures aircraft bodies for BOEING and AIRBUS), BASIC ELEMENT (a metals company owned by Oleg Deripaska (one of Russia's richest businessmen), ALFA BANK and several other investment banks, airlines and software development companies. Teaching in these companies has provided additional challenges in tailoring lessons to suit the needs of the students working in these companies.

Teaching English is not for those people who like to think, ''I'm a Native Speaker. I know English so I can speak it.'' The questions to consider are whether you know the difference between the in/definite articles, the differences between the I/II/III and mixed conditionals, the present perfect and continuous, all of which (you will be asked by your students) require a great deal of preparation to present to my classes - indeed, the academic support offered made this easier and provided some imaginative ways of presenting such topics in an interesting manner. In addition, the workshops have always been presented in a professional manner led by experienced members of staff.

I like teaching all areas of English but my favourite area is using multimedia in class: It is not just about showing a film in class and the Teacher asking their students questions about it but, if organised in the right way, offers an enjoyable and rewarding experience for students of most levels.

One of the rewarding things of teaching at Language Link for such a long time is seeing how the Company has expanded, developed and improved into one of the leading language schools in Russia. Finally, If you have any questions about teaching, my time in Russia or anything else, please don't hesitate to drop me a line.