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Learn more about Lee

• Did you grow up speaking this language? Or were you inspired by a trip abroad, an individual or a certain aspect of the culture?

  I speak English fluently as it is my native language. I am also learning Spanish to I can completely empathise with learners regarding the challenges learning and new language can bring.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  I think Richard Pryson would be someone important to mention as he was the first English language publisher in the country. The uniform language which he helped to standardise became accepted throughout England and led to the creation of many of the textbooks we use today.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or expression in the language that you particularly like?

  There's nothing specific to be honest but I do enjoy teaching students about idiomatic language as the expressions on their faces can sometimes be interesting when you explain the meaning of what certain idioms actually mean.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  English is my native language so, of course, it is important to me. I also appreciate how lucky I am that I can converse fluently in English as I know it is a skill many people wish to master.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  I find that many students have difficulty understanding and applying rules for using articles ("a", "an" or "the") in English as they don't exist in their native language. My advice is to observe how these words are used in everyday life by reading newspapers and listening to the news on television and then try to work out when and why articles are being used.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  One time I was teaching some spelling skills to a younger student and she asked me how to spell "toad" as we had just read a story which involved a toad. So, I spelt it out for her "T-O-A-D" and then asked if she could use that word in a sentence for me. She happily wrote the sentence and read it out as follows: "Last week, I toad my mum that I want a new bike for Christmas". I couldn't help but chuckle to myself afterwards.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I travel a lot to Spain or Spanish speaking countries so I can completely understand how students feel when learning a new language. It's also good from a personal perspective as it makes you think more about how different languages are formed and used.