Mr. Timothy Jones, Deputy Head of Secondary School
Qualifications:
- BA (Honours), History
- MA, East Asian Rural Development
- PGCE, History
- MA Ed, International Education (in progress)
The British College of Brazil is a small, tight-knit community. We have the luxury of knowing all the students in Secondary. As a teacher, this has been an incredible opportunity for me to teach according to students’ needs and interests – creating a curriculum that’s inclusive, stimulating, and challenging.
After completing A-Levels in History, Politics, English Language, and Media Studies in my local Secondary school in Worcestershire, England, I moved to work as an English teacher in a university in Vietnam, and later, at a dairy farm in Australia. This move had a profound influence on my life and aspirations.
Returning to the UK, I began studying a degree in history, focusing on modern political and economic history, mostly specialising in the British Empire and the Soviet Union. Whilst studying my undergraduate degree, I also began studying film theory. For my dissertation, I used depictions of The Great War in film as a lens through which to study political developments in the Soviet Union.
After graduating in History, I moved to study a course in Development Studies for a master’s degree, with the view to work in the field in Southeast Asia. My specialisms were Southeast Asian development with the Thai language and agricultural development. I worked with a group of grassroots NGOs in Thailand to conduct research into the impacts of hydroelectric dam construction on the Mekong River on the livelihoods of riparian communities.
Having sated my interest in field work, I returned to the UK to work for NGOs. I found myself doing school engagement work and quickly fell in love with being in the classroom. I managed to secure a position on the Teach First training scheme and studied a History PGCE through UCL’s Institute of Education. My passion for pedagogy and education was ignited, and I worked as Head of History in schools in London’s East End. I’m currently the Head of Humanities at BCB.
I love to learn, and this has led me to postgraduate education. I’m currently studying my second master’s degree. I read nonfiction almost exclusively. My areas of interest are currently the development of civilizations; sustainable economic development and zero growth economies; the conquest and liberation of South America; intercultural education; and post-colonial theory.
I’m also passionate about music. I’ve worked with students in Secondary school on a rock band project, which has given me the chance to relive my youth. I’ve spent as much time as I can listening to music and going to concerts. I also really enjoy cooking and gardening; I only like to grow things that can be eaten, and I am increasingly interested in the medicinal and nutritional values of plants. I’m also fascinated by film and its value as cultural artefact. I especially like Japanese cinema of the sixties and what’s considered Slow Cinema. I lead the International Award at BCB, because I love hiking, and this has been a great opportunity for me to get out into the wilderness. I’ve recently learned to brew beer and make ceramics – two new skills I hope to develop further in the coming years.