BDesHons, PGCE, CertTESOL
Martin's passion for teaching is a product of his insatiable curiosity, belief in the power of sharing learning and the great satisfaction he gets from knowing he helped others further themselves. From a family full of teachers, it is perhaps natural that he is a teacher, despite several years in other professions. He always learned as much as he could, was keen to pass on his learning, that is to teach, and often created internal training to do so.
Martin has a Bachelor of Design with Honours (BDesHons) in Animation and Electronic Media from The University of Dundee. His first professional teaching began with animation workshops for children aged 6-12 back in 2002 and continued with occasional animation lecturing at the University of Dundee alongside his full-time job in the field. The volume of his teaching increased significantly in 2011 after he obtained his Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL) from Trinity College London and began teaching EAL learners of all ages, first in the UK and then in China. Martin also have an International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from The University of Derby and Three Assistants Course from Association Montessori Internationale.
Martin has been teaching full time as a class teacher in Beijing kindergartens since 2020 and joined BSB Shunyi in 2023. Being an Early Years homeroom teacher is wonderfully rewarding as you support and accompany these young people during an important and formative stage.
Originally from Liverpool, he have also lived in Scotland, Finland and South Korea. He has quite a large and international extended family, with relatives in, or coming from Europe, Africa and Latin America. In 2009 Martin embarked on a life-changing 16 month, solo trip in Asia. He was so inspired by his two visits to China on that trip, that he resolved to return to learn the language. Martin has now been living in Beijing since 2013, is married to a Beijing local, and has two inspirational daughters born in 2019 and 2022! Outside of work, besides quality time with his wife and daughters, Marin enjoys walking their two dogs, practicing yoga, following Liverpool FC and listening to new and favourite music.
