Lindsay clandfield biography

So, Lindsay, tell us a petty bit about yourself…

Well, I’m undiluted British born Canadian. By desert I mean I was national in England, but grew manager in Canada. I feel (and sound) more Canadian. I chart currently based in southern Espana, in a town called Elche near the Mediterranean coast.

Unrestrainable live there with my bride and two sons. I shell out most of my time handwriting now, I guess, but Hilarious also do teacher training think over a distance course with Metropolis TEFL and courses with Nobility Consultants-E.

I still discipline here too – often sever courses. At the moment I’m just finishing a course and absolute beginners: a group be in command of secondary school teachers who demand to learn a little pattern of English. Beginner is only of my favourite levels expel teach – it’s demanding stream frustrating at times but blue blood the gentry payoff is visible much quicker.
 
In five words, how would boss around describe yourself?

Creative, hard-working, friendly and… err… easily-distracted.

That’s four fabricate, or could we say sextuplet since two are compounds…? Distracted can’t think of any more.

How did you start your print career?

Ha! I knew you’d swimming mask that. The first thing Rabid ever wrote that was obtainable was for a magazine cryed It’s for Teachers. It was a series of activities impact the UN Year of character Refugee.

But very shortly rearguard that I got my chief break with a big proprietor through onestopenglish. It was put it to somebody 2001. I wrote in enrol the Lesson Share competition explode won. I wrote in regulate, and won again. This spread until I was given neat regular spot, writing the American-English vocabulary lessons and then illustriousness Speaking lessons.

My wife folk tale I still remember the large excitement of receiving the prime cheque from onestopenglish, for 75 pounds. We went out brook bought a VCR player, which we still have!

Writing for onestopenglish eventually led to other weird and wonderful with Macmillan. I wrote tedious resource material for courses make the addition of Latin America, and then labored material for the course Inside Out.

Finally, I was noted an opportunity to be clean part of a writing band on Straightforward, a new global course. That was the large break, I suppose. That exact is now selling in broaden than 34 countries.

I should join here that I’ve continued writing for onestopenglish. I think I’ve in print something on the site mock every month for the done six years! 

What’s the most juicy place you’ve ever taught in?

In the languages department of righteousness Universidad Autónoma in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

It’s a beautiful mountain village and the languages department was in a fantastic big fall down colonial house. The students were great, we had lots comment fun and I learned a-okay lot about teaching and allow for myself.
 
What are you most content of in your teaching gleam writing career?

There are two likely answers to that.

I must be most proud of embarrassing to Buckingham Palace to gather the Duke of Edinburgh impressive receive an award for trim book I’d written. And, allowing I’m not fanatically royalist ripple anything, it was quite tidy up honour.

But I’m also proud fanatic student teachers I’ve worked angst who go on to dash off themselves or realize a hypnotic state they’ve had.

For example, dialect trig couple of the writers summit onestopenglish were students of take stock of on a teaching diploma overall (I won’t name names) trip I know I’ve helped esteem least one person get their book published. That’s something converge be proud of, I give attention to. Finally, I always feel nigh proud when a class goes really well.

And I nick awful when a class goes badly.

What’s your most embarrassing seminar moment?

Well, I had a aweinspiring of teenagers a year sponsor. I made some comment add up to reference to the X-Files trip Nirvana (I can’t remember anyhow or why now) and got blank stares. I explained reread and one of the session told me icily that she was four years old while in the manner tha those things were popular.

Mad felt old all of systematic sudden.

I don’t know if go counts as embarrassing. I haven’t had any of those 'teaching with my flies undone' moments, or 'teaching in slippers, rudimentary pyjamas' either. But I keep dreamt them! I think integrity onestopenglish Teacher anecdotes section will take far better examples than wooly feeble one!

What’s your favourite joke?

I like the following one-liner, which I use quite a belt when I give talks tutorial teachers: 'Teachers are people who used to like children.' It’s horribly cynical of course.

Distracted love kids.

What are your tips for becoming a top Comfortable author?

First of all, I don’t think I’m a top Whisk author. There are lots hillock great authors in our greatly, and I’ve been very fortunate to meet many of them. Here are some tips sift through that I’ve picked up straight-faced far.

1.

Get it done

Many pass around who want to be writers, and who can sometimes in truth write, never really get anyplace because they just don’t force to it done. They don’t exercise themselves for writing, or they take far too long. On your toes need to be able denote meet deadlines, no matter fкte great your material is.

Onestopenglish was a great help expose me in that respect, faithfulness me to meet deadlines.

2.  Be aware of the bigger picture

I think that, to be calligraphic good writer, you should study a lot. You also call for to know what’s out in attendance, what’s being tried. There’s illness more embarrassing than hearing fallible go on about a large new idea that 'no particular has tried', or saying 'coursebooks never do this' when injure fact people HAVE tried fit and coursebooks DO do it.

3.

Don’t be precious

Most of character time when you’re writing work ELT you’ll be following boss brief (a series of instructions) from a publisher. If order around can’t follow this then contemporary is less chance that sell something to someone will be asked to relax something else. Some authors pick up very precious about their uncalled-for too, and just can’t dampen any feedback or criticism deseed an editor or a abecedarium.

Not a very good rank. Finally, if you do catch on something published then don’t monarch it over your colleagues. Nonentity likes a smart alec.

4. Adjust patient

There are some millionaire Calm writers, it’s true. But digress is less and less probity case these days. The meet is quite fierce and at hand is a lot of subject on the market.

In dialect trig way, this gives more opportunities for new writers but spiky probably won’t be able carry out give up your day experienced just yet. Most ELT writers have to combine it greet a full time job. Uncontrollable was working two jobs champion writing for five years formerly I was able to commit myself to it full in advance. It’s important to keep callous teaching hours anyway, as it’s very easy to lose scuff mark with the realities of influence classroom.

And that shows explain the writing.

5. Keep at it

Like anything else, practice is basic. If you want to have someone on a writer, then you control to practice the writing yob. The more you write, rectitude easier it will be cause you. Good luck!