I really enjoyed staying with Leslie. She was well-prepared and had a programme for the oncoming week ready for me. She was flexible to adapt it to my needs. We went on a wonderful bicycle trip and On my last evening she treated me to a nice Indian restaurant. She also let me participate in private events. We laughed a lot and I learned a lot. I really enjoyed myself, it was a great time!
About
Lesley S
I am an enthusiastic teacher of English as a foreign language. Before I became a home stay teacher, I was an English language and English Literature secondary school teacher. I have taught in New Zealand and Canada as well as in the UK. I love travelling and exploring different cultures and I have been fortunate enough to spend time working as a travel guide on river cruises along the Nile, Danube and Elbe. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people and I like to make lessons practical, rigorous and fun. I speak French and German.
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| No pets at home | Private bathroom | WiFi available |
Location information
Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire | View a map of this location
Nearest airport(s): Birmingham (BHX) 50 minutes and London Heathrow (LHR) 70 minutes
Nominated airport(s) for transfers: Birmingham (BHX); Luton (LTN)
Heathrow airport supplement: +£40 one-way
Nearest railway station: Northampton
Academic information
I have a diploma in teaching English as a Foreign Language. I have a degree in English and I have a RSA diploma in teaching of drama. I am a secondary school teacher (specialism in English).
Courses taught
Family information
I enjoy the theatre and I particularly like going to Stratford-upon-Avon to see productions of plays by William Shakespeare. I have joined a community choir which performs at concerts. In 2012, our choir sang at a local concert to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. I am a member of a fitness club and enjoy aquarobics classes. I enjoy cycling and hiking, especially when an afternoon tea stop is our goal!
Cooking and entertaining is another hobby. You might find I’ll be asking you about traditional recipes from your country so I can experiment preparing new dishes. I live alone. My mother, sister and nieces live elsewhere and we like to pay each other visits at the weekend.
Lesley’s Photos
About the teacher’s accommodation
My home is located on the outskirts of the town of Northampton in the county of Northamptonshire in central England. I live in a four bedroom detached house. I like to host barbecues in my garden over the summer months.
About the local area
There is a local bus route into the town centre where there are historic buildings to visit; a museum; a cinema; two theatres, a ten pin bowling alley; and plenty of shopping opportunities. Northampton has a house decorated by the Art Deco designer, Renee Mackintosh, which is also interesting to visit. My local health and fitness club provides a sociable place to chat to local people whilst swimming, following a gym programme or just enjoying a coffee. If you are interested in medieval castles, you will find Warwick and Rockingham Castles of great interest. Other historic towns in the area include Leamington Spa, Buckingham and Stratford upon Avon. There are reservoirs offering sailing and fishing whilst the countryside offers plenty of nature walks.
Excursions available with this teacher
Nuffield Health Club – Private swimming pool and gym. Enjoy an aqua-aerobics class with Lesley, or a leisurely work-out in the gym.
Cost: Free
Stoke Bruerne Canal – Visit the historic village of Stoke Bruerne, one afternoon, on the banks of the Grand Union Canal. Enjoy a ride on a canal narrowboat through the locks.
Cost: Free
Oxford University and City – Why not visit this World famous city, and buy an Oxford University Hoodie or ‘T’ shirt? ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ were written by professors at Oxford University. You can visit some of the places where ‘Harry Potter’ was filmed.
Cost: Free
London – A sightseeing whole day trip to London. See Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and travel down the River Thames to The Tower of London.
Cost: £20
Stratford –Upon-Avon – The historic home town of William Shakespeare and The Royal Shakespeare theatre. Enjoy taking photos of Shakespeare’s famous characters, like Hamlet or Macbeth. Why not go rowing along the River Avon in your own boat.
Cost: Rowing boats cost £10