Meet the Tutor – Leonie Bostock is our Lead Functional Skills English Tutor

By Farheen on March 11, 2013 - 12:10 pm in Latest Posts / no comments

leonie

What do you do at DV8?

I am the Lead Functional Skills English Tutor and I teach all learners on Foundation Learning Level 1 and Level 2 courses, including Alternative Provision. I also provide additional learning support to apprenticeship learners.

What were you doing before you started working at DV8?

I was a Clinical Trials Administrator during my teacher training. However, I also completed a degree in Photography, Video and Digital Imaging before retraining to be a Literacy teacher. I ultimately felt I was more passionate about Literacy and teaching, although still love being creative.

How did you get a job at DV8?

I relocated to London from Nottingham to start my teaching career. I found my DV8 job through online advertising and they took a chance on a newly qualified teacher.

What makes you good at your job?

My subject knowledge and the fact I care about my learners. I want to help each one to improve their Literacy skills because it is such an important subject, whatever career they wish to pursue. I also work for the Brent Adult and Community Education Service, teaching low-level and dyslexic adults, so I can transfer my skills between my jobs.

What do you do for fun?

In my spare time, I enjoy dancing, reading, writing, photography, language, travel and socialising. I taught English in Poland and travelled around Eastern Europe in my late teens, and I am learning Polish and Spanish. I am writing a book (slowly) and have recently started writing a Literacy blog aimed at students and writers.

What are your favourite TV shows, movies, books, bands, etc?

I like watching TV shows like Lost and Dexter, and documentaries (social and science). I also enjoy action films, such as Judge Dredd and The Terminator. My guilty pleasure is Home and Away. (Don’t tell anyone!) I read books in many genres, including drama, fantasy, travel and factual. My favourites include: 1984, The Kite Runner, A Short History of Nearly Everything, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, to name but a few. As for my taste in music, I have a very eclectic taste, including Hip Hop, Dance, Pop and Rock. My favourite band has always been No Doubt, but I also love Eminem.

What was your favourite DV8 moment?

My favourite moments at DV8 are when I see my learners achieve things they never thought they would be able to achieve. I love that the staff here are so creative and inspiring. There is a special mix of talent, which fosters amazing growth in DV8 learners. I also enjoy watching the learners use their new skills when performing at their own events, such as I AM DV8, RUN DV8 and Music Potential.

What are you up to at the moment?

I am working on my Literacy blog! You can find me at: www.leoniebostock.com. The blog is intended to be an accessible source of information on Literacy that students and writers can tap into. If you can’t remember how to use an apostrophe correctly, need help with your spelling, or want to learn how to make your writing more creative, check it out. My motto is: keep reading, keep writing, keep learning. (Questions and requests for topics to cover are welcomed.)

What are your ambitions for the future?

I would like to continue teaching Literacy, build my blog, progress my own studies, see more of the world, speak Spanish and Polish more fluently, and eventually finish writing my book. I would also like to write features and work on scripts for comics/graphic novels.

Here I am doing a dance routine with some students at Long Eaton Carnival.