English teacher

I'm an English teacher because...

I enjoy sharing my passion for stories, poetry and creative writing. I volunteered for youth groups before university and this ignited my desire to be a teacher.

My first language is British Sign Language (BSL) so studying for a degree in English Literature was challenging. After graduation I moved to Thailand to get experience in the classroom. It was difficult to teach without BSL support but I enjoyed myself.

I moved back home to train as an English teacher to pupils aged 11–17. I’m in my probationary year and, as a BSL user, it’s been difficult teaching in a mainstream school and can be quite isolating but my mentor has been extremely supportive.

I’m profoundly deaf and wear a cochlear implant. I speak when teaching but use a BSL interpreter to translate what the children are saying.

I recently set up a BSL club to encourage hearing pupils and school staff to learn.

Jamie Dow