Thank you for visiting my website.
After a 20 year career teaching English (ESL and EAP) and communications, I transitioned from teacher to teacherpreneur in 2015. I now spend time doing the things I love such as travelling, speaking at conferences, coaching, writing, training and consulting locally and globally.
I have taught students from 8 to 80 in a variety of programs and levels from literacy to university. I spent 7 amazing years living in Hong Kong teaching English, training teachers and developing curriculum for secondary schools, workplace English programs and vocational training. My experience in Canada includes working with internationally trained professionals in bridging programs - language training, soft skills, cross-cultural communication and job search strategies.
My educational background includes a Master of Education (Brock University) and Master of Arts (OISE/University of Toronto). My TESL Ontario credentials include OCELT, Theory and Methodology Instructor, Practicum Supervisor and Academic Coordinator. I worked as an IELTS examiner and as a TESL trainer in two TESL Ontario approved diploma programs. I'm a Certified Training Development Professional (CTDP - Institute of Performance and Training) and have a Certified Personal Development Coach (The CaPP Institute, USA).
Please contact me via email at [email protected] or click on the link http://bit.ly/2VK9zFC to access my calendar to schedule a call.
I provide training and consulting locally and internationally. Clients includes the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia, CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana, and SETCAM in Honduras.
Conference presentations at IATEFL (UK), ACPI-TESOL Costa Rica, ACTION TESOL Jamaica, TESOL Convention (USA), ORTESOL, TESOL Florida, TESL Canada and TESL Ontario.
I work with new ESL teachers to help them develop their confidence and teaching skills. One hour of TESL Ontario PD is awarded for each hour of instructional coaching.
I have designed courses (in-class and online) including bridging courses for internationally trained professionals. Projects include a 10-module online course for students in Saudi Arabian and co-author of a Brazilian textbook for primary school.
"Patrice is passionate, versatile, and an engaging ESL teacher. She is supportive, kind, knowledgeable and personable. As a mentor teacher, Patrice provided not only constructive ways for me to improve my skills but she also modeled successful classroom management. "
"Patrice is kind, patient, detail-oriented and very knowledgeable. She spent hours to correct our work in detail. Her support was beyond essential and the knowledge and resources she shared with us are priceless. Her teaching demeanor with all students is impressive which makes her a great role model for all future teachers!"
"Starting out in the education sector was hard for me. One does need a little assurance for the road ahead. That's when Patrice played a very important role. Despite being from the other side of the globe, she was able to understand the context and give me some insights into my curriculum model along with encouragement which helped."
"I first got to know Patrice via Twitter when she noticed I had moved to the same city. She made an effort to reach out and connect with me. Patrice has an extraordinary ability to bond quickly with people from other cultures. Her natural ability not only makes her a great teacher of ESL but also students find they can confide in her and receive the necessary support. Patrice comes highly recommended."
The book offers thirteen easily implemented, robust group-work activities formatted to foster the development of one of the 21st century skills. Designed with secondary and postsecondary students in mind, teachers can take students through the team-building process, from getting to know one another to a final evaluation of the group’s work and success.
The Teacher Self-Care Manual: Simple Strategies for Stressed Teachers provides simple, easy-to-apply strategies that will help you take care of yourself. The book provides concise information to identify and change the mindsets and beliefs that lead to harmful habits.
Teacher to Teacherpreneur
Teachers - do you want to learn new skills, use your creativity and earn additional income?
Then becoming a teacherpreneur* could be for you. Teachers can use their numerous skills to work as coaches, researchers, writers, and online instructors.
I've had so much fun in the last 4 years on my teacherpreneur journey. I developed several resources where I share what I have learned.
*teacherpreneur: (n) an educator who combines his/her creativity, skills and expertise to develop products, resources and/or services for additional income
Book a coaching call"Many teachers feel that they would like to do something different with their teaching skills but don't know how to start. With the skills that only an expert teacher has, Patrice's The Essential Teacher to Teacherpreneur Toolkit will help. She goes over topics such as branding, niche, transferrable skills, social media and networking, and makes it all approachable. She shares her experience and expertise to show us that making the transition from teacher to teacherpreneur is possible. "
"Your idea of interviewing teacherpreneurs and gathering all the info in one place is fabulous! It's very useful and inspiring. I remember that 10 years ago, when I started my own teaching business, I looked for model stories, but I found none. So hats off for this. I'm lucky to be inspired by models like you! It's so good to see that more and more teachers have the courage to set up their own business!"
"Your interview on Finding your Niche as part of the Online Teacher Summit was amazing. It was a game-changer for me. "
"I have been working for different companies for many years but now have the courage to start my own business and become a teacherpreneur. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. "
"Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciated you being honest about not being well suited to work with younger students. I tried working with elementary children in China, the pay was great and the scheduling was perfect for me, but I am not a good fit for young learners. I do not meet many ESL professionals that prefer to work with adults, so I really appreciated hearing you talk about that. I don't feel so alone anymore. I will be using the information you so generously shared to help me find my niche and grow my freelance ESL service."
"Thanks for your excellent workshop at the TESL conference. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how we can combine entrepreneurial skills with classroom experience to enhance careers and turn teaching into a profitable experience. Because ESL assignments are sporadic and difficult to predict, I’d like apply workshop content and your advice. I purchased your Toolkit and I look forward to putting your counsel and services into practice. You are the ideal model for teachers who are thinking of striking out on their own."
"I attended the Teacher to Teacherpreneur presentation at TESL Ontario. Thank you for your presentation. I could see that many people were given hope that they are able to step out of their regular teacher position or add to it. I believe that as adult educators, we are already drawn to alternative learning, but it was wonderful to see how inspirational you were to others, including myself. Sometimes we just need permission to reach beyond. My need for money and need for helping others have collided to "accidentally" (to use your term) create a new opportunity that I certainly did not plan. In this way, I resonate with your story. "
"Patrice is a very professional, knowledgeable, patient, and very encouraging cheerleader for anyone seeking to take a leap of faith and become a teacherpreneur. Patrice helped me from the onset when I contacted her about my interest in becoming an ESL tutor. Her Teacher to Teacherpreneur Toolkit is a comprehensive guide on how to get started and contains a vast amount of information that points you in the right direction. If you are looking for someone to help you transition from Teacher to Teacherpreneur, I strongly urge you to seek out Patrice for her expertise. "
"I heard you speak at the TESL Ontario conference. You inspired me to become a teacherpreneur which I have now done. Thank you! "
"Patrice’s website and The Essential Teacher to Teacherpreneur Toolkit fully resonated with me. The Toolkit was perfect! Firstly, it’s structured to create order which is good when we have chaotic thoughts when we face a new path. Secondly, it's written in a way that creates the feeling of having a conversation with a person who has walked this path - this personalisation is invaluable, especially if we are not inclined to share our doubts with others. Finally, the Toolkit leaves you feeling assured that there is nothing impossible in stepping out of the comfort of a classroom and ensures that everything is doable."
"I highly recommend Teacher to Teacherpreneur resources. It's helped me as a teacher and teacherpreneur."
Are you a teacher looking to try new things? engage in more creative work? control the amount of work yo...
Click here to purchaseDo you know how to use social media to boost your online presence? Do your current social media profiles prom...
Click here for the FREE downloadTeachers have many transferrable skills. Find out how I entered the world of teacherpreneurship and how you can...
Click here for your FREE downloadI earn passive income from these two sites.
TPD is a marketplace for world-class classroom teaching resources including online courses for Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Australia. I sell my online course Ready, Set, GROW! here.
I love to write and share stories about teachers and teaching.