Emma Louise O.

I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a BA in Education in 2006 and have an MA in English Linguistics from Birmingham City University.
I hold a Cambridge CELTA and DELTA.
I am a certified IB TOK instructor.

I have worked in Turkey for 12 years at schools like Koç Lisesi, UAA and Bilkent. Previously, I worked globally for places such as The Royal Melbourne Institute for Technology (RMIT) and the British Council. As well as teaching I have been involved in curriculum writing, textbook development, and have worked as an exam writer for the OSYM.

I graduated with a degree in Education in 2006 and have been teaching English Language and Literature in a variety of settings ever since.

2009 - 20I4 I started my teaching career in the UK, my home. After deciding to move abroad I relocated to South Korea where I taught young learners during the mornings, and middle through secondary school students in the afternoons and evenings. For secondary level students, courses were designed each semester depending on students needs and goals e.g University entrance exams, and IGCSE and SAT exam prep. I went on to work at two university preparation courses, one in Vietnam (RMIT) and one in Ankara, Turkey (Bilkent).

2017 - 2026 I have spent the last 9 years working in private secondary schools in Istanbul (Koç and UAA). I have taught both language and literature as well as IB TOK courses. I am able to teach GCSE and SAT exam preparation classes, support with literary analysis, academic research, as well as language development across all levels. I hold an MA in Linguistics, so am also able to give advanced support with academic writing.

As well as my full time teaching role I have a number of private students ranging from 5th grade to adult business classes. I am supporting students with literary analysis, reading comprehension and nuance, IELTS, Cambridge, and SAT exam preparation and a range of other needs. My most recent success story was my middle school student passing the Koç admissions exam and gaining a place to study at her dream school.

Having worked as both a teacher and an exam writer I am aware of the skills students need and how those will be tested.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in a traditional, highly structured British methodology that completely rejects short-term rote memorization in favor of skill development. Drawing on my MA in Linguistics, Cambridge DELTA, and extensive experience within elite systems like Koç, UAA, and ÖSYM, my approach focuses entirely on long-term academic capability.