Background

I was born and brought up in Derbyshire, in the United Kingdom with English as my mother
tongue. I have always had a natural aptitude for languages and have studied French,
German and Spanish to Advanced level at school. After completing the sixth form (high school), I
took a bilingual secretarial course, focusing on Spanish as my main language.
This course included touch typing, shorthand and audiotyping, as well as a three-month
period of work experience as a secretary in Spain. I then went on to study
Spanish and French for a double Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of
Manchester, during which I spent a year working as an English language
assistant in Spain.

Professional Experience

I am a qualified Spanish and French teacher and worked for five years in the United Kingdom
before moving to Norway in 1996. During my first years in Norway, I worked as an
English teacher for professionals in industry and had a temporary position as a
translator in a leading telecommunications company. I have worked as a Spanish
and English language and literature teacher at secondary and upper secondary
level since 1999 and studied for a Masters degree in English in my free time. As
part of my work as an English teacher in Norway, I also have worked as an external
examiner for the Norwegian Ministry of Education, correcting and grading
examination papers in English language and social studies and English
literature.

Translation Experience

I have worked methodically with translation as an integral part my studies in Spanish
and English and have had my own freelance translation company since 2000. I
have translated user manuals, HR and marketing material and environmental reports
from Norwegian to English, in addition to proofreading educational material in
English for a leading Norwegian publishing house.

Interests

I am particularly interested in art and literature and current affairs, and I enjoy Pilates and yoga
in my free time.