Education and professional experience
After completing my university studies in Modern Languages (M.A.), I acquired certification as a high school teacher (M.Ed.) and adult educator. Most recently, I taught English for 13 years at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (zhaw) in Winterthur. Before that, I taught English and French in public secondary schools and German as a foreign language in the private sector.
After more than 30 years of teaching with ever larger classes and fewer lessons per class, I decided to take more independent control of my teaching, challenging and supporting learners in an individual and comprehensive setting. In particular, the needs of fast-learning academics and professionals can be better met in an individualized setting, using teaching material with a steep learning progression and making use of the learners’ knowledge of other languages.
Interests and activities
In 2014, I moved from Zurich to the Valais. The joy of gardening took such hold of me that in 2019 I completed training to be certified as a Bioterra course leader and founded a group of like-minded people in the Upper Valais with the goal of promoting nature in the settlement area.This spring we also founded the Bioterra Regional Group Valais. This association is committed to the promotion of organic agriculture, offers gardening courses and organizes social events. As I have a large vegetable garden, I really enjoy cooking with my own fresh ingredients and love trying out new recipes. From spring to late autumn the garden keeps me quite busy but I still go hiking or cycling now and then. In winter, I enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and going on ski tours. Since 2015, I have also been on the board of the local maintenance association “Stigwasser-Wyssa”. This association is committed to the preservation of the two historic water canals Stigwasser and Wyssa.