Jana van der Kolk

I am a business English communication coach with over a decade of experience teaching professionals. I am Cambridge-certified to teach English to adults and hold master’s degrees in sociology and applied linguistics and have published experimental research on vocabulary learning. My coaching draws on this academic foundation to help professionals communicate more clearly and confidently at work, with an approach grounded in curiosity, creativity, and practical, good-humored problem-solving.

Materials:

*Authentic media: news articles, podcasts, interviews, and short videos created for native speakers

*Reading and listening texts selected for students’ interests and goals *Visual prompts and infographics for discussion and vocabulary building

*Excerpts from literature, essays, and academic papers for advanced learners *Student-generated content (emails, reports, presentations) for personalized practice Evaluations: *Continuous formative assessment through observation, feedback, and reflection *Self-assessment to build learner autonomy *Optional exam-style tasks (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) for goal-specific evaluation Activities: *Guided conversation and role-play based on real-world scenarios *Collaborative problem-solving and creative projects *Vocabulary recycling through games, storytelling, and spaced repetition *Writing workshops with individual feedback and revision cycles *Listening and speaking practice using authentic audio and video clips

Over the past decade, I have taught English to entrepreneurs, academics, and professionals across public and private sectors, as well as students preparing for international proficiency exams for study and work abroad. As a result of this work, students have achieved tangible outcomes such as securing desired jobs or promotions, passing high-stakes proficiency exams, communicating confidently in international workplaces, and integrating more easily into new professional and cultural environments. I have guided learners through an individualized approach, creating authentic communicative practice, pinpointing priority areas for improvement, and designing targeted lessons that made efficient use of time. My teaching emphasizes one-on-one speaking practice, authentic listening and reading materials, and writing tasks aligned with specific professional or academic goals, supported by clear explanations and detailed feedback focused on accuracy, fluency, and confident communication.

In addition to teaching languages, my background includes academic research, professional writing and editing, translation, and curriculum development. I hold research-based master’s degrees in sociology and applied linguistics and have published original academic research, which allows me to explain language clearly and accurately while adapting it to real-world professional contexts. I have worked with entrepreneurs, academics, and professionals across a wide range of industries, and I understand the communication demands of international workplaces. My experience in writing, editing, and reviewing academic and professional texts means I can also support students with presentations, reports, emails, and interview preparation, not just spoken English. This combination of academic rigor and practical communication experience helps students who want structured, goal-oriented guidance and measurable progress in how they use English at work or in study.