Meet our Highly
Qualified
and
Friendly Staff

I am trained in Education and Welfare. I have taught ESOL, Literacy & Numeracy in secondary schools, language institutes and community agencies. I love teaching and supporting international students of all ages. I like to provide enjoyable, stimulating lessons that are relevant to each learner’s needs. I’m originally from the South Island, and moved to Thames in 2007 with my family. I enjoy skiing, walking, going to the beach, watching film festival movies, listening to music, reading and drinking good coffee!

I have been teaching English and IELTS to students from all over the world for over 20 years, as well as training people to become teachers of English. I love being in the classroom having fun with my students, watching them blossom in confidence, and progress with their English. I spent a large part of my life in Sydney and Auckland, but have now moved to tiny Thames, where I can grow veggies, have chooks (chickens) and catch fish. I also adore all things summer, cooking, books, bush-walking, and hanging out with friends and family.

Hi, I am Yuri at the Thames campus. I spent three years in high school as an international student in Auckland. The three years I spent living in New Zealand’s beautiful nature and relaxed atmosphere was an invaluable experience. After graduating from university and working in Japan, I studied and worked in Canada. After that, I came back to New Zealand. I’ll do my best to make your time in New Zealand as great as mine was. I enjoy sewing, exercising and doing stretches.

I qualified in the U.K. as a Chartered Accountant, where I directed a firm of stockbrokers. I have been a school principal and have taught English, Maths and Languages in New Zealand, as well as teaching English Language in class and on zoom. I love teaching all these subjects and believe learning is most effective when it is fun and it is a two-way process. I enjoy travel, music, podcasts and games and have friends of all ages from many different countries.

Hello! I moved to Thames with my Japanese husband and two children. I have lived in the US, Spain and Germany and have learned many different languages. I have lived in a homestay and in student dormitories. I have worked for a bank in Germany and have been an agent for study abroad programmes for over 10 years. I find it very rewarding to see students leave the study abroad program with not only language skills, but also mental strength and self-confidence. I always try to provide support that leads to the growth of my students. I am happy to help you with any questions you may have about learning a language or living abroad.

Michelle is our lovely bubbly Homestay & Activity Co-ordinator. She comes from sunny Cape Town in South Africa. She has been in NZ for 11 years and is married with twin boys age 24. Her professional background in South Africa was a Corporate Personal Assistant – and since coming to NZ she has worked in reception and caregiving & cooking for a retirement home. She has been at Evakona nearly 3 years and loves sourcing good sound homes where she knows our students will be well fed and looked after. She and her family enjoy camping, hiking and plenty of fishing.

I have volunteered and run church/home-based ESOL classes with adults and young people from all round the world. I even taught English to trainee teachers in Bangladesh: A great experience! With Evakona, I have really enjoyed teaching the Japanese students. I really like people and have a warm interactive approach in my teaching, wanting each student to accomplish their best. For twenty years I was a professional photographer doing family portraits, weddings and landscape work for a slide-library. I enjoy music (I play the keyboard), reading, the beach, bush walking and travelling all around the country in my campervan.