Meng (also known as Tami) is a qualified ESL tutor and Mandarin interpreter based in Northern Ireland. She achieved her Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speaker’s of Other Languages) from Queen’s University Belfast and took her CELTA qualification in International House Belfast in 2015. After that, she started to teach younger learners and teenagers English in China. In the year 2018, she returned to the UK and became an indigenous community ESL teacher, teaching Chinese/Asian adults in Northern Ireland. As a member of NATECLA, Tami would like to meet and share good news and practices with ESL professionals and connect people who speak different community languages closer together.

After school in Northern Ireland and university in Scotland, Arthur worked on three different continents for 15 years as an English language teacher, teacher trainer and centre manager.  He then taught management at the Open University and Ulster University for 25 years.  Since his retirement in 2015 Arthur has contributed as a Volunteer at the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre to provide English language courses for adult migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are building new lives for themselves and their families.  His particular interest is in the design, documentation and delivery of online English courses for adults who are taking their first steps in English. He was recognised as IATEFL ESOL Special Interest Group's Champion in 2020.  He received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2021 for his work with refugees and asylum seekers.

Mary has worked in EAL/ESP/EAP/ESOL teaching for 30+ years in language schools, universities and is now ESOL Development Officer in DDLETB supporting teens and adults from a migrant/refugee background. She coordinates language provision across 27 post primary schools in the Dublin region and an EAL network/CoP. She has been ESOL tutor, teacher trainer/course director on acels-recognised courses for both second-level teachers, ESOL tutors, as well as CLIL and ELT courses for Initial and subject teachers.  She is examiner and Cambridge English Centre Exams Manager for DDLETB with an interest in authentic materials, teaching learners with low levels of literacy and giving feedback to learners.

Paul has worked within the arena of language, literacy and numeracy for over 20 years and is currently a specialist technical advisor for a major UK-based awarding organisation – supporting providers across a range of settings. Originally from the south of England, Paul relocated to north west Ireland a few years ago, giving him a perspective on the increasingly diverse approaches to ELT policy and practice across these islands. He’s especially interested in approaches to digital literacies and inclusion. Paul is also on the Management Group of Research and Practice in Adult Literacies (RaPAL), and is an individual member of both AONTAS and NALA.

Claudia is a qualified ESOL Tutor, who has been working in the field for almost 10 years. Since obtaining her CELTA, she has been focussing on community teaching, working mainly with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who have been making Northern Ireland their home. She is the Volunteer Coordinator for the ESOL Programme at the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC) and splits her time between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where she teaches ESOL to migrant workers and refugees for TETB. She is particularly interested in the free access of language provision for newcomers and the value and impact of volunteer-led language courses, based in a community setting. Her current focus is also on the application and use of AI in ESOL teaching and learning, and in the use of inclusive teaching material, relevant to the learners’ experience.