John Mathew
5.0
South Africa•
2:56 PM (GMT+02:00)
English
205
1,499
English
205
1,499
Speaks
English
Native
,Afrikaans
B2
About Me
I am a teacher with many years of experience, both in the classroom and in business. I have a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience in journalism, media, engineering, business and philosophy. I can help you with KET, PET, IELTS / TOEFL test preparation, Business English as well as Interview Preparation and General Conversation. I can also tailor-make a curriculum for you according to your specific needs. I have a B Tech engineering degree, a Post-Grad Diploma in Post-School Education, a Masters in Philosophy and a Cambridge CELTA Certificate.
During my career, I have taught engineering, journalism and English as a foreign language. My teaching experience has been mostly in South Africa, but I have spent two years teaching English in the Middle East. My diverse education and experience places me in a ideal position to help an equally diverse client base with mastering English in their particular context.
My approach to teaching is descriptive rather that prescriptive, with the goal of quickly building vocabulary and fluency without being over-encumbered with unnecessarily complicated grammar. I believe in contextualising every lesson, to give my clients the confidence to converse in English in the very specific contexts they find themselves in from day to day.
Also, Im a nice guy, and will treat you with the respect and compassion every student needs from a teacher. The learning environment is critical and the relationship between the student and teacher equally so. You will find my general knowledge engaging, and with my clear pronunciation and articulation, you'll soon be on your way to English proficiency. As one of my Saudi TOEFL students said recently, "Mr.Mathew, my latest TOEFL results came out. It's 87. Thank you very much, I wouldn't have made it without your help. Words aren't enough to thank you." He's now studying Engineering in Washington State USA.
Let me do the same for you!
Read MoreDuring my career, I have taught engineering, journalism and English as a foreign language. My teaching experience has been mostly in South Africa, but I have spent two years teaching English in the Middle East. My diverse education and experience places me in a ideal position to help an equally diverse client base with mastering English in their particular context.
My approach to teaching is descriptive rather that prescriptive, with the goal of quickly building vocabulary and fluency without being over-encumbered with unnecessarily complicated grammar. I believe in contextualising every lesson, to give my clients the confidence to converse in English in the very specific contexts they find themselves in from day to day.
Also, Im a nice guy, and will treat you with the respect and compassion every student needs from a teacher. The learning environment is critical and the relationship between the student and teacher equally so. You will find my general knowledge engaging, and with my clear pronunciation and articulation, you'll soon be on your way to English proficiency. As one of my Saudi TOEFL students said recently, "Mr.Mathew, my latest TOEFL results came out. It's 87. Thank you very much, I wouldn't have made it without your help. Words aren't enough to thank you." He's now studying Engineering in Washington State USA.
Let me do the same for you!
Trial Lesson
One time, 30 minutesPrivate Lessons
60 minutesTeacher Stats
Within a day 
8 years ago 
98.00%1,499 
15.9 lesson average
5.0 Schedule
March 31, 2025 - April 7, 2025
All times listed are in your local timezone
(GMT+0000)GMT+0000
Mon
03/31/2025
Tue
04/01/2025
Wed
04/02/2025
Thu
04/03/2025
Fri
04/04/2025
Sat
04/05/2025
Sun
04/06/2025
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
Teaching Expertise
Intermediate
Upper Intermediate
Advanced
Upper Advanced
South African English
Résumé
Education
2000 - 2004
Master of Philosophy
Pretoria University - South Africa
Focus on Post-Modern culture.
1982 - 1984
Higher Diploma in Post-School Education
Cape Peninsula University of Technology - South Africa
Focus on technology in the classroom.
Work Experience
2007 - 2014
Radio Station Manager
Whale Coast FM - South Africa
Responsible for all on-air content, including Advertisements, News, Music, Interviews and Comment.
1989 - 2006
Media Producer and Communications
Yebo Productions - South Africa
Producing Corporate Communications, TV and Radio Content and Advertising, writing Copy and writing Music for TV.
1983 - 1989
Lecturer
College of Cape Town - South Africa
Mechanical Engineering
Certifications
2014 - 2014
CELTA
International House, Cape Town - South Africa
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Adults.
Ratings
115
Fun
127
Motivation Guru
159
Excellent Materials
202
Great Conversation
37
Exam Coach
53
Business Expert
77
Writing Coach
48
Great for Beginners
166
Great for Intermediate
90
Great for Advanced
136
Accent Reduction
66
Tech Savvy
137
Goes the Extra Mile
106
Grammar Expert
18
Great for medical professionals
135
Cultural Insights
5.0 Average
598 ratings, 205 students
November 5, 2017 • Lessons: 53
John is a great teacher. His lessons are interesting, rich in variety and never boring. He can brake down complicate issues and make them easy to understand. He is a very nice person with not only an excellent knowledge of the english grammar but also with a broad general knowledge. Learning about cultural differences and history are an extra bonus of his lessons. His great sense of humour creates a pleasant learning environment.
Read More
August 21, 2017 • Lessons: 1
It was my first class with John today and I'm very happy with it. John knows very well how to asses the level of his students, as he listens carefully to each student, so that he can tailor make a syllabus that suits him/her most. I absolutely recommend John to anyone wants to get his English polished and improved with a professional tutor. Thanks John for the amazing class and I look forward to our next one.
Read More