We, Duncan and Rita Baker, are the owners and directors of LEC. We work with permanent staff, supported by a regular team of trainers all trained in using the Global Approach.

• We all have a high level of training in English as a Foreign Language.
• We all teach English for business.
• We all have experience and understanding of learning other languages.
• We all have experience of living and teaching in countries other than the UK.
• We all enjoy working as a team.

Duncan Baker

Working as a member of a small team means that I have several roles. My responsibility as Marketing Director also includes IT and financial management, and property and vehicle maintenance.

My first career was as a submarine officer in the Royal Navy. In 1976 I joined the Diplomatic Service. I worked in Chancery in the British High Commision in Nairobi, Kenya, after which I studied Arabic before serving as Chargé d'Affaires for the British Embassy in Sana'a in the Yemen Arab Republic. I have a Master's Degree (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the London University Institute of Education (1998). I am a Fellow of the RSA.

Rita and I founded Lydbury English Centre in 1985 and it has been our home ever since. We have 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren.

As well as being your hosts at Lydbury English Centre we are also members of the Lydbury training team. We both give regular workshops at professional conferences, and I am on the committee of BESIG, an international specialist group of Business English trainers.

I have lots of interests. I love sailing and have certificates in ocean navigation and maritime bridge watching. I also love my motorbike. I am a singer and enjoy playing my bassoon in our local orchestra. My other hobby is cooking - so I prepare breakfast each morning!

Rita Baker

My specific responsibility as a Director is training development, but I also co-ordinate all other areas of responsibility. I did my initial training in teaching EFL (English as a Foreign Language) in 1970. In 1972 I obtained a specialist PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) qualification in TEFL at the London University Institute of Education. Following that I trained and developed expertise in teaching both children and adults with dyslexic type learning difficulties. My first degree (BA Hons) was in French and Spanish at Exeter University. I am a Fellow of the RSA.

During my long career I have worked with learners of all ages - from pre-school to mature adults. (The oldest was 86!) I am an experienced teacher trainer, in general as well as business English and I have taught in Zambia, France, Spain, Kenya and Yemen as well as in the UK. In addition to being a member of the LEC training team I am often invited to run short teacher development courses in other countries.

I have a particular interest in the psychology of language learning, individual learning styles, intercultural issues, pronunciation and accelerated learning techniques. Since 1988, drawing on my experience, and with the help of my training team, I have created and been developing the 'Global Approach". This is a system which helps you to make about 3 times the rate of progress that you would expect on a conventional training course. I like to discover the 'little' things that make the 'big' difference!

My interests are singing and drama, and clothes design and sewing. I also do some sailing and motor biking with Duncan, and we both enjoy our family, especially our grandchildren.

Julie Humble

As training manager I am responsible for planning and co-ordinating your training programme, from the analysis of your needs, level and learning style, to your end of course report. It is part of our training philosophy that you should have up to 4 different trainers so that you can get maximum experience of working with different English speakers. My role is to ensure that the content of your programme is properly balanced and adapted to your personal style and needs, whether 1-to-1 or in small groups.

I have a degree (BSc Hons) in French (with Linguistics, German and Economics) from the University of Surrey, a Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, a Certificate in Teaching English for Business and a Certificate in Further Education Teaching. I am also a member of the Institute of Linguists and the Institute of Learning.

I have been working at Lydbury since 1992 and I love it. Every week is different and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity of meeting so many different kinds of people from so many different cultures and professions. It is such a pleasure to see people developing their communication in English, and a privilege to be part of that process as a member of the training team.

My other professional activities include being an occasional guest lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton and an English examiner.

I live not far from Lydbury with my teenage daughter and my partner who is also an EFL trainer. In my free time I enjoy playing tennis and taking part in competitions. I also sing in a local choir and play the cello. Sometimes you find me trying to play bass guitar!