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Jane Birkenhead, BSc, MA, TESL CertificateEnglish Tutor and Fluency Coach

I work with clients in private study sessions or very small groups. Everyone learns differently and personalized, focused tuition means faster progress.

I live in Canada and I'm from Great Britain so I can help you with all aspects of North American and British English.

I specialize in English language and communication coaching for international professionals. I help non-native English speakers find their inner confidence so they can speak clearly and fluently in any situation.

I've worked with hundreds of non-native English speakers helping them to chase promotions, follow their dreams and excel in their careers.

I understand exactly what it's like to sit in a meeting knowing you have just one very brief opportunity to make your point and contribute to the discussion.

I worked as an accountant for big companies in the UK for many years so it was a situation that I encountered a lot. It was a nerve-wracking experience and of course this feeling is compounded when you're communicating in another language.

But, with my confidence building strategies and focused sessions, you'll feel ready to tackle any situation.

"I want to be able to gather my thoughts quickly and join in discussions.

I don't want them to think I'm the foreigner sitting quietly in the corner that can't speak English properly."

Current Workplace and Business Communication client

Boost your fluency in English and excel in the career you've trained for.

Birkenhead English Services

What would you like to do?

I've been immersed in English language tutoring for the past 20 years and have extensive experience of working with clients from different language groups, professions, and with different levels of fluency.

There are many overlaps between these different services and everything is customizable. If you're not sure what you're looking for, but you know you need help with English, let me know and we can make a plan together.

WORKPLACE AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION AND ACCENT REDUCTION

I'd like to speak English more clearly so people can understand me better.

I'd like to communicate more fluently with my colleagues and clients at work.

EXAM PREPARATION

ENGLISH FOUNDATIONS (B1 LEVEL)

I'd like to take an English proficiency exam for immigration, work, or university

I'd like to improve my English grammar and vocabulary.

Which exam do you need?

TOEFL

IELTS

Diego

Engineer, Spanish Speaker

I really enjoyed lessons with Jane. She's so patient. She tries to speak as clearly as possible in English and that helped me a lot.

She's an excellent teacher. You can learn a lot in just a lesson.

Hasnaa

Pharmacist, Arabic Speaker

You found my mistakes and gave me feedback so I wouldn't repeat them.

You told me, "Hasnaa we will change the way you study" and well, it was worth it.

Jane listened to my speaking and told me how to work on my weaknesses. She boosted my confidence and believed in me when I did not believe in myself and was about to give up on my dream.

Pharmacist, Arabic Speaker

Samah

LET'S CHAT

I offer all seriously interested clients a free 30-minute video consultation.

Click the link above to get in touch.

Whether you're an interested learner working on improving your fluency in English or you're preparing for English proficiency exams, I hope you'll find something in here that helps you.

Birkenhead English Articles

English Grammar and Vocabulary

Use Collocations to Build English Fluency

Jane Birkenhead • Jan 12, 2026

Do you notice anything strange about these four expressions? 🟠 Say the truth🟠 Do a mistake🟠 Say my opinion🟠 Give an exam They all have a verb + determiner + noun combination so they are grammatically correct. But a fluent English speaker would say they "sound wrong". This is probably the most frustrating feedback that an English learner can...

Teaching Writing to Reluctant Writers

Jane Birkenhead • Nov 7, 2025

I've always enjoyed writing. I come from an education system where learning to write was an important part of the curriculum and where writing, including creative writing, was taught daily. So writing has always been part of my life. However, I understand that many people don't like writing and the burden of having a writing section forced on...

Take a Break. Your Brain Needs It!

Jane Birkenhead • Oct 22, 2025

If you're doing anything which requires learning a skill, it's important to understand how to work with your brain and not against it. There are many areas where this may be the case (like music and sport) but let's focus on improving your English as one particular skill. Improving your English proficiency involves a combination of knowing what...

A Word About AI

I don't use AI for any of the writing on this website. These are my own thoughts and opinions, expressed using my own choice of words.

There is no doubt that AI has turned out to be incredibly useful for language learning - for teachers and students. Depending on my clients' needs, I use a selection of AI tools and other technology. However, it's important to understand that AI is only a tool. It has limitations and can be unreliable.

AI is not a brain. It's just a data sorter. It's most effective when it's used as support for what you're doing and not as your only method of instruction.

Use AI tools to enhance your study experience, but check its output carefully and make sure you get guidance from a human too.