Matthew Foster

Highly accomplished, organised professional with extensive years of experience spearheading the design and implementation of cost-efficient training and resource materials while monitoring their effectiveness and compliance with strategic priorities. Proficient at organising training sessions, programs, seminars and mentoring individuals to harness their full potential. A teacher who can enhance communication channels and formulate a solution by studying other languages and keeping abreast with the industry trends as well as the current education of the K-12 curriculum. Adept at performing research and scrutinising data to address learning gaps and resolve challenges. Commended for providing one-to-one sessions for IT, Music, English, and P.E to autistic students and teaching the English language across the world, including Oxford, UAE, Costa Rica, China, and Malaysia.

Ministry of Education                                                                                           UAE

HR Training & Development Specialist                                                              Mar 2021 – Apr 2022

• Collaborating with the HR training and development team to create training materials and mentor the Ministry’s employees, so supporting their professional development.
• Carrying out extensive research to facilitate the creation of basic and advanced level training videos, develop downloadable toolkits and assessment materials, which meet staff requirements, identified via yearly needs assessment.
• Designing and delivering face-to-face training sessions via Microsoft Teams, to employees across all departments.
• Leading the quality assurance process, creating quality procedure guidelines and all documentation to record the quality process, and ensure high standards of material production.
• Quality assuring team members’ materials, to ensure they meet the required quality standards, are fit for purpose and culturally appropriate.
• Designing induction and probation materials to inform new employees of all Ministry of Education policies and procedures, and so minimise problems and facilitate a smooth transition into their new role.

Training and Curriculum Specialist                                                                     Aug 2020 – Mar 2021

• Assisted the English curriculum department in transforming classroom teaching resources into digital learning materials.
• Formulated and designed training material containing high-quality content to support grade 3 and 10 students’ learning process in work from the home set-up during the pandemic Covid-19.
• Worked alongside curriculum team to create extra English language support materials for subjects in the applied stream, consequently influencing Emirati students in choosing vocational paths.

Training Specialist                                                                                                  May 2018 – Aug 2020

• Harnessed prospective teachers’ pedagogy capability by providing them with a comprehensive eight-week teacher training program (TTP) focusing on instilling appropriate teaching procedures and policy as well as necessary knowledge and attitude.
• Reinforced and empowered over a thousand teacher trainees while helping with difficulties and overcoming challenges.
• Assessed and monitored trainee learning, allowing me to fully craft training material focusing on trainees' needs.
• Oversaw the teacher training program from planning to successful completion, achieving its targeted objective.

Lead Teacher                                                                                                         Aug 2016 – May 2018

• Leveraged expertise in leading my EMI department in a cycle 2&3 school consisting of 16 teachers to ensure that the EMI teachers delivered lessons of the highest standards and quality.
• Supported the learning and development of English teachers to promote their professional development by supplying training needs during term as well as during all teacher training weeks.
• Regularly observed lessons so as to Streamline teachers’ high level of performance to cultivate a safe and highly engaging environment.
• Guided teachers in various ways, including planning a lesson plan, setting classroom goals, and dealing with different situations. 
• Exemplified dedication to supporting all aspects of Programmes while contributing to the school community, achieving goals. 

Oxford University Press                                                                                       Shanghai, CHN

Activities Manager & English Language Teacher Trainer                                                                                              Sep 2015 – Jul 2016

• Revitalized English teachers’ language proficiency upon traveling to public and private educational institutions in China.
• Played an integral role in supporting and empowering teachers across the country to drive top-notch education.
• Collaborated with teachers in identifying areas of improvement while formulating a solution focusing on students’ development.

Brighton Education                                                                                               Kuala Lumpur, MYS                  

English Language Consultant/Teacher Trainer & Leader                                                                                            Jan 2011 – Sep 2015

• Coordinated with the Malaysian Ministry of Education to lead or spearhead 20 state schools, enhancing teachers’ pedagogy capability while meeting the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Leveraged expertise to uplift the English proficiency of teachers in primary and secondary schools across Malaysia.
• Designed and implemented seminars and training sessions focusing on sustainable career growth of teachers as well as students.

Master’s Degree in Education Leadership: University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK                                                          On-going

120-Hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language Qualification: I – I TEFL Language School, Plymouth, UK                       

2.1 BA (Hons) Degree in American Studies with English: University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK                       

Leadership & Development Assessors Course: AFAQ                       

Tutor Preparation Provider Programme: OET                       

NVQ Level 4 Diploma in Information, Advice, & Guidance: Walsall College of Art & Design