The People
We are proud to introduce our dedicated South African team.
Dave is our leader and general. He was raised in a military family which made him enormously organised with an odd sense of humour and ability to have an eye for details.
His education and work experience allowed him to become a tax paying resident in the UK, South Africa and Poland although never simultaneously.
After being enormously successful in the corporate world in the UK, he realised the enormous hole in his heart that came with the long hours and big salary. In 2013 he made a career change committed to working in the education industry and positively influence others through caring and being committed to each learner.
EnglishDave is his second business after founding a charity/ business organisation in South Africa dedicated to educating African immigrants in Cape Town and helping them find work so that they can reunite with their families.
Outside work he used to train like a semi professional athlete until he got old and too injured in sports such as: rugby, football, downhill mountain biking, triathlon, kickboxing, trekking, tennis, squash and darts.
His hobbies used to be making jazz and african music with his instrument the djembe (african drums), video podcast on YouTube and loving his dogs and cats.
He is happily married to a Polish Ania and they have the nicest little daughter together.
Gary is our resident John Rambo.
Let me explain, Gary is better qualified to be Indiana Jones than an English teacher. His career and hobbies span from
This is exactly why he was hired – he brings an unique life perspective that will encourage loads of cool and interesting conversations. Gary is an avid health enthusiast with insightful perspectives into nutrition and wholesome eating. Other than being the nicest guy alive, he also spends his free time helping his local African community with education and charity initiatives.
Gary is happily married and is keeping an eye on potential parenthood in the coming few years with his lovely wife!
Raised in a teaching family, Johan sees education as both a calling and a way to connect people. He enjoys helping learners grow in confidence, unlock their potential, and ask better questions about the world around them.
Originally trained in marketing, Johan completed a four-year degree before briefly working as a sales engineer. Realising that path was not for him, he moved to South Korea to teach English for what was meant to be one year, and stayed for six.
In 2022 he returned to South Africa to continue developing as a teacher, studying English literature and linguistics before completing a PGCE in English and Business Studies Teaching at Stellenbosch University in 2024. He now combines formal training with international classroom experience to create lessons that are thoughtful, engaging, and learner-focused.
Outside the classroom, Johan's interests stretch from psychology, philosophy, sociology, and politics to martial arts, building computers, and music production. He has performed as a drummer in bands in both South Africa and South Korea, and once represented South Africa at an international foosball tournament, winning silver in the amateur doubles division.
He loves travelling and experiencing different cultures, and brings that same curiosity into his teaching. For Johan, language learning is not only about communication, but about understanding people, perspectives, and the world more deeply.