20+ years' experience, native English, academic English teacher and Oxford English language school Principal. DELTA/CELTA qualified with a First class hons degree.

I first met Poppy Shirlaw in 2019, when I was looking for someone to help me take my English language beyond conversational fluency and develop the academic and professional communication skills I needed for the next stage of my studies and career. Seven years later, I am still learning with her, and I can say without hesitation that she has been instrumental in transforming the way I write, speak, think and express myself in English.

When I first started working with Poppy, academic writing was one of my greatest challenges. I came from a public-school education where, at the time, English was not taught to the depth or standard that would have prepared me for the academic and international professional environments I later entered. Before meeting Poppy, I had taken numerous English courses with different tutors, including while living and studying in English-speaking countries, but none helped me make the transition from simply communicating in English to thinking, arguing and writing at a sophisticated academic and professional level.

Poppy changed all of that.

From our earliest lessons, she had a remarkable ability to understand how I learned and where my strengths lay. She was the first person to recognise that I have a strong photographic memory and encouraged me to use it as part of my learning. Rather than following a standard teaching formula, she tailored our lessons around the way I absorbed and processed information. Most importantly, she did not simply correct my English; she taught me how to structure an argument, critically examine different perspectives, challenge my own assumptions and communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

Her support became particularly important during my Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Throughout my studies, Poppy continued to help me develop my academic writing and strengthen my critical thinking. What I valued most was that she never simply gave me the answer or rewrote something for me. Instead, she helped me understand why something wasn't working and encouraged me to find a stronger way to express it myself. That approach made me a much more independent and confident writer.

Our work together continued long beyond Oxford and became increasingly relevant to my professional career. Working in international affairs, climate diplomacy and international negotiations has required much more than simply being fluent in English. I have needed to formulate and defend arguments, negotiate and persuade, communicate complex issues succinctly, and adapt my language to very different audiences.

Over the years, Poppy has helped me develop exactly those skills. We have worked on everything from academic papers and concept notes to executive memos, strategic documents and presentations for senior audiences. She has taught me to recognise that each requires a different style of communication: how to identify the central message, structure information effectively, communicate complex subjects eloquently and, importantly, get straight to the point.

Perhaps the greatest testament to Poppy's teaching is how naturally English has become part of the way I think and express myself. People who meet or work with me often assume that I was educated in English from an early age or attended English-speaking private schools. In reality, that was not my educational background. Much of the confidence, fluency and command of English I have today has developed through years of working with Poppy.

I no longer feel that I have to translate my thoughts before expressing them. Whether I am speaking with international colleagues, participating in a complex discussion, negotiating, presenting to senior audiences or simply having an everyday conversation, I can express myself naturally and comfortably. In many professional and academic settings, English now feels almost like my first language. For someone whose career has involved working extensively across cultures and with international communities, that has been invaluable.

Despite living in different geographical locations, Poppy and I have continued our lessons online for many years, and I have found them every bit as effective as learning in person, as well as considerably more convenient for both of us. She has always been exceptionally generous with her time, flexible, dependable and supportive, accommodating the realities of a demanding professional life whenever she possibly can.

Over time, our lessons have naturally become about much more than essays, grammar or vocabulary. We discuss current affairs, work, presentations and ideas, and sometimes simply the good and difficult days that are part of life. Those conversations have become part of my learning, helping me speak more spontaneously, broaden my vocabulary, and feel comfortable expressing not only professional ideas but also myself in English.

After seven years, it would therefore be impossible for me to describe Poppy as simply my English tutor. She has become a trusted mentor and a wonderful friend, while never losing the intellectual rigour, honesty and professionalism that make her such an exceptional teacher.

Perhaps what says the most is that, after seven years and everything I have achieved academically and professionally during that time, I still choose to continue learning with Poppy. I believe there is always another level to reach, and she continues to challenge me and refine the way I communicate.

Looking back at where I started in 2019 and where I am today, I am enormously grateful for the role Poppy has played and continues to play in that journey.

I could not recommend her more highly, particularly to anyone looking for more than conventional English lessons. Poppy does not simply teach you grammar, vocabulary or how to pass an examination. She teaches you how to think critically, communicate with confidence and, ultimately, find your own voice in English.

For me, that has been life-changing.

Poppy helped me improve my CV and develop the practical English skills I needed after moving to London. Her lessons are highly communicative and tailored to real-life situations. She is exceptionally skilled at identifying and responding to her students’ emerging needs, adapting each lesson thoughtfully and providing exactly the right support.

Poppy is an amazing teacher, well-prepared, energetic, motivating, and incredibly engaging!

She really knows how to bring out the best in you. After every class with her, I felt like I had learned so much -not only about the language, but also about myself and how to become a more confident speaker.

I couldn’t recommend her enough. Big up to Poppy! :)

Poppy supported me through several important stages of my education and career. She helped me prepare for IELTS and my application to Oxford Brookes University, guided me while I was working on my dissertation, and later helped me prepare for a job interview.
She is an excellent teacher: knowledgeable, professional and able to adapt her lessons to what you need at each stage. Her feedback was always clear and practical. I’m very grateful for her support and would highly recommend her.

I would definitely recommend Poppy. Thanks to her, I have discovered a new confidence in myself and in my ability to improve my English. For a long time, I genuinely believed that English would always be an obstacle for me, Poppy has completely changed that. She is incredibly patient and she takes the time to understand her students and their insecurities, and she knows exactly how to encourage them without any pressure. What makes her truly special is the genuine care she puts into her teaching. With Poppy, I have not only improved my English, I have also started to believe in my own abilities again. Poppy is not simply an excellent teacher, she is someone who truly cares about her students and helps them believe in themselves. I sincerely recommend her to anyone.