Dr. Keith Wren

Dr Keith Wren became Vice-Chancellor of Chaucer College in October 2005, having previously worked for many years in the British University system, where he firstly taught French language and literature prior to changing focus to Comparative Literary Studies (World Literature in translation). In addition he was for eight years (1993-2001) Admissions Officer for the University of Kent’s Faculty of Humanities, and Master of Eliot College at the same University from 2001 until 2005.

He is enthusiastic about Chaucer College and its role in the community, which he has tried to develop through initiatives, intended both to take students out of the College to bring Japanese culture to local people, and to bring local people into the College through Open Days and similar events. “Our students are such good ambassadors for Japan, and for international co-operation in general”, he says. “We hear nothing but praise for their hard work as volunteers and keenness to get involved. And this is the best was for them to improve their English, which is what they come here to do".

Gary Rigden

Gary is the Manager/Head of Administration at Chaucer College. Gary joined the College in March, 2004. He is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers (A.C.I.B) having previously worked for Lloyds/TSB Bank plc. , for 34 years covering various Branch Management throughout London and Kent, together with a one year management secondment worked for the Prince’s Youth Business Trust.

Paul Martin

Paul is the Network & Systems Manager at Chaucer College. He started at the College in January 2003 while still studying at the University of Kent and became full time in September 2004 when he took over responsibility for co-ordinating IT Teaching at the College. He has a degree in Computing and Business Administration. Paul looks after the computer and telecommunication networks at all three of the Shumei Colleges in the UK as well as managing and maintaining other areas of the Colleges’ technical facilities. He also teaches the IT course at the College, the football option and manages the Chaucer football team.

Bernard Lowe

Bernard Lowe is the Maintenance Manager and has worked for Chaucer College since April. He is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all sites affiliated with the College. Before working for Chaucer College he worked in other schools and facilities with people of all ages.

For 25 years, prior to this, he gained experience in the construction industry and during this time acquired various building, engineering and electrical qualifications.

Dr. Mitsutoshi Horii

Mitsutoshi Horii is a lecturer in sociology at Shumei University and an assistant lecturer at University of Kent. He teaches sociology and media studies for University of Kent Certificate Programme at Chaucer College. He is the convenor of the module entitled ‘The Media and Politics of Contemporary Japan’ (P0319). He has a B.A., an M.A., and a Doctorate in Sociology from University of Kent.

He has academic interests in the fields of sociology of religion and risk. For his doctorial thesis, he studied Japanese Buddhist priesthood and its tension and conflict with other social institutions, with particular attention to the discourse of religion. Currently, he is carrying out a research in the area of sociology of risk with Dr Adam Burgess of University of Kent. He is particularly interested in the relationship between anxieties over sexual risk, gender and generational relation, and other social changes in contemporary Japan.

Valerie Ainscough

Valerie Ainscough has been Director of Academic Programmes at Chaucer College since 1994. In addition to organising the Shumei University programmes, she is responsible for the academic English component of the University of Kent Certificate Programme and the administration and liaison with the University of Kent. She worked in Japan for nearly five years from 1975-1980 has also worked with the British Council and government aid agencies in several developing countries. She has a B.A. in Geography from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, an M.A. in T.E.F.L. from the University of Reading and a Doctorate in Language Studies from the University of Kent.

Christopher Madeley

Chris Madeley has taught at Chaucer College Canterbury since April 1998. In addition to teaching, he has been administrator of the IELTS Test Centre at the College since 2001. The IELTS Test is an English language test for people who want to work or study in an English speaking country, for example as a student at a British university, and around 800 people take the IELTS Test each year at Chaucer College Canterbury. He recently gained a BTEC Professional Certificate in Managing Examinations. Chris has a Masters degree in teaching English as a foreign language from the University of Reading, and a Masters degree in Japanese modern history, society and language from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. He has given presentations and written a number of papers about the history of Anglo-Japanese business relations during the twentieth century, with particular reference to the motor vehicle industry. These have been published in English and Japanese, notably in Nichi Ei Koryushi 4: Keizai, published by the University of Tokyo Press (2001).

Tony Maver

Tony has been teaching at Chaucer College since 1997. Before he lived and working in Japan for 11 years, teaching at a number of Japanese universities in and around Tokyo including Nihon University and Keio University. He also spent time teaching English to trainee diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Gaimshyo). He has a BA in Geography from Lancaster University and a diploma in TEFL which he obtained whilst working in Japan.

At Chaucer College he is the Foundation Course Coordinator and teaches Regional Studies. He is the sports coordinator, responsible for organising the annual Chaucer College sports day. During the open evenings he puts on his chef’s hat and organises the food preparation for all the guests.

Madeline Murphy

Madeline has been teaching at Chaucer College since 1996. She teaches Sociology on the Foundation Course and is responsible for the Homestay programme. Together with Tony she is involved in cooking Japanese food for the famous Chaucer Open Evening. She has a degree in Russian Studies from the University of Sussex and a Diploma in English Language Teaching. Madeline has spent long periods living abroad, as a student in Zagreb, Croatia and five years as a teacher and traveller in Brazil. Back in London she taught a wide range of students, particularly business people and lawyers.

Angela Cullen

After graduating in English and History of Art, I left to work at the American College in Athens, Greece where I specialized in teaching Cambridge Examinations. While I was there I began to teach at the British Council, where I was an examiner for the Proficiency and First Certificate. I moved to Cairo, Egypt where I taught at the American University. My next job was at the British Council Dhaka Bangladesh where I taught post graduates who were hoping to study in Great Britain and I was also an IELTS examiner I also did the same work in my next job at the British Council in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. Since returning to Great Britain I have worked at Chaucer College. I have also taught at the University of Kent.

Ann McLaughlin

Ann has a degree in English and American Studies and a diploma in teaching English as a Foreign Language. She has taught English for many years, abroad in Sweden and Greece, and in private language schools in Canterbury and Rochester. Her hobbies are cooking (Ann teaches Cooking option at Chaucer College) gardening, travel, the cinema and rugby.

Carol-Ann Wigglesworth

Carol-Ann has been with Chaucer College since 2003, teaching English and Development Studies. She has a BA in Social Anthropology from the University of Kent and a CELTA from Newnham Language Centre, Cambridge. Carol-Ann has taught in various schools and colleges in Cambridge and Canterbury, as well as providing English support at the University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany. Her interests are horticulture, foreign films and yoga. She also enjoys travel and has explored all over Europe, North and West Africa, Thailand and India.

Julie Maver

Julie started teaching at Chaucer College in spring 2004 and is the Volunteering Coordinator. After graduating from a Lancaster University with a B.A. in Humanities, her teaching work took her initially to Greece. Julie then settled in Japan where she lived for eleven years. During that time Julie worked in central Tokyo as a Director of a Language School. After gaining a Diploma in TEFL she then went on to work at various places teaching English; the ministry of Foreign Affairs (Gaimshyo) and Sagami Ono Women’s University for example. Julie works mainly with the lowest level class at Chaucer. This is something she finds very rewarding (hopefully the students do too!) She is a mother to two little girls and is also a fully qualified swimming instructor. Julie is also keen on sports. She introduced and runs the swimming options at Chaucer College which has been very successful. She has also run the London Marathon for charity.

David Williams

David has been a teacher at Chaucer College since 2005. He has a BA(Hons) in English and Drama, a post-graduate teaching qualification in English and Drama from the Institute of Education, London University and an English Language Teaching qualification. David has been teaching English since 1992 and has taught in Greece, Portugal and Spain, where he taught in private language schools and Austria where he taught in state schools. Prior to coming to Chaucer College, he worked at a highly-respected British council school for four years teaching English to multilingual groups.
He has travelled extensively and has always enjoyed meeting people from different cultures.

Richard Venner

Richard obtained a BA Joint Honours in Spanish and Italian, a DELTA and a Post-Graduate Diploma and MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages. He worked as an English teacher in Poland for four years before coming to Chaucer College. At Chaucer College, he teaches and organises outreach activities.

James Box

James obtained an M.A. in ELT and Applied Language Studies from London Metropolitan University in 2009, a BA in History and Media Studies in 2000 and completed the CELTA in 2001. He lived in Japan from 2002 to 2007, teaching English and running a politics course at a prestigious high school in Kyoto. Before going to Japan, he worked at several language schools in Kent, teaching English to students of many different nationalities. His hobbies include playing and watching football, making music, international travel and driving.

Richard Sinfield

Richard has taught at Chaucer College since 1999. He has a BA in Literature and French and the RSA Diploma in Teaching English. Before coming to Chaucer, Richard taught in Shumei Kawagoe High School and was the Assistant Director of Studies in Shumei Eiko High School. As well as Japan, Richard has taught in France, Spain, Finland, Abu Dhabi and Oman. He has always enjoyed travelling and has visited many other countries. His other hobbies are swimming, walking, the theatre and visiting art galleries.

Stephen Yates

Stephen joined the staff of Chaucer College as a language tutor, having spent the last six years in management and teaching at a language school in East Kent. He is the coordinator of the Teacher Education Faculty. He lived and worked in Tokyo for five years, from 1985 to 1990. On his return to England he studied for an MA in ELT at the University of Warwick. Stephen lives in Ramsgate and has two daughters. He plays the piano and enjoys cycling when the weather is fine.