About Us

We help our clients to overcome language barriers in creative ways

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You can read more reviews (including our most recent) here

Meet The Team

Shelley Purchon

Shelley founded English Unlocked in 2019 after a long career teaching English to people from around the world. Shelley learnt to speak fluent Spanish while living in Spain. The first course she created is still our biggest seller (How to Speak to Learners of English.) We now provide a range of services, all of which can help you to connect better with speakers of English as a Foreign Language.

Marta Leigh

If you book How to Work Effectively with Interpreters, Marta will be your trainer. Originally from Poland, she is one of the most highly qualified language professionals currently working in the UK. As well as working for English Unlocked, she trains Community Interpreters and owns Klotski Translations.

Solenn Lees

Solenn helps run English Unlocked. As well as English, she speaks French and Spanish and is a foster carer to a young person from Afghanistan. Her background is in linguistics, teaching, and communications for social justice programmes. In her spare time, she runs Blue Spirit, a charity which she founded in her son’s memory. Feel free to email Solenn if you can’t get hold of Shelley.

Shelly Lau

Originally from Hong Kong, Shelly Lau helped create Job Seeking Tips for Hong Kongers, and co-hosts the workshop. She moved here a few years ago and developed a varied and successful career. Now she devotes her free time to helping fellow BN(O) visa holders change the way they apply for jobs, so they can find their place in the UK job market.

The climate emergency matters to us

Once a month we provide one workshop free of charge for an environmental organisation. To apply for this for your team, contact us. Activist groups and campaigning organisations are eligible. In your email explain how attendees will use the training to connect better with speakers of English as a Foreign Language.

Find us listed on CPD Match, alongside other providers of climate and environmental education and training.

Worldwide

Clients in English speaking countries across the world can benefit from the English Unlocked rewriting service and from our webinars and eLearning courses.

Our location in Newcastle Upon Tyne means that clients located within striking distance of the North East of England can book face to face versions of our workshops if preferred.

"Regardless of previous experience everyone should go on this course."

"I wish I had done this course earlier to help my clients."

"Having the opportunity to be on the receiving end of it, so you can put yourself in the listeners shoes, was immensely powerful."

"I went from totally unconfident about dealing with non English speakers to confident that I could make myself understood."

"Excellent training, I wish it was compulsory for all the medical, statutory and voluntary sector. I will recommend it to everyone!"

"The most useful training I have received in a long time. Lots of practical examples that I can use straight away. Thank you!"

"I have taught English in Morocco, but there were tips here that I've never come across in my ESOL training."

"This is one of the best courses I have ever taken. I can't believe this has not been thought of before."