OUR TEAM
David Garner, Principal
After graduating in Social Sciences at York University, David began teaching English in Madrid where he obtained the RSA DELTA. He worked at the British Embassy in Madrid and the British Consulate in Alicante from 1977 to 1983. In 1983 he was appointed Director General of International House Madrid in calle Zurbano and founded two further International House schools in Madrid - Chaminade in 1984 and Serrano in 1985. He has been Director of the latter school, known from May 2003 as Hyland Language Centre, since 1989.
David was a Member of the International House World Organisation governing body, the Affiliate Network Board, from 1998 and 2002. He has been an official International House World Organisation visitor/inspector of affiliated schools since 1994.
David is a Founder-Director of International House Dublin which was inaugurated in 1998.
David Leonida, Director
Originally from Sydney, Australia, David has a degree in Business Management with a major in Marketing and International Business.
He started off his professional career in the advertising agency McCann-Erickson and also worked as an Events and Functions Director in an events and catering firm. After this, he completed a postgraduate TESOL course to become a qualified English language teacher.
He came to Spain in 1998 and worked as an English teacher for a number of years before working in an academic consultancy in Madrid. He worked there for 9 years in various positions including, Academic Counselor, Academic Director and General Manager. He joined Hyland Language Centre in July 2010.
Andrea Sweeney, Director of Studies
Andrea completed her BA in French and Spanish at Cambridge University and trained to be a teacher in the UK in 1996. After teaching in Indonesia , France and Italy she came to Hyland (then International House Serrano) in 1998, where she completed the RSA DELTA. She then worked for the British Council in Mexico as Senior Teacher responsible for academic development and later for the British Council in Portugal . She returned to Hyland in September 2006 as Director of Studies. Andrea has been heavily involved in teacher training for over six years and is particularly interested in maintaining the excellent academic standards in the school.
Andrea Littlewood, Young Learners
Andrea started teaching in Madrid in 1985 after completing her BA degree in Spanish and French at Nottingham University. She has been working at Hyland Language Centre since 1988 and became Assistant Director of Studies after taking the RSA DELTA in 1992. Andrea has been the Head of the Young Learners Department since 2003 and continues to take an active part in the school's teacher development programme. Since 1995 she has been training oral examiners as part of her work as a Cambridge Examination Team teacher.
Philip Harvey, Executive Department
After several years working as a Research Consultant, Philip trained to be a teacher at International House London in 1989. He moved to Madrid the same year and from 1990 worked as a teacher for both International House in calle Zurbano and for International House Serrano (Hyland Language Centre). In 1995 he became Head of the Executive Department of Hyland Language Centre.
WHY CHOOSE HYLAND LANGUAGE CENTRE?
The school is located in the heart of the elegant Salamanca district, next to Plaza de Colón, in the centre of Madrid, Spain. It is easily reached using the city's excellent public transport including bus, metro and suburban train. Hyland Language Centre is at the cutting edge of language teaching methodology - past and present members of our staff having written some of the best-known ELT course books and materials. The school was founded in 1985 and, although we teach some 3,000 students a year and some 50 teachers work for us, we have managed to remain true to our philosophy of "big but little" and a friendly, personal atmosphere reigns at all levels.
The centre has an extensive library, complete with all the latest EFL materials for trainees to use. You will also have full access to the staffroom, including internet, computer and photocopying facilities. There are 14 classrooms, all air conditioned and with audio visual equipment, a separate area which serves as a place to relax and meet students and teachers, as well as a staff kitchen.
* Our guarantee of quality language teaching
* Qualified, experienced and professional teaching staff
* The in-service training and class observation programme for all our staff
* The ongoing teacher and student support by our team of Directors of Studies, Assistant Directors of Studies and course coordinators
* Homogenous levels within each group
* The friendly and personal atmosphere of the school
* Free level test and assessment
* Individual tutorials during the course
* The library and video library
* The self-study centre
* Netbooks and projectors with internet access in all classrooms
* WiFi access throughout the school
* Discounts for Fnac club members