Pete Gibson, Director of Studies

I have been teaching English for thirteen years, and have worked at IH Bristol as a teacher and teacher trainer since 1998. Before that, I spent some time teaching in secondary schools in Greece, which was a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to learn the language and experience Greek culture!

I am the Director of Studies, so I work closely with Val and Sveta to make sure the students have the best possible learning and cultural experience during their time here. My particular responsibility is for the day-to-day smooth running of the school. As a teacher, I like the challenge of finding new ways to help students learn more effectively - I'm especially interested in using newspapers, the Internet and memory techniques to make lessons even more fun and effective.  I think learning phrases, not just words, is essential for successful learning.

Outside work, I spend most of my time with my family, playing with and looking after my two children (one boy, 4, and one girl, who's just 1). They certainly keep me busy! If I have any other free time, I enjoy playing the guitar and piano, especially blues, jazz and improvising. I also play squash with a group of friends every week, to try and keep fit!