Teacher Leda’s Credentials & Qualifications
Verified Expertise: Why You Can Trust Teacher Leda
In the crowded DET & IELTS preparation market, anyone can claim to be a “teacher.” Formal qualifications, official examiner experience, and a documented track record separate qualified professionals from hobbyists.
When you learn from Teacher Leda, you’re learning from someone with verifiable credentials and 17+ years of proven results.
🎓 Academic Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics & TESOL
Degree: Master of Arts (MA) | Specialization: Applied Linguistics with TESOL Concentration
Institution: King’s College London, University of London | Year: 2011 (2 years)
Thesis: “Assessment Validity in High-Stakes English Language Testing: An Examiner Perspective on IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors”
Coursework Included:
- Second Language Acquisition Theory
- Language Assessment and Testing (focus: high-stakes tests)
- Discourse Analysis and Pragmatics
- Teaching English for Academic Purposes
- Research Methods in Applied Linguistics
- Phonetics and Phonology for Language Teachers
- Psycholinguistics and Cognitive Approaches to SLA
Academic Distinction: Graduated with Distinction (top 10% of the course).
Bachelor’s Degree in English Language & Linguistics
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours | Major: English Language and Linguistics
Institution: University of Edinburgh, Scotland | Year: 2008 (4 years)
Final Year Dissertation: “Contrastive Analysis of Romance Language Transfer Errors in English Academic Writing”
Study Abroad (Year 3): Exchange program at University of California, Berkeley (Department of Linguistics).
Academic Distinction: First Class Honours (equivalent to summa cum laude).
Why This Matters: The Difference It Makes
Most IELTS/DET teachers have a weekend certificate and learned “on the job.” Teacher Leda has rigorous academic training from Top 20 Global Universities.
- Have a weekend TESOL certificate
- Can tell you what’s wrong but not WHY
- Use generic corrections
- Master’s from King’s College London
- Can diagnose LINGUISTIC REASONS for errors
- Provides targeted corrections based on SLA research
Generic Teacher Says: “Don’t say ‘I am agree.’ Say ‘I agree.'”
Teacher Leda Explains: “You’re transferring the Spanish structure ‘Estoy de acuerdo’ directly to English. English uses ‘agree’ as a stative verb that takes a direct object, not a copula construction. This is a systematic transfer error from Romance languages. Here’s how to eliminate it permanently…”
That’s the difference a Master’s in Applied Linguistics makes.
📜 Professional Certifications
TESOL Certification (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
Certifying Organization: TESOL International Association | Year: 2009 (Active and Current)
Training Covered: Teaching methodologies for adult learners, Classroom management, Lesson planning and curriculum design, Assessment and testing, Teaching grammar/vocabulary/pronunciation, Cultural sensitivity.
⭐️ IELTS Examiner Certification (THE GAME-CHANGER)
Official IELTS Examiner: British Council (2013-2024)
Years Active: 12 years (2013-2024) | Tests Assessed: 6,000+ (3,500+ Speaking, 2,800+ Writing)
Examiner Training Included:
- 6-week intensive examiner training course (2013)
- Speaking assessment certification (Band 4.0 – 9.0)
- Writing assessment certification (Task 1 & 2)
- Standardization meetings (40+ attended over 12 years)
- Inter-rater reliability testing (95%+ consistency score)
What Teacher Leda Knows That Other Teachers Don’t:
- Band Descriptors: Exactly how examiners apply them in real assessment situations.
- Specific Features: The language features that signal Band 7, 8, or 9 to trained examiners.
- Costly Mistakes: Common errors that cost 0.5-1.0 bands (seen thousands of times).
- “Natural” English: What this actually means from an examiner’s perspective.
- Scoring Decisions: How examiners make decisions in the moment and the psychology of assessment.
Why This Is Rare: Less than 1% of IELTS teachers are ex-examiners. Teacher Leda did this for 12 years and now brings that insider knowledge to every lesson.
Verification: Examiner ID number provided to enrolled students. References available from British Council colleagues (with permission).
💻 Duolingo English Test (DET) Specialist Training
Certification: DET Preparation Specialist (Completed 2021)
Students Prepared: 500+ since 2021 | Avg. Score Improvement: 25 points
Why DET Expertise Matters: While DET is newer than IELTS, Teacher Leda’s examiner background transfers directly: Understanding what automated and human scoring looks for, teaching authentic English (not tricks), and preparing for adaptive difficulty.
🗣️ Language Proficiency: Multilingual Teaching Advantage
English: Native-level proficiency (C2). 17+ years teaching in English. Assessed 6,000+ tests.
Spanish: Native/Fluent (C2). First language. Can explain complex grammar in L1. Understands Spanish-speaker challenges.
Portuguese: Fluent (C1). Professional proficiency. Understands transfer errors from Portuguese speakers.
Vietnamese: Intermediate (A2-B1). Based in Vietnam since 2018. Understands Asian learner perspectives.
Why This Matters: Understanding your L1 helps Teacher Leda predict errors, explain difficult concepts, and connect with diverse students.
⏳ Teaching Experience Timeline: 17+ Years (2008-2026)
First teaching positions in Edinburgh. 200+ students taught. Specialized in exam prep (TOEFL, Cambridge).
Adult learners and business English in Madrid and Lisbon. Developed exam prep expertise. 500+ students taught.
Completed intensive training. Began assessing real tests. Teaching and examining simultaneously.
Thailand, Vietnam, and online. 2,000+ students trained. Developed early SCORE Framework concepts.
Registered Ahead Exam Preparation Limited (UK). Transitioned to 100% online delivery.
10,000+ students trained. 92% pass rate documented. Continued as active examiner through 2024.
Recognized personal brand (“Teacher Leda”). Expanded team. Focus on high-impact 1-on-1 teaching.
📚 Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
2024: IELTS Computer-Based Testing Update, Advanced Writing Assessment Workshop, AI in Language Learning, Trauma-Informed Teaching for Test Anxiety.
2023: Duolingo English Test Advanced Strategies, Pronunciation Teaching Methods (TESOL), Online Teaching Best Practices.
2022: Assessment Literacy (Cambridge), Teaching English Online (British Council).
2021: Duolingo English Test Certification, Zoom for Educators Advanced.
Ongoing: Monthly IELTS update research, peer learning with experienced teachers, student feedback integration.
🤝 Professional Memberships & Affiliations
- TESOL International Association: Member since 2009.
- British Council Alumni Network (Former Examiner): Maintained connection and professional development access.
- Vietnam English Teaching Association: Local professional community membership.
✍️ Published Work & Thought Leadership
Proprietary Methodology: The SCORE Framework
Original teaching methodology based on 12 years of examiner insights. Documented 92% success rate with 10,000+ students.
Content & Media
Blog Articles: 100+ published on ieltsahead.com (Strategy, Insights, Success Stories).
YouTube: 50+ educational videos on “Teacher Leda” channel.
Media Appearances: Featured in The PIE News, FluentU, and ESL Authority. Podcast appearances on “IELTS Podcast” (2023).
🏆 Awards & Recognition
Student Choice Awards: 4.9/5 average rating (847 reviews) | 98% recommendation rate.
Business Recognition: Registered UK Company (NI589423) – 7 years operating.
🔍 Verification & Transparency
How to Verify Credentials:
- Academic Degree: Official transcripts available upon request (enrolled students).
- TESOL Certification: Certificate number verifiable with issuing organization.
- IELTS Examiner Status: ID number provided to enrolled students. British Council references available.
- Teaching Track Record: Company registration verifiable at UK Companies House (NI589423).
Contact for Verification: [email protected]
Why Credentials Matter
Anyone can claim to be a “DET & IELTS expert,” but only qualified professionals have formal training, recognized certifications, and rare examiner experience. Your test score is too important to trust to a generic tutor.
When you choose Teacher Leda, you get:
- Someone who knows what examiners actually look for
- Formal teaching qualifications (not learning on the job)
- Proven results (92% pass rate)
- A registered, legitimate UK business
Book Your Free Strategy Session
In 30 minutes, Teacher Leda will assess your level and give you detailed feedback on your performance.
WhatsApp: +44 (0)28 4389 1123
Last Updated: January 10, 2026. Teacher Leda: Qualified. Experienced. Proven.