British English Lab

Whether it’s brushing up on rusty speaking skills, adding the final flourishes to your first novel, or
dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s of promotional materials, at British English Lab, Anna aims to give
you confidence in your use of English.

About Anna

A graduate of English from the University of London, Anna completed her Master’s in Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Kent in 1994. She worked briefly and quietly for the library service, but two years later, broke free of those dusty corridors to work with books more creatively and analytically, as copy-editor and production editor, then managing editor, for a publishing services company in Kent specialising in educational and academic books.

After ten years, she went freelance, continuing her editorial work for a variety of clients, broadening her subject areas and formats to include online publications. Following a serious pep talk from her husband (aka being shoved in front of a student on a computer screen with nothing but a handful of learning materials to hide her consternation), over the last five years, Anna has also been teaching English as a second language on italki, the online language-learning platform, alongside her editing.

Popular Courses

With more than 25 years’ experience in copy-editing, and 6 years’ teaching English as a second language on italki, Anna offers:

ESL Lessons

Anna offers five types of one-to-one lessons for ESL students anywhere in the world.

Copy-Editing

During the copy-editing process, Anna will check for spelling, grammar, punctuation, organisation, consistency and sense.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the checking of a set of typeset proofs (either on paper – a ‘hard’ copy – or a pdf) or otherwise completed version of a text prior to publication.

My students say

Tunbridge Wells Spanish

5.0

Based on 18 reviews

review us on

Julien Matulewicz

12:13 12 Feb 26

Jonathan is an absolutely wonderful tutor, full of kindness and patience. Could not recommend enough!

Kelly Wheble

16:21 07 Dec 25

Excellent teaching, Jonathan very responsive and tailors lessons to my own needs. I would highly recommend.

Tutors' talk

07:15 02 Dec 25

I’ve been having lessons with Anna for two months now and I’m absolutely delighted with the progress. We’ve been focusing on individual sounds and how they connect in real speech, and I can really hear the difference in my accent and clarity. The lessons are practical, and motivating, and I feel much more confident when I pronounce English words.

Yana Alieva

08:42 23 Nov 25

I have been taking lessons with Anna once a week, and so far I have had six lessons. I chose Anna because I wanted face-to-face lessons, as online learning does not suit me. She lives in my city, not far from me, and many students wrote positive reviews about her on her website.
What I like most about our lessons is that I feel very relaxed and can speak freely, using the knowledge I already have. Before, I was very afraid to speak and could not say a word. Anna gives me useful words and expressions that English people use, which is very helpful.
Anna explains new information clearly and uses different examples so that I understand everything without any questions left. I feel supported during the lessons, and she gently corrects me when it is needed.
Since the first lesson, I have noticed progress. The language barrier is breaking, and Anna also notices that my speaking is improving. I wanted to improve my speaking and listening skills for the IELTS A2 exam. I can already speak more confidently and understand what other people say, which I could not do before.
Anna makes the lessons relaxed and enjoyable. We often talk about personal experiences and interests, which makes learning fun. I feel comfortable and confident during the lessons.
If you want to break the language barrier and improve your English, I definitely recommend Anna, both for online and face-to-face lessons, especially if you live in Tunbridge Wells. I am grateful to Anna for her lessons and for helping me expand my possibilities.

Alessandra Gamba

14:42 08 Jun 25

I've been studying with Anna for three years now, and I couldn't be happier. She's an amazing teacher. Always professional, kind, and incredibly prepared. Even after all this time, she still finds new and interesting ideas for our lessons, keeping them engaging and inspiring. I’ve really improved thanks to her, and I always look forward to our classes. Highly recommended!

Claudia

04:24 07 Mar 25

Taking lessons with Anna has always been an enriching and rewarding experience. Her patience, expertise and dedication in guiding me through speaking and perfecting my pronunciation have been invaluable in my learning journey.

Marina Ashurkina

09:53 06 Mar 25

I have been practising British English pronunciation with Anna for around three months and am very pleased with the progress I've made. Before working with Anna, I struggled with certain sounds and natural intonation, but Anna's corrections and engaging exercises have made a huge difference. I love that Anna goes beyond textbook knowledge and shares practical insights. Others also notice that my pronunciation has improved drastically and I now feel much more confident in conversations. Anna is a fantastic teacher, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to improve their British English speaking and listening skills!

Steve

19:50 14 Dec 24

Jonathan is a highly skilled and patient Spanish tutor. He has a deep understanding of the language and is able to tailor his lessons to meet the individual needs of each student. He is also very patient and encouraging, which makes learning Spanish a fun and enjoyable experience. Jonathan is a great tutor and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to learn Spanish.

Helen

12:47 12 Dec 24

Jonathan is a superb Spanish tutor. Very calm, patient and friendly. He is thorough and takes the time to explain if we have any questions. We always look forward to our lessons and in the ten weeks so far, we have learnt so much.
Muchos Gracias Jonathan!

Alimpiada Cassidy

08:33 17 Nov 24

I have been studying with Anna since May 2024 and really enjoying the experience.
Her creative and engaging lessons makes learning fun and exciting.
With full-time job - flexibility is important, so having lessons on Sundays on Google meet works perfect for me. Anna makes notes on Google docs during the lessons, which is great for reviewing it at any time. She brings her passion for language into our lessons, so if you are looking to improve your English ( at any age), I would highly recommend Anna.

ぽーらり

22:34 15 Jul 24

I’ve been learning here for 7 months.
Anna adjusts the level of the lessons appropriately according to your skills.
And then I am given some homework every time.She corrects my homework in advance of my lesson.
She is dedicated to teaching English and continue improving how to teach for me.

I used to go to English school in Japan like Berlitz, where I had different teachers every time and introduced myself every time.
She is better than Berlitz obviously.

Elena Kalinina

16:18 10 Jul 24

I study English with Anna and I think that it is very effective for me. A professional teacher helps me acquire not only English language skills, but also adapts me to the real use of new knowledge. As a net speaker, Anna gives a lot of useful practical information that cannot be found in textbooks. I am very grateful to Anna because I now feel more confident in daily communication in England! I recommend!

Nick W.

19:41 02 Jul 24

I can't compliment Jonathan enough for his work as a Spanish tutor! His expertise and patience have truly made a difference in my language learning journey. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Jonathan's tailored approach ensures that each session is productive and enjoyable. Not only does he provide comprehensive explanations, but he also creates a supportive environment where you feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. Additionally, his translation services are top-notch; accurate, timely, and reflecting a deep understanding of both languages. If you're seeking high-quality Spanish tutoring or translation services, look no further than Jonathan. Highly recommended!

Ilia Gavrilov

17:48 19 Feb 24

I've been having English lessons with Anna for several months, mostly through italki, but had offline as well.

Anna is a great teacher, the lessons are pretty tailored and flexible, which I like and that works for me, since I'm not preparing to any particular exam and don't have strict deadlines, so sometime we can lean more on just discussing different things and sometime focus on doing exercises from a book.

In addition to being native speaker, she's a very well read person and even did some research on the accents. So, I think that she knows the language much deeper than the average native speaker and it's always interesting to discuss evolution of the language: how it's been changing and why, as well as different accents, since there are a lot of different British accents (like people say, that every 2 miles there is a village with their own accent).

To sum up, I'm enjoying the lessons and would highly recommend Anna.

Dan Nott

21:16 18 Feb 24

Yves

19:40 18 Feb 24

I have been taking accent lessons with Anna for several months now and previously prepared myself for the proficiency exam with her help (rather successfully so, I might add) and I am more than pleased with her classes. As a language professional myself, I am picky when it comes to my teachers. I consider myself lucky to have chanced upon this gem of a teacher: Anna is always well-prepared, engaging, extremely savvy in all matters related to English and languages and a very decent human being. It’s rare to stumble upon a teacher who not solely does her job extremely well but also clearly takes pleasure in her craft. Thank you for everything, Anna☺️

Emily Choi

18:10 18 Feb 24

My neighbour and I have recently moved to the UK. Even though we are able to communicate in English, we find it very difficult to understand British English some of the time. That’s why we sought help from Anna.

Anna is very professional. She spent time to understand our English level and our difficulties in communicating with local British before our first lesson. She tailor-made the classes to suit our needs instead of just giving us standard English lesson.

We are learning not only slang words and expression but also the culture. We enjoy every lesson with Anna and strongly recommend her to anyone who would like to improve their English!

Alex Cunningham

16:49 18 Feb 24

I've been a student of Jonathan's for over a year now! After a couple of years trying and failing (via duo lingo) to learn Spanish, I've finally been able to see progress, even managing to propose in Spanish too!

Jonathan is brilliant at helping me understand the basics, all the way through to the intricacies of the various Spanish tenses! I would definitely recommend him to someone looking to start learning or improve their Spanish.

Siobhan La Roche

12:11 23 Apr 23

I’ve been working with Jonathan for over 3 months now and can honestly say he’s a fantastic tutor. I studied Spanish in school but did not continue to consistently practice. I now have a Spanish partner so it’s really important to me that I improve my language skills. Our lessons are a great mix of speaking, reading and grammatical practice. I wanted to ensure I was practicing outside of lessons so I revise translation booklets and Jonathan tests me at the beginning of each lesson. I’m so pleased with how much I’ve progressed over the past 3 months - so much so that I went on a solo trip to Spain for 2 weeks and got by without any issues! I’m by no means fluent (have a long way to go!) but even just regularly practicing has boosted my confidence levels massively.

Jonathan is a very kind, polite and patient teacher. He’s always very encouraging which makes a huge difference. I would recommend him to anyone looking to improve or practice their Spanish, regardless of what stage they are at!

Cameron Cresswell

12:51 03 Nov 22

We have been very impressed with Jonathan's tutoring capabilities. He has been able to engage our son skilfully and delivered well thought through Spanish lessons each session. Jonathan showed genuine commitment and sensitivity. His work ethic is admirable. We are very grateful to have had his tutorship and would highly recommend him to others looking for a caring and effective tutor in Spanish.

Frank Lensch

10:24 23 Mar 22

In the meantime I have known Anna for ages
We have already gone over so many pages.
I completed many English exercises with her
and each one gave me distinct pleasure.

Because Anna is funny, friendly and nice
and also accurate, meticulous and precise.
She's an editor and knows her subject inside and out.
She's an excellent teacher there is really no doubt.

But there is something that is even more important for me.
She became a good friend to a pronounced degree.
I can talk to her in our lessons about anything
and I am always happy when she gives me a ring.

Deng Sasha

18:29 03 Jan 22

Anna really is one of the few native speakers I've met so far who really knows her language inside out. She really is what she mentions in her
profile. In fact, I even think she's the kind of person who tend to underpromise and overdeliver (which is the kind of personality I really admire) rather than the other way around.

The editing given by Anna is as scrupulous and professional as always - this kind of consistency has really impressed me. What's impressed me
even more is her admirably conscientiousness of teaching and how kind and generous a help she has given me, answering all my questions with unsparing support, before, during or after class.

I think I'm most lucky to have found Anna here - she's everything I need
for an English teacher: smart, intelligent, professional (she's like a magician when it comes to words!), conscientious, supportive, patient and responsible.

So, to sum up, no matter how many times others or I have said, and however cliche this may sound, I will always viscerally say this again every time I have an opportunity to, that if you are looking for an English teacher, whether you want to improve your language skills or need help with editing, Anna definitely is your best choice, just as she is absolutely at the very top of my teacher list, which is born of my first-hand experiences!

cristina alarcón

12:10 10 Nov 21

Anna is wonderful. She is all I was looking for when I wanted someone to correct my mistakes. I was always said I speak good English but anybody can realise I'm not English at all, so something is not right. Anna corrects you every time you need it and helps to achieve a better English accent.

Jules Maley

21:11 04 Nov 21

Anna is an excellent English teacher. I have been working with her for over a year and could never have imagined the progress that can be made. I have learned many aspects of British sounds, speech rhythm, word stress, intonation, conversation, and reduction patterns. It was also extremely helpful to have Anna edit texts of mine. She has extensive experience as a professional editor and exceeded all my expectations.

Ju Hee Lim

11:04 03 Nov 21

She is a great teacher. When I read a book with her, she is being very patient and always guide me in a right way; checking my pronunciation and also teaching all sorts of English terms and useful terms. She is also professional in editing. With her, I believe I am learning a lot and improving my English. Always thank her!

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