Meet our passionate team of teachers in the De Aston School Languages department!
Miss Johnson
Head of Department
I’ve worked as a languages teacher at De Aston School since 2010. I grew up in Lincolnshire and went to school in Horncastle where I studied for my A-levels in French, English and textiles. As a teenager I also had a part time job working as a chamber maid in a hotel. After my A-levels I went to the University of Sheffield where I studied for my BA degree in French. In my third year of study I went on my year abroad in Perpignan in the south of France where I studied at the University of Perpignan. The weather was beautiful and I spent a lot of time on the beach and regularly took the train to Spain and to explore other towns and cities in France.
After I graduated I stayed in Sheffield to complete my teacher training before starting work at De Aston, where I also studied for my German A-level in my first couple of years of teaching! When I’m not busy doing my school work I love to read, cook, see my friends and family, go to the cinema and the theatre and travel. I have visited Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Taiwan and France (of course!). I have also had the privilege of leading three De Aston School World Challenge expeditions with Mr Higgins. We have been to Rwanda and Uganda, Botswana and Zambia and more recently we went to India. Meeting new people and experiencing new cultures is such a fantastic experience and one that I am passionate that all young people should have the opportunity to do.
Email me: jamielee.johnson@de-aston.lincs.sch.uk
Miss Inkster
French and German Teacher
Hello!
I have been teaching MFL for twenty years and I joined the De Aston team in 2015. I studied at the University of Hull for 5 years and graduated with a Joint Honours degree in French and German and a post graduate certificate of education in MFL. I spent my third year of university working as an English language assistant at Collège Prévert in Wintzenheim and Lycée Schongauer in Colmar in the Alsace region of France. I then spent the summer working in a traditional restaurant in Bensheim, Germany before completing my final year.
At secondary school in Alnwick, Northumberland I loved my weekly French lessons and in Year 9 I started learning German. I couldn’t choose between them for my GCSE options and this is why I am now a terrible cook because I was not able to take food technology and German! I continued learning French and German through to A-level and spent my two week work experience in different departments at a company based in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.
Although English is spoken in some of these countries, I have used French or German as a means of communication in my trips abroad to Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, America, (including the French-speaking state, Mississippi) and Australia. Japan is a future destination goal and I would love to be able to speak Italian when I accompany the De Aston School ski trip!
Learning a language, no matter which one, opens doors to new people, new experiences and new adventures.
It’s a life long skill which is also my passion as well as my job. It’s true what they say, it’s a small world!
Email me: alex.inkster@de-aston.lincs.sch.uk
Ms Oliver
French and German Teacher
I’m Ms Oliver (Or Madame Oliver or Frau Oliver) and I have been at De Aston since the year 2000! I have seen a lot of changes during my two decades here but it has always been a fabulous school with great staff and students! I grew up in Louth, probably with some of your parents! I love Lincolnshire so much that after university I decided to come back, but we will get to that later! Languages have always been my favourite subject. I started with French in Year 7 and then took up German in Year 10. I also did Italian GCSE in Sixth Form as an enrichment course. I loved school so much, that is why I have never really left! I studied French and German at The University of Manchester and graduated in the Year 2000. Like most people in Manchester I am blue not red and have been since 1996 when they couldn’t even beat Grimsby! The best thing about doing a languages degree is that you have to spend a year abroad during your third year to become fluent. I went to a tiny town, even smaller than Rasen, called Bad Königshofen, in Northern Bavaria. I chose to go there as Louth is twinned with it and I had visited it several times with my school and became good friends with my pen pal Belinda! We still talk everyday but it is via WhatsApp now, not letters! I worked as a language assistant and helped deliver English, which I really enjoyed and made me realise I wanted to teach. Although teaching Macbeth to German school children was certainly a challenge!
After my graduation, I told my mum I wanted to be a teacher and she said I had to come home and train locally as she could not afford to put me through another year at university. So I studied for my MFL PGCE at the University of Hull. I did my first teaching placement at De Aston and was lucky enough to be offered a job here at the end of it, which I jumped at the chance of! I have been here ever since as it is such a great school. During my time here I have been fortunate enough to have been able to accompany and lead many school trips to Italy for skiing and language trips to France and Germany. My mum sent me on every school trip going as a child, as it was cheaper and more interesting for me than dragging me on holiday with her, plus it encouraged my love for languages and different cultures. I think they are a vital part of your education and we are lucky that we are able to offer you this opportunity. I have two children, my son is studying for his GCSES, he is taking Spanish, and my daughter is still at primary school. I also have a bonkers, young cocker spaniel who needs a lot of exercise!
When I am not working or being a full on dance mummy, I enjoy walking and running with my dog, reading, travelling, fitness classes, skiing, meeting up with friends, but above everything else, spending time with my children. We love the beach, cycling, theme parks, cinema, theatre and shopping!
Email me: kelly.oliver@de-aston.lincs.sch.uk
De Aston Languages 