Simon Downes

Hi and Sawadee kap! I’m Simon Downes from the UK. Over the years, I’ve collected a mix of qualifications, including a Degree in Business & Linguistics, a Postgraduate Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Education. After teaching English and business in the UK, I moved to Thailand to teach in Chiang Mai, in 2014. I’m excited to continue my Thai journey in Phuket. As a teacher, I focus on creating a friendly, positive class atmosphere. This can encourage learners to take risks, and even make a few mistakes, which accelerates learning. I also find the yearly teaching cycle allows me to evolve my teaching; steadily incorporating fresh resources and technologies. Business ideas are core features of our HeadStart class experience. I like to bring our studies ‘to life’ by encouraging students to consider how they personally experience and interact with business ideas in their own lives. I’m more of a generalist than a specialist so I have a wide range of interests, including arts, sciences, economics, philosophy, psychology; the list is very long. I’m very curious so I’m hoping to learn about what interests you and how I can best support your learning. So, I’m looking forward to fresh adventures at HeadStart School. Thailand has taught me many things, particularly about the power of a smile, and confirmed that ‘It’s never too late to have a happy childhood’.