A proposal to Dulwich College

A British-trained English teacher with strong assessment experience and a practical AI teaching tool.

15+

years in English education and assessment across China and South-East Asia

  • iPGCE
  • CELTA
  • Former British Council IELTS Examiner
  • IELTS & IGCSE specialist

I am a British-trained English teacher and former IELTS examiner with more than 15 years of experience in English education and assessment across China and South-East Asia.

My background includes classroom teaching, English department coordination, university English teaching, IELTS preparation, IGCSE speaking, and around 12 years of IELTS examining.

Alongside my classroom teaching, I am building an interactive AI English Teacher. This tool is designed to help students practise speaking, writing, vocabulary, and exam skills outside normal lesson time.

WHY?

Portrait of Depeche Patel

Section 1 · The pitch

My experience as an examiner with the British Council in China, and language teaching across Asia, has led me to one conclusion: language assessment and teaching is moving towards Avatar Examiners and Avatar teachers for homework practice.

Let's give Dulwich College the distinction of being the first school in the Dulwich family with an AI teacher on the staff.

Today

In senior schools we have one English teacher for over 100 students, a few hours a week — with teachers coming and going all the time.

Soon, every student will have their own English teacher…

Meet Miss Li.

Miss Li · Live
The future lies in a hybrid model: AI as an ever-present practice partner tailored exactly to your pace, and the human teacher as a mentor for nuance, culture and complex guidance.
On the future of language learning

Section 2 · The teacher

Experience and qualifications.

iPGCE

University of Cumbria, 2025

CELTA

Cambridge University ESOL, 2006

BSc (Hons)

University of Surrey, England

Former IELTS Examiner

British Council

20,000+

IELTS Writing and Speaking tests assessed

Dept Coordinator

New Oriental Academy, Grades 7–12

I am currently an IELTS and IGCSE Speaking Teacher at New Oriental Academy International School. In this role, I teach exam-focused English and continue to develop the AI English Teacher.

Before this, I taught IELTS at Suzhou International Academy. I also worked as English Department Coordinator at New Oriental Academy and taught university English at Hubei University of Economics and Xiamen University — a top 10 university in China.

Earlier in my career, I delivered English training for international hotel brands, including Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, MGM Grand, Six Senses, and Soneva.

My teaching is based on three things: strong exam knowledge, clear classroom routines, and practical support that helps students improve step by step.

Section 3 · My classroom method

Clear, interactive speaking lessons.

Step 1

Shadow Model Answers

Step 2

Plan Own Answer

Step 3

4/3/2 Speaking Circuit

Step 4

Feedback

Step 5

Retry

IELTS Speaking 40-Week Course homepage
Lesson Library interactive lessons page

Current build: IELTS Speaking 40-Week Course and Lesson Library. The lesson structure can be adapted for different courses and year groups.

Please click the links below to visit the interactive lessons websites.

My lessons follow a clear structure. Students receive a question, build an answer, get feedback, improve the answer, and then review what they have learned.

This helps students practise the skills they need most. They learn how to answer clearly, extend their ideas, use better vocabulary, improve grammar, and speak with more confidence.

This lesson structure can be used for different courses, including IELTS Speaking, IGCSE ESL Speaking, IGCSE English, and A-Level English Language. The exam criteria may change, but the teaching method stays clear and practical.

My classroom materials are:

  • Created using real assessment criteria, such as IELTS and Cambridge.
  • suitable for iPads, classroom screens, or printed handouts;
  • written from the point of view of an experienced examiner;
  • flexible curriculum that can be refreshed every 6 months.
Ideally, every person learning a language would have a patient, kind tutor they could call up any time to work on their spoken language. AI is making that the way the world works.
On access and equity

Section 4 · The AI English Teacher

A practical tool to support learning.

The AI English Teacher is currently in active development. It is designed to give students more practice, more feedback, and more confidence. It can support students in five main ways.

Student practising spoken English with a tablet

01

Speaking practice

Students answer questions, receive feedback, and practise improving fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and organisation.

Student writing an essay on a laptop

02

Writing support

Students receive guidance on clarity, accuracy, structure, and exam focus.

Students reviewing vocabulary flashcards together

03

Vocabulary review

Students can practise key weekly vocabulary through short review tasks.

Student sitting an English exam

04

Exam preparation

The feedback can be linked to IELTS, IGCSE, or other exam criteria.

Student studying at home on an iPad with headphones

05

Independent learning

Students can practise at home, on an iPad, or during supervised study time.

The tool can be adapted for the school. Its voice, character, lesson style, and feedback can match Dulwich College's English curriculum and academic expectations.

It is not a replacement for teachers. It is a support tool. The teacher still leads the learning, builds the relationship, and makes the key decisions.

Student-facing AI English Teacher screen

The character, voice, and lesson style can be adapted for the school, class, age group, and assessment target.

Section 5

How it could be used at Dulwich College.

Teacher Li interface displayed on a large interactive screen in a hi-tech international classroom

1

In the classroom

The AI English Teacher can help during lessons by giving model answers, asking students questions, giving feedback, and helping students understand how to improve.

International high school student practising English speaking with the Teacher Li interface on an iPad

2

At home

Students can use it for extra speaking, writing, mock testing. This is especially helpful for students who need more repetition or more confidence.

Teaching staff reviewing the Teacher Li interface on a meeting room display

3

In staff development

Teachers can use it to create lesson ideas, give advice on teaching challenges, give reports, and feedback on student performance or personal issues.

Large school auditorium with parents watching the Teacher Li interface on the main stage screen

4

At parents' events

The AI can take questions from groups of parents about how students are supported in English. Parents can ask the AI teacher about their own child's progress and receive up to the minute reports at any time in any language.

Students interacting with the Teacher Li interface on a digital signage screen in a school corridor

5

Around the school

The AI English Teacher could appear on screens or iPads as part of the school's English learning environment. It could become a friendly and visible part of the school's staff.

Teacher reviewing student performance dashboard with charts and reports on a hi-tech school computer

6

Teacher support

The app can help teachers with the whole range of teacher administration tasks such as: assigning and automatically marking homework; conducting and scoring monthly tests; producing student performance and progress charts and reports; automatically monitoring problems students communicate to the AI; and keeping parents informed.

Technology will not replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.
On teachers and tools

Section 6 · The advantage for the school

A visible innovation with real classroom purpose.

Many schools now talk about AI. Fewer schools can show a practical AI tool that is built by a teacher and connected directly to classroom learning.

This could help Dulwich College stand out in a careful and professional way.

The main benefit is not marketing. The main benefit is better support for students. However, if the tool is used well, it could also show parents that Dulwich College is serious about innovation, English development, and student progress.

The strongest message is simple:

Dulwich College is using AI carefully, with a real teacher leading the work, to help students improve their English.

That is a message parents, teachers, and students can understand.

“Not AI for show. AI used carefully to support better English learning.”

Section 7

Curriculum vitae summary.

Current role

IELTS and IGCSE Speaking Teacher

New Oriental Academy International School

August 2025 – present

Teaching exam-focused English and developing the AI English Teacher alongside classroom teaching.

Recent experience

IELTS Teacher

Suzhou International Academy

English Department Coordinator

New Oriental Academy

Senior IELTS Examiner

British Council

Around 12 years of IELTS Speaking and Writing assessment experience.

Earlier experience

University English Teacher

Hubei University of Economics and Xiamen University

Hospitality English Trainer

Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, MGM Grand, Six Senses, and Soneva

Qualifications

iPGCE

University of Cumbria

CELTA

Cambridge University ESOL

BSc (Hons)

University of Surrey

British Council safeguarding and EDI training

Section 8

Next step.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the role, show the teaching framework, and explain how the AI English Teacher could support students at Dulwich College.

I am available for interview in person or online.

Phone / WhatsApp

+86 185 2341 4331

WeChat

depechewechat

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be very pleased to discuss how my classroom experience, examiner background, and AI English Teacher could contribute to Dulwich College.