Natasha Mason Kennedy (British) - Owner and Director
Natasha has a background in Law (LLB), Human Resources (Dip HRM) and is currently studying for her Masters in TEFL. She initially came to Madrid to be with her boyfriend and wondered what a girl should do in Spain when she doesn’t speak Spanish – teach English of course! She taught business English extensively throughout the Madrid province from 2003. During that time she has acquired an in-depth knowledge of writing materials, teaching groups,conducting telephone classes, seminars and intensive courses targeted at the business community.
Natasha became a TEFL trainer and worked in various TEFL schools in Madrid before starting up TtMadrid in 2005.
Whilst being a trainer on the course, Natasha is also very active within the teaching community and has taught on various Masters programs in Bilingual Education.
The love worked out and they got married, had a lovely baby and now live in the foothills of the mountains outside Madrid. Natasha is passionate about siestas and thinks anyone who doesn’t believe in them shouldn’t live in Spain.
Héctor Martín (Spanish) - Director of Studies
Hector has worked at TtMadrid for nearly five years and is Director of Studies for both TtMadrid (TEFL) and LAE Formación (our Spanish teaching training center). He studied Translation and Interpreting in the beautiful region of the Canary Islands. He then went on to complete his Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and Other Modern Languages at the University of Seville. He has been involved in foreign language teaching since the age of 21, and has loved every minute of it. TtMadrd saw him present at a conference and we were so impressed we made him an offer to come and life and work in Madrid with us. Hector has lived in Scotland and America and if you want to know how to get tickets for a Real Madrid game, or want a 1-on-1 basketball game, he’s your guy!
Helen Finnegan (British) - TEFL Program Manager
Helen was an optician in her previous life in England and, looking for a challenge and some sun, she decided to move to Madrid. She completed the TEFL course with TtMadrid in January 2009 and began teaching business English in and around Madrid. In 2011, she was selected to be an in-house language consultant for Coca-Cola where she taught English and designed courses.
Helen joined the Tt family in January 2013. She is here to answer your questions from your first email up until your arrival - her experience and knowledge of Madrid is extensive and she is always available to help and advise you. To get in her good books, bring her some chocolate!
Rory Shine (British) – Assistant Director of Studies
Rory is from the land of the Beatles and football – Liverpool! He studied Psychology and Sociology at university and then went on to complete a master’s in mental health nursing at the University of Sheffield. He spent 5 years working as a nurse until he fell in love with Madrid, Spain and Spanish on a visit to the capital. Looking for a way to move to Madrid, he discovered TtMadrid, and the rest is history! After teaching English at some of the most well-known businesses and academies in Madrid, he worked as headteacher at a large English academy in Madrid before venturing back to our TtMadrid family as a trainer and then Assistant Director of Studies. He loves practicing Spanish, eating tapas and visiting different parts of Spain!
Tim Otway (British) – Trainer and Observer
Originally from Surrey, England, Tim studied History at the University of Warwick. He lived in Clermont-Ferrand in France where he studied languages and translation before deciding to swap the rural calm of the Auvergne for the bright lights of Madrid. After doing the TEFL course, Tim taught English in companies such as Deloitte and The Red Cross before returning to TtMadrid as a trainer. He loves all-things cycling, tennis and guitar but it’s coffee that really fuels his passion!
Alina Radulescu (Romanian) – Trainer and Observer
Alina is our fantastic non-native English expert and studied English, Spanish and Arabic at Uni, with a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Studies. She initially came to Madrid to study TEFL with TtMadrid but soon fell in love with Madrid (and a Spaniard) and decided to call it home for the long run. She has worked as an English teacher for years and has managed academies here in Spain.
Alina is a real foodie, she loves history and is passionate about interior design.
Laura Brunwin (British) - Trainer
Laura joined TtMadrid in September 2012 as Assistant Director of Studies and has been fabulous Director of Studies for four years, remaining as a trainer until she moves to the UK in January 2018. She completed the TtMadrid TEFL course in November 2008 and went on to teach in companies around Madrid. While at TtMadrid, Laura gained her Master's in TEFL.
