oliviahill 4 | 1 Freelance Writer
Mar 19, 2026 | #1
Can you start by telling me about yourself?
A lot of my life has revolved around my work as a teacher, first in the UK where I trained, and then in several different African countries. I started off mainly teaching biology and science but my experience seems to have gradually branched out into different subject disciplines. I've taught geography, maths, general studies, chemistry and English, to name but a few. I actually enjoy teaching English more than any other subject and find the experience has helped me enormously in learning more about the subtleties of the language.
Could you tell me something about your academic background?
My university degree was in Zoology but as with most subject disciplines, after the first year of study I was required to focus on some specialist areas. I opted for Parasitology, Evolution and Freshwater Ecology. I was particularly interested in the latter, to the extent that after graduating I spent three years doing research on aquatic insect larvae.
Why did you move into teaching?
Doing research on insects was certainly very interesting but I needed to earn a living. Besides that, I saw teaching as a means of continuing to indulge my passion for biology, but in a more dynamic and interactive environment. Looking back, this was a good decision; besides being rewarding in itself, teaching opened up opportunities to live and work in some countries I had always wanted to visit.
Was teacher-training the end of your university education?
No, I had long intended to complete a higher degree and in 2012 I enrolled for a Master's programme at Leicester University, graduating in July 2016. The written assignments were very demanding and required a lot of time and effort, but I learned many new skills through doing this course.
So what do you do away from work?
Doing all sorts of things with my children, some of which are fun and others onerous but necessary, is undoubtedly the number one priority. I have lots of interests of my own but I try to involve the children in those too, so when I go running, which I do several times a week, I encourage them to join me. I play guitar, keep tropical fish and also write a great deal about many things, such as travel, science and running.
What makes you an excellent research writer?
From feedback I have had in numerous different contexts, I know I write well. I can also write quickly, which can be very useful, whilst still maintaining a high degree of accuracy. I am adept at finding information from different types of source and then building this together in a manner which is structured, coherent and expressed in my own words, rather than those of the authors of the sources used. However, in order to create a really good academic piece of work, it is often necessary to go a step further and, having conducted research using appropriate sources, construct a logical and balanced argument around a key idea. I think the work that I have submitted will demonstrate that I possess this skill.
The other key qualities I bring to research writing are practical ones. First, I have good communication skills and the ability to listen and respond to instructions, essential if a client's needs are to be properly understood. Secondly, the quality of writing is irrelevant if you are unable to do the work on time; my work background has made the meeting of deadlines second nature. Above all, I set high personal standards in my writing and will invariably go the extra mile to ensure that the final product meets the required standard.
A lot of my life has revolved around my work as a teacher, first in the UK where I trained, and then in several different African countries. I started off mainly teaching biology and science but my experience seems to have gradually branched out into different subject disciplines. I've taught geography, maths, general studies, chemistry and English, to name but a few. I actually enjoy teaching English more than any other subject and find the experience has helped me enormously in learning more about the subtleties of the language.Could you tell me something about your academic background?
My university degree was in Zoology but as with most subject disciplines, after the first year of study I was required to focus on some specialist areas. I opted for Parasitology, Evolution and Freshwater Ecology. I was particularly interested in the latter, to the extent that after graduating I spent three years doing research on aquatic insect larvae.
Why did you move into teaching?
Doing research on insects was certainly very interesting but I needed to earn a living. Besides that, I saw teaching as a means of continuing to indulge my passion for biology, but in a more dynamic and interactive environment. Looking back, this was a good decision; besides being rewarding in itself, teaching opened up opportunities to live and work in some countries I had always wanted to visit.
Was teacher-training the end of your university education?
No, I had long intended to complete a higher degree and in 2012 I enrolled for a Master's programme at Leicester University, graduating in July 2016. The written assignments were very demanding and required a lot of time and effort, but I learned many new skills through doing this course.
So what do you do away from work?
Doing all sorts of things with my children, some of which are fun and others onerous but necessary, is undoubtedly the number one priority. I have lots of interests of my own but I try to involve the children in those too, so when I go running, which I do several times a week, I encourage them to join me. I play guitar, keep tropical fish and also write a great deal about many things, such as travel, science and running.
What makes you an excellent research writer?
From feedback I have had in numerous different contexts, I know I write well. I can also write quickly, which can be very useful, whilst still maintaining a high degree of accuracy. I am adept at finding information from different types of source and then building this together in a manner which is structured, coherent and expressed in my own words, rather than those of the authors of the sources used. However, in order to create a really good academic piece of work, it is often necessary to go a step further and, having conducted research using appropriate sources, construct a logical and balanced argument around a key idea. I think the work that I have submitted will demonstrate that I possess this skill.
The other key qualities I bring to research writing are practical ones. First, I have good communication skills and the ability to listen and respond to instructions, essential if a client's needs are to be properly understood. Secondly, the quality of writing is irrelevant if you are unable to do the work on time; my work background has made the meeting of deadlines second nature. Above all, I set high personal standards in my writing and will invariably go the extra mile to ensure that the final product meets the required standard.