Online
Dr Duncan James
Professional TeacherTeaches
English
Native
Speaks
Spanish
French
Russian
Thai
Specialties
TechnologyBusinessScientist, Teacher & Author: Professional and Academic English; Engaging Conversation
Teaches
English
Native
Speaks
Spanish
French
Russian
Thai
Specialties
TechnologyBusinessScientist, Teacher & Author: Professional and Academic English; Engaging Conversation
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From United KingdomLiving in Other, United Kingdom (12:44 UTC+00:00)
About Me
italki teacher since May 31, 2021InterestsScienceEnvironment & NatureTechBusiness & FinanceWriting
I provide a friendly, calming and organised learning experience.
Scientific English is my speciality. We can study via interesting topics such as technology, physics, chemistry and biology. And we can discuss philosophy, logic, culture and history as well.
As a best-selling writer I can also help with writing and grammar.Me as a Teacher
I offer goal-oriented learning, particularly scientific (and engineering) English for professionals, university students and school students. I also offer writing classes (fiction and non-fiction). And we can also just enjoy fun conversation (with the potential for advanced topics such as science and logic if you wish).
I speak a relatively formal English which provides a good model for pronunciation and grammar.
I will always look for the simplest and clearest ways to help you to improve. I can lift you all the way to top C2-level performance.
We can make you a personalised learning plan. My lessons & teaching style
I have science workbooks, science activities, logic puzzles and conversation prompts that we can use in class. And you can request particular topics or content to cover your specific needs.
Regarding my conversational lessons, the focus is completely on you. You will do most (perhaps 90%) of the speaking unless you request otherwise. And I will not interrupt, instead saving positive feedback, grammar corrections, fluency suggestions and so on for an occasional pause in the conversation every fifteen minutes or so.My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Presentation slides/PPT
- Audio files
- Image files
- Video files
- Flashcards
- Articles and news
- Quizzes
- Test templates and examples
- Graphs and charts
- Homework Assignments
Certificates
CELTA - University of Cambridge - 2008I did evening classes that included the technicalities of how to teach English and then had to teach classes of actual students.
Certificate verified
Doctorate - University of East Anglia - 2001I have a PhD in Environmental Sciences. This was partially lab-based and partially analysis-based. This prepared me for work as a scientist and engineer in an academic and business context.
Certificate verified
Bachelor of Science - University of Bristol - 1995This was a three-year undergraduate degree with the physics department of the University of Bristol.
Certificate verified
Education
1992 - 1995
Bachelor’s - PhysicsThis gives me the knowledge and experience to offer specialised scientific and maths lessons.
1995 - 2001
Doctorate - Environmental ScienceThis was an "applied science" PhD. It gives me the knowledge and experience to train people in academic English (an in demand skill with professional scientists and academics as English is one of the key international languages of academia).
5.0
Rating
62
Students
1,327
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
English Lessons
Trial Lesson
19 lessons completed
USD 48.00+
Scientific English 🔬🧬🪐 (Physics and Mathematics)
B1 - C2Business519 lessons completed
USD 24.00+
Package with 20% off
Engineering English 🏭📈🏆 (Applied Science)
B1 - C2Business53 lessons completed
USD 24.00+
Package with 20% off
Conversational English 😃💬😂 (Relaxing Learning Environment, Build Confidence)
B1 - C2Conversation145 lessons completed
USD 14.00+
Package with 10% off
Writing ✍️ 📖 📚 (Outlining, Style, Grammar, Editing, Publishing)
B1 - C2Language Essentials191 lessons completed
USD 24.00+
Package with 20% off
Programmer's and Data Analyst's English 🖱️⌨️🖥️
B1 - C2Technology320 lessons completed
USD 24.00+
Package with 20% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
41 Reviews
Beatriz
100 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
Duncan is the best teacher you can find
Oct 12, 2024
Catherine SAVARY
8 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
After 5 hours of class, Duncan was a great help in giving me confidence in English.
He was also very involved in helping me approach my future job interview.
I highly recommend it.
Again, thank you very much.
Jul 5, 2021
Doreen Frank
82 English lessons
Duncan offers very stimulating lessons for me as an advanced learner. We regularly discuss current challenges, but also literature, philosophy, different approaches to life and more. Duncan delivers on what he promises in his introductory video: he always encourages me by giving positive feedback and polishes my language skills with great precision. And all this happens through conversation. Highly recommended!
Dec 11, 2025
Marija
37 English lessons
Teacher’s pick
Duncan is a passionate and dedicated teacher. I highly recommend him! It was an extremely useful and pleasant learning process. The conversations were enjoyable and thought provoking. His guidance is really helpful. He will provide you with a learning document with explicit explanations and will give you lots of advice on how to improve your language skills. I love our lessons! Thank you, Duncan !
Nov 19, 2021
Doreen Frank
82 English lessons
Duncan was once again hyper-focused on the lesson and gave me precise language feedback.
Dec 19, 2025
Doreen Frank
82 English lessons
Another excellent lesson with Duncan!
Dec 2, 2025
Trial Lesson
USD 48.00
Your final payment will be made in USD