Learn English Rain or Shine
Immersive English courses
that work around your schedule
Online | on location in UK
at your location | hybrid
Learning and using a foreign language can be like finding a new you, one where you can be true to yourself, but under a new umbrella!
Find the courage to take the next step and see your confidence grow
Prepare your English
for all weathers
It pays to be prepared and that goes for your English skills too. Get it under control, unlike my crazy hair!
At Umbrella English, I've got you covered with my immersive and super-flexible English courses.
Build a strong foundation, enrich your vocabulary, develop a natural style, and discover the joy of English.
As Mary Poppins said: "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun!"
2000+
Satisfied Students
20+
Years of Experience
10+
Umbrellas Lost ☂
Your needs in English
Be prepared for any English-speaking scenario
☂️Introducing and representing yourself confidently
☂️Conversation at drinks, lunches or dinners
☂️Professional meetings (formal or informal)
☂️Presenting, pitching and speech giving
☂️Writing professionally and/or creatively
☂️Networking at events such as trade fairs or conferences
☂️Interviewing or being interviewed
☂️Travel
☂️Preparing for exams or future study
☂️Communicating with your stakeholders
☂️Talking to family and friends
50-minute sessions online with your personal coach to develop your English skills and knowledge. Interactive and adaptable to your schedule.
1 to 2 hours per week recommended, but flexible to your needs. Keep up the momentum with regular sessions and feedback.
Courses of 1 to 5 days in the UK with your personal coach. Learn on location, immersed in the language and culture. Individuals, couples, or small groups. I will guide you through a blend of lessons and local cultural experiences.
I travel to your location for 1 to 5 days. Flexible sessions built around your day and movements. Integrated into your real life and work.
Courses are either individual one-to-one with your coach or in small groups. Learn as a team, a couple, a family, or even as friends.
Who is it for?
Whatever your goals
Whether you want to improve your English for professional or educational reasons, or for your own personal development, I am here to work with you towards your goals.
Whatever your profession
I have worked with clients from a wide variety of fields, to name a few:
CEO's and other C-suite
students
business owners
designers
project and product managers
leadership coaches
HR leaders
IT specialists
educators
sales and marketing
engineers
nurses
scientists
bankers
recruitment consultants
chefs
farmers
PA's and assistants
retirees
those in between jobs
However you learn
I understand that we all learn differently. Some of us like to learn traditionally, preferring theory and rules, others are doer's who like to jump straight in, and many of us are a combination of these.
Wherever you're from
I have worked with people from all over the world, including Dutch, German, Turkish, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Moroccan, Brazilian, Japanese, Colombian, and more.
Whatever your level
beginner ☂️
intermediate ☂️☂️
advanced ☂️☂️☂️
Whether you are a total beginner, an intermediate level or advanced, I am here to support and motivate you to reach the next step. Remember that even at an advanced level, it can be useful to refresh the basics and fill in gaps in your knowledge as you progress.
A selection of organisations my students have worked at
Rabobank - banking
Abn Amro - banking
ING - banking
KPN - telecoms
JoshV - fashion
Deloitte - business consulting services
MIM Group - industrial automation
Asml - semi-conductor manufacturing
Royal van Beest - rigging and lifting
Fontys University - education
Achmea - insurance
Condor Group - textile manufacturing
Superdry - fashion
Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development
Scenic Biotech - biotech research
Hap Schievliet - hospitals and healthcare
NS - Dutch national railways
Happy customers
Marlous
Senior management, KPN major telecoms provider, Netherlands
"I always felt safe to try, make mistakes, and learn."
I really enjoyed my lessons with Debbie! I could already read and understand English quite well, but speaking and presenting were a challenge for me. Debbie helped me grow in confidence and improve my speaking skills in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. She also boosted my vocabulary, which made expressing myself much easier. I always felt safe to try, make mistakes, and learn.
Femke
Art Director, fashion brand JOSHV, The Netherlands
"Working with you has honestly changed a lot for me."
Working with you has honestly changed a lot for me. Not only did I improve my grammar, but as someone working in a creative field, your lessons really helped me develop my creative writing. You helped me understand how to add deeper meaning to words and bring more nuance into my scripts.
What I appreciated most was how you really tuned into my personal needs and interests. The assignments you created always felt relevant and inspiring, which made learning both effective and enjoyable. I also really valued our conversations during the lessons, they felt authentic and natural, and often even had a slightly therapeutic quality.
And the beautiful poem you gave me at the end means the world to me, I still read it regularly.
Medir
CEO MIM Group industrial services, Spain
"Now I can do business in English!"
I have followed English lessons with Debbie in a combination of regular online lessons and visits to the UK and to Spain.
I started as a beginner and now I am happy to say I can do business in English! I can participate in meetings and socialise at lunches and dinners. This is fantastic progress.
Debbie is a very patient, empathetic and motivating teacher. Her flexibility and openness have helped me to progress at my pace and in my own way.
Our visits to the UK have included Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol and I have found this an ideal way to put my English into practice in the context of British culture.
Learning English is a step by step process but with Debbie’s lessons, it has been a very positive and enjoyable experience.
Romilde
Founder and co-owner The Happy Leader, Curacao
"Debbie tailors the lessons to your needs"
I truly enjoyed working with Debbie and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to improve their English. She has a very structured approach, which makes learning clear and effective, but at the same time she keeps it engaging and enjoyable.
What I especially appreciated is how she tailors the lessons to your needs and even to your professional field. This made the learning process not only more relevant, but also much more interesting and practical.
Debbie creates a supportive and motivating environment, which really helps you build confidence in your language skills.
Case 1
Language Visit UK
I spent 4 days in Birmingham with a Spanish client and his wife.
This was followed by regular online lessons.
Goal: improve English in order to support continued international growth of the company.
Focus: Building a grammar foundation, social conversation, and business language.
Cultural experiences:
Birmingham Library
Historical canal boat trip
The Black Country Museum (film location of Peaky Blinders)
The Birmingham Art Museum
Indian restaurant Aashas
The Jam House jazz club
Case 2
Language Visit UK
I spent 5 days in London with an Italian client. This was followed by regular online lessons.
Goal: improve English to communicate with impact at senior level.
Focus: Developing language for meetings and presentations. Grammar refresh, advanced grammar, and vocabulary enrichment.
Real life/work context:
This intensive course took place at the client's head office based in central London, where she was able to attend to calls and emails with my direct input and feedback through the day.
We used mind maps as a visual to brainstorm and shape vocabulary. We also clarified and explored advanced grammar to increase confidence while speaking.
Case 3
Language Visit Spain
I spent 4 days in Spain with a Spanish client. Followed by regular online lessons.
Goal: improve English to be able to participate in technical and business meetings with suppliers, clients and colleagues internationally.
Focus: Revision of grammar basics. Increase language used in everyday business and social communication.
Site visits:
This course took place near Barcelona. Besides lessons, we also visited my client's company offices and other business projects and met with his contacts. Practising in these real-life locations and situations made the experience all the more relevant and memorable.