Say English School

Dear prospective student or client, thank you for your interest in Say School!

As the founder, my journey into education began in 2001 during the summer holidays from my Philosophy degree, when I took part in a voluntary teaching program in Nigeria. This experience reignited my passion for empowering others to grow and reach their full potential. After earning my CELTA in 2009, I began teaching English in South Korea, where I discovered a deep love for education, travel, and cultural exchange. In 2012, I completed my Master’s in TESOL & Applied Linguistics, further enhancing my expertise in language education. Having lived and worked in six countries, I bring a truly global perspective to my teaching and the development of Say School.

In 2018, I came to Portugal for a surf trip—and never left! After working at a language school for nearly two years, I realised the time was right to pursue my dream of starting my own school to create innovative, personalised educational programs. Say School was born from my desire to provide students with tailored learning experiences that support their growth and success.

Since 2019, Say School has proudly worked with a diverse range of corporate clients and individuals across various industries. We’ve provided specialised language training for children with special learning needs, young adults preparing for university or career development through IELTS courses, and to professionals in a wide range of companies.

Our client base includes executives seeking to improve their communication skills, actors pursuing international careers, for whom we offer accent coaching, as well as lawyers, fine-dining restaurant employees, architects, fashion retailers, e-commerce strategists, and agricultural producers and exporters. We’ve also partnered with regulatory compliance and sustainability consultants to support their global communication needs.

With a dedicated team of 14 teachers and growing, we offer instruction in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and French, as well as comprehensive services like website, media, and technical document translation. We also provide interpreter support for business communications. Over the last few years, hundreds of students have taken one of our specialist courses, reflecting the broad impact and growth of our programs.

This incredible journey began with just myself, and today, we’ve grown into a thriving and happy team. But we’re not stopping there. We are expanding our corporate language training and services into Spain and Italy, leveraging the successes and experiences we’ve developed to bring our expertise to new markets. Our goal is to replicate the tailored, high-quality programs that have driven our growth and continue making a meaningful impact in these new regions.

If you’re looking for a language school that stands out from the rest, Say School is the one. Why? We take a personalised approach from the start, conducting thorough needs analysis and level testing with every new student or client. We go beyond standard textbooks by interviewing our students to understand their exact goals. All of our materials are developed in-house by expert, trained educators, ensuring we deliver precisely what’s needed for your success. At Say School, you get more than just lessons—you get a customised learning experience that truly works.

Ready to take the next step in your language journey? Please get in touch with me or one of our team members directly or fill out the contact form on our website. We’d love to discuss how Say School can help you achieve your language goals. We look forward to hearing from you!

Let’s do this!
David