Alex Mackenzie | ELT / EAL / CLIL / education | Spanish language skills
Working worldwide
- Website
- https://alexmackenzie.uk/
- Job title
- Editor and proofreader for ELT and education | Spanish language skills
- Membership Grade
- Professional Member
About Alex
Recent developmental edits: Life Advanced (National Geographic, 2024); ESL IGCSE Student Book and Teacher Hub (Pearson, 2024)
If you are looking to write an EAL resource then I know 'the' best developmental editor to go to – she is awesome. – Peter Clements, lead author and international school EAL teacher, 2024
Recent copyedits: Various ELT professional development publications (OUP); Student Books; Workbooks and Teacher Guides
Alex is always a pleasure to work with. She delivers on time to a high standard and will always question when the brief isn’t clear. We’ve been working with Alex since we started two years ago and look forward to continuing this happy relationship. – Caroline Boot, Director ELL, Newgen 2023
Current copyedit: Modern English Teacher ELT magazine
Background
Former international school teacher (art and English) and teacher trainer – as well as a published ELT author – I offer flexible and attentive developmental editing, copyediting and proofreading.
I hold a Master's Degree in Education and am experienced in Word (including templates and styles), PDF markup, PowerPoint, Google Docs and Google Slides. I am also trained and experienced in Adobe InCopy for online platforms. My clients range from ELT publishers (including CLIL) to an award-winning university professor of gender studies, and I volunteer for a meditation app, too.
A true internationalist and Spanish speaker, I translate from Spanish to English and also work with creative writers on their fiction and nonfiction.
Experience and training
Freelance editor since 2019
ELT materials writer since 2005
International school teacher since 1987
Adobe InCopy (2022)
How to Mark Up PDF Page Proofs (2021)
Word for practical editing (2021)
Copyediting 1 & 2 (2020 & 2022)
Proofreading 1 & 2 (2019 & 2020)
Clients
Modern English Teacher; Oxford University Press; SM Group Spain; Pearson; British Council; South Pole Climate Solutions; Newgen; The Content Station; Just Content; Compass Publishing; Medito Foundation; as well as numerous self-publishing authors and academic writers.
Subjects
ELT; EAL; CLIL; education; teacher training; climate change; sustainability; gender; Spanish; international school teaching; meditation; art; contemporary dance; theatre studies; English language and literature
Qualifications and awards
Master's Degree in Education: distinction (Oxford Brookes University). Dissertation: How EAL learners learn
ELTons English language teaching awards: author of components of Brain Juice (Dayton University Press, 2022) & Compass (Richmond Publishing, 2018)
BA Hons in Visual Arts (University of Lancaster), with theatre studies and contemporary dance, English language and literature
PGCE (Goldsmiths College, University of London) in secondary school art teaching
Diploma (RSA/UCLES) in English language teaching
What my clients say
Working with Alex was extremely smooth and professional. She did a great job and her communication was also excellent. Having her proofreading my work (and even providing some editing tips) gave me confidence to get my book out. Highly recommend her services. Thank you! – Hilra Vinha, nonfiction author 2024
Alex was ‘my’ development editor on a recent IGCSE ESL project. She was *so* easy to work with, always gave constructive feedback and certainly felt on the same wavelength approach-wise. She gave excellent support and guidance during a module on Equality – I felt this massively enhanced the resource. She helped me navigate quite a challenging resource given various constraints. I’d highly recommend Alex. Superpower(s): EAL! Understanding the learners. – Peter Clements, lead author and ELT blogger, international school EAL teacher 2023
Alex is always a pleasure to work with. She delivers on time to a high standard and will always question when the brief isn’t clear. We’ve been working with Alex since we started two years ago and look forward to continuing this happy relationship. – Caroline Boot, Director ELL, Newgen 2023
Her professionalism, humour and support kept me going and forced me to raise my game. – Petrina McGregor, fiction author 2023
Alex, I want to give a huge shout out to you about the quick turnaround of the deck. We really like your QC [Quality Control] approach. You took time to list the grammatical errors in your email which is really a good learning exercise for us. Hope we can get to QC more of our reports by you.' – Consultant in sustainability 2023
If you are looking to write an EAL resource then I know 'the' best developmental editor to go to; she is awesome. – Peter Clements, lead author and international school EAL teacher, 2024
Thorough and professional – Alexander Wagner, Compass Publishing 2022
Attention to detail: Alex demonstrated thorough attention to each word selected for the manuscript, which pushed me to think about every single word I used on a deeper level.
Communication: Alex was very approachable, responsive, and easy to talk to. It was a smooth process. I would absolutely recommend Alex to anybody and will hopefully work more with her in the future. – Anonymous first-time fiction author 2023
Dear Alex, I have no words to thank you for proofreading and editing my materials carefully. You exceeded my expectations by giving constructive feedback on how the quality of the materials can be improved. As someone new to materials writing, I really appreciate the kind of feedback you have given. I have no hesitation in recommending your work to anyone who may require your services. – Rusiru Chitrasena, ELT PhD candidate 2022
Alex supplied a service that not only met what I asked for but went beyond what I thought I needed. I wouldn’t hesitate in commissioning her skills again. – Lucas Stewart, author and publishing consultant 2021
I'm still working with Alex on my fiction manuscript, but have been really enjoying working with her and appreciating the quality of her input. Her insights have raised things I never considered, and I think my manuscript will be much stronger because Alex's help. Thank you, Alex! – Jacqueline Owens, fiction author 2021
It has been a pleasure working with Alex across a number of projects. She is an excellent editor for both American English and British English texts, with an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of both. Alex has a great attention to detail and is willing to explain any stylistic inconsistencies she encounters. – Fraser Barrett, Compass Publishing 2020
I approached you feeling rather insecure and unsure of myself. Thank you for the polishing and the support you offered every step of the way. You scrutinized my writing with eagle-eyed attention to every tiny detail. I had thought I was good; however, you punched up the quality and accuracy of my work! – Petrina McGregor, fiction author 2021
I am sure most writers will agree that having your creative writing edited is rather traumatic, but Alex made it comfortable for me. I knew she was on my side and was partnering with me to make the best version of my m/s possible. I’m extremely grateful for her hard work. – Trudy Nixon, fiction author and magazine editor 2020
Thanks so much for your diligent and time efficient work, I appreciate it was not a small document! – Consultant in sustainability 2023
Very high quality work at a very quick pace, too. I’ll let the other editors in the office know [you’re available] and recommend you highly! Really excellent throughout, thanks very much. Great stuff and well done! Thank you very much for this and in general for your work throughout the level. – Dominic Wright, Richmond Publishing 2018
Alex, is very helpful and provides a wonderful service. – Monique de Klerk, nonfiction author 2021
Thank you for completing the task and for doing it on time. Your help on this project is greatly appreciated! Great job on adding the missing presentation numbers and for checking if the titles matched. Thinking of keeping the wrong presentation number and its questions just in case was a great initiative! – Clarisse Girod-Garufi, ELT, Lingoda 2019
Service(s)
Specialisms
Client types
Disclaimer note
The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.