“Special Interests in assisted learning, facilitation, learning challenges, learning differences and support learning”
– more than just a tutor
About Melissa Joyce van Hal (van Oordt) | Pinelands, Cape Town
With over two decades of academic and professional experience, my journey began at the age of 16, working in a pharmacy, where I discovered my passion for connecting with people and offering practical and tangible advice. From tutoring university students to guiding those with learning challenges, my path then led me to become a scuba diving instructor in Vietnam, where I found joy in teaching and helping others learn in exciting new ways.
Upon returning to Durban, I embraced roles as a Scuba Diving and Emergency First Responder Instructor, encountering diverse clients of all ages and backgrounds. Seeking managerial experience, I transitioned to become an Area Manager for an Educational Firm before answering the call to work directly with children as the Head of the English Section at an educational centre
.In 2009, I founded EduHelp, a platform dedicated to supporting learners of all ages and abilities, including young adults and differently-abled adults. Through individual sessions, group sessions, and tailored programs, I've witnessed remarkable transformations in countless lives.
Drawing from my personal experiences with dyslexia and ADHD, I've also ventured into educational writing, aiming to make learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable. Together with Loudine, we're embarking on various projects, including the recent launch of our first EduHelp book.
My work now expands to working on educational wellness workshops in collaboration with Jeanne Kruger Counselling, where we explore both the academic and wellness aspects of the educational environment.
My academic background spans Linguistics, Psychology, Child Development, English, Media, Visual Arts, and Cultural and Environmental History, culminating in a Masters Degree. Holding a PGCE in early childhood development and foundation phase and a PGDE in Disabilities Studies (both completed with Distinction), and registered with the South African Council of Educators (SACE) and a licensed ASCHP (Association of Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners) Specialist Wellness Counsellor, I'm dedicated to providing holistic whole person support and creating optimal learning environments for every individual I serve.
Experience and Qualifications (but not limited to)
- BA Majors: History and Visual Art History (UCT)
- BA Honours Counselling Psychology (UNISA)
- MA History (UKZN)
- BA Honours History (UCT)
- PGCE Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase (UNISA) (Distinction)
- PGDE in Disability Studies (UNISA) (Distinction)
- EFR Instructor (First Aid)
- SACE and ASCHP registered
- Continuous attendance of courses, workshops, and CPD programmes
- 20 years of experience working with adults and children
- Extensive experience (20 years) working with individuals facing learning challenges
- 5 years of university-level tutoring
- 6 years of experience working with differently-abled students at the university level
- 2 years of managerial experience in a remedial facility under a renowned specialist
- 15 years of running an independent company specializing in remedial and support learning
- 20 years of overall remedial and support learning experience
- 2 years as a Support Learning Specialist at a Private School
- Personal experience as a diagnosed dyslexic and ADHD individual
About Loudine Heunis | George and Mossel Bay
I first became fascinated with psychology in my early teens, when I started reading my father’s psychology text books. He is a retired educational psychologist, and I remember watching him mark assessment tests when I was very young, and having countless questions about what he was doing and what it all entailed! Fast forward to my mid-twenties when I was working as au pair with a wonderful family in Cape Town. After getting to know me a little, and seeing my work with her kids, the mother of my charges enthusiastically encouraged me to study child psychology. I enrolled at Unisa and completed my BA degree in Psychology, after which I was accepted into the government English teaching programme in South Korea. I spent the next 6 ½ years teaching English to students of all levels of ability, from teenagers with learning and psycho-social challenges in mainstream inclusive classes, to advanced discussion classes at university level and teaching adults after hours. I finished my B(Hons) degree while in Korea, and then proceeded with a MA degree in child studies with the Open University.
It was during my undergraduate degrees that I discovered my true passion: early childhood development and education. I am absolutely fascinated by how young children learn and make sense of the world as it unfolds around them. Each child truly is unique, as is their way of understanding, learning and connecting concepts, forming their own world view. I am committed to learning as much as I can about the ways in which different children learn, and how they work with their own abilities and challenges to acquire knowledge and skills.
While living in South Korea, I started doing freelance academic editing. I edited a friend's Masters dissertation and parts of a doctoral thesis. I also edited Melissa's handwriting book and helped her prepare it for publishing. I moved to Germany in 2018 to pursue my MSc in Early Childhood Research at Leipzig University and started working as a journalist, writer and sub-editor for a webzine. I eventually worked as Editor-in-Chief for this publication and also did a lot of freelance editing and German-English translation. Upon my return to South Africa, I started working as an academic editor for an Australian platform offering proofreading and writing help and a small, independent American academic research company.
I am thrilled to be back with EduHelp in the capacity of academic writing support coach. I offer one-on-one online sessions with students to work on specific written work and an editing service where post-grad, undergrad and high school students can submit their work for proofreading and editing. Writing and study methods workshops are in the pipeline and will be offered from early 2025. I am excited to share my love of language and my research and writing skills with students of all ages and abilities!
Experience and Qualifications:
- MSc (Research in Early Childhood) Leipzig University (to be conferred)
- MA in Childhood & Youth (Open University of the UK)
- B(Hons) Psychology (Unisa)
- BA Psychology (Unisa)
- TEFL (mytefl & TESOLSA)
- Diploma in Journalism & Multi-media (CitiVarsity)
- English lecturer (Mokpo National University, 2015 – 2017)
- English teacher (Inpyeong Middle School, 2011 – 2015)
- KOTESOL regional chapter leadership (2014)
- KOTESOL regional chapter presentation: dyslexia in the EFL classroom (2014)
- KOTESOL member (2013 – 2015)
- English tutor/home-schooling instructor (2011)
- Au Pair (2003 – 2011)