Aletta Smits

Aletta Smits

After high school, Aletta Smits started studying dramaturgy at the University of Amsterdam in 1986.In 1987 she moved to Vancouver to work as an actor and assistant-director for the Vancouver Youth Theatre and upon her return to Holland she worked as an actor for various companies.From 1991 to 1995 she studied Polish and English literature and linguistics at the University of Amsterdam.She graduated in English in 1995, and in 1996 she completed the post-graduate teacher training course.Since then she has worked as an English teacher and as a teacher of computer technology for various schools and training centers.Her current employer is Leiden University, where she works as a teacher trainer and consultant in the area of education and computer technology.In 2002 she completed a PhD on English writing strategies (How writers begin their sentences, LOT 2002).Her publications are on English linguistics, on the didactics of e-learning, and on teacher behavior.