English for the life
you want to speak.

THE EDUCATOR BEHIND THE BRITISH CHERRY

Meet Maria.

Maria K. Termentzòglou is a Modern Greek philologist, English-language educator, educational author and PhD candidate. With more than a decade of teaching experience, she brings together a grounding in language and literature with a practical commitment to helping learners communicate with confidence.

Her English-teaching background spans general English, English for Specific Purposes, IELTS and examination preparation, alongside personalised online learning. A central question runs through her work: What can learners actually do with the language they learn? It shapes the everyday conversations, professional dialogues and creative tasks in her teaching and books.

Teaching and inclusion in Chios

Maria currently works in Greek public secondary education at the 1st Vocational Upper Secondary School of Chios (1st EPAL Chios), where she is responsible for a TY-ZEP reception class. In this role, she teaches Modern Greek as a second language, supporting newly arrived refugee and migrant students as they develop the language they need to participate in school and navigate everyday life.

TY-ZEP reception classes operate within Greece’s Zones of Educational Priority (Ζώνες Εκπαιδευτικής Προτεραιότητας). For Maria, this work brings language, inclusion and practical communication together: understanding an instruction, asking for help, joining a conversation and finding a voice in a new environment.

This classroom work informs The Modern Greek Cherry, her growing collection of accessible, multilingual learning resources for students beginning their lives and education in Greek.

Academic foundations and doctoral research

Maria is a PhD candidate in the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design at the University of Thessaly. Her interdisciplinary research explores environmental learning, knowledge transformation and organisational adaptability, connecting educational processes with organisational learning and strategic management.

Her academic background includes Greek Philology, Applied Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, and postgraduate studies in Educational Management and Law and Policy of IT and Telecommunications. Across these fields, her interests centre on how people learn, how knowledge becomes useful and how individuals and organisations respond to change.

Teaching, leadership and educational writing

Following in her father’s footsteps in language education, Maria has been involved in developing learning materials and supporting personalised approaches to language learning, including online educational initiatives associated with the Termentzoglou name. Her experience also includes work as Head of Education and Academic Consultant at Xenoglotia, encompassing teacher guidance, student evaluation and educational-content development.

Alongside teaching, she has authored specialist resources covering professional contexts including hospitality, European taxation and digital marketing. She has also contributed to academic publications, including work published by Springer.

Why she created The British Cherry

The British Cherry grew from Maria’s desire to give Greek teenagers a more connected experience of English: clear explanations, meaningful vocabulary and frequent opportunities to speak, write, question and create.

Designed to bring C and D Senior material together and support progression towards B2 preparation, the series combines thematic reading, grammar explanations, vocabulary development, writing practice, role-play and discussion. Its Dutch-inspired approach encourages learners to encounter and use English beyond the lesson.

To help English become part of learners’ lives—not only a subject on their timetable.