Panama-born English teacher voted Foreign Teacher of the Year 2025 by prestigious English language academy in Vietnam
By Jesús Picota Carrillo
Translated and edited by Jack R. Icaza Batchelor
Jack R. Icaza Batchelor, a long-time English language teacher and friend of mine, was born in Panama. He studied primary school at Colegio La Salle before emigrating with the family to his mother’s native country of England at age 11. There he enrolled at The Cardinal Wiseman High School in London. In 1979 he attended Florida State University, Panama, and soon after, he began teaching English as a foreign language at all levels, and later at university level.
In 1989 Prof. Jack Icaza obtained the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), and later on he studied for and obtained the Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA), both from the University of Cambridge, England.
From 1994 to 2016 Prof. Jack worked as an English teacher and translator at The Oxford School here in Panama before setting off to Europe again.
Prof. Jack has taught English for over 25 years, in several different countries, including England, Spain, Panama, China and more recently Vietnam.
In 1998 Prof. Jack launched his personal book for learning English entitled Surviving in English, especially devised to help people at school, work or travel. He launched a second edition of the book in January 2022.
The Certificate for Best Foreign Teacher of 2025 obtained from Nest Edu Academy in Thai Binh, Vietnam, where he currently works, is well deserved. Mr Jack has had a long and rewarding career in the teaching of English as a foreign or second language, teaching students of all ages and nationalities.
