I am a foreign languages graduate with a TEFL qualification and have over two years worth of experience of living and working abroad as well as a year’s worth of teaching experience to a variety of age groups and ability levels.
I believe my varied employment background in management, hospitality, environmental services, financial services as well as language services and education has gifted me with a wealth of transferable skills that has been invaluable to me, and will continue to be in my role as an English teacher.
My first role as a classroom assistant and private english tutor was a great introduction into the high-pressured and constantly developing working environment that comes with teaching English. The children were incredibly impoverished as was the area and as a result school supplies were very limited, which encouraged more creative thinking from myself in order to keep classes engaging. Due to the nature of the school other challenges included maintaining control of the class, as the children had never experienced learning environments with rules and consequences for breaking them before, the classes were also overpopulated and understaffed. The age group and ability levels varied wildly, even within the same class, finding and creating the appropriate learning materials for all was challenging and a useful learning curve.
My recent role teaching English in Vietnam also challenged me in different ways. I had experience teaching adults as a class and in a tutor setting, I became more proficient at developing relationships quickly with students who had very limited English which in turn made the class a more comfortable learning environment. Challenges with the younger classes included exercising class control, maintaining a level of empathy and patience, reacting to potentially disruptive developing situations and remaining creative, enthusiastic and resourceful.
After living in Nicaragua and Vietnam, I understand the challenges that accompany learning a new language and teaching abroad and with my experience and credentials, I am well prepared to dedicate myself to the highest standards of ESL learning at your school.
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