What inspired you to work for Teach TEFL?
I want to inspire younger educators to teach English abroad. At the same time, it gave me the opportunity to work from home, online, which was a big advantage during the lockdown.
Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do because I am passionate about education and tutoring and find it very rewarding and interesting to assist these students to develop.
It gives me an opportunity to draw on my vast experience in the world of teaching.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The favourite part of my job is reading through students assignments, being able to offer advice, encourage their growth and to be able to do my work in my own hours without commuting.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
I often face the challenge of working alone and not having the sociable environment of a classroom situation. I overcome this by frequently meeting with my colleagues, brainstorming with them and innovating new grading methodologies.
What makes Teach TEFL special?
The fact that we are trying to help educate students so that they can teach online or teach in foreign countries. The course is 120 hours and affordable.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
It is conducted in a professional way and it is still affordable. The guidelines are easy to follow and definitely done in such a way that students are developing skills from it.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
My hopes are that we will be able to keep on improving the level of education that we are trying to maintain and reach more and more students through it.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
They must gain the skills and level of education in order to teach English online to foreign students. Also the confidence to teach and how to plan their lessons.
How do you help support participants?
Support is given through written comments, giving examples of the proper way to plan a lesson, as well as how to make use of PowerPoint presentations .
If you could participate on one of Teach TEFL’s programs, where would you go and what would you do?I would love to go to a foreign country to teach primary school learners the English language and to also learn their culture language while teaching them.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Participants often struggle with the planning of a lesson and the development of a presentation. I respond by giving advice on how to plan a lesson and how to make the worksheets and flashcards.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Make sure that you know as much as you can about the country you are going to. Do research on their culture, language, food, clothing, and the education system. Also learn what is required of you as an educator in terms of hours teaching, dress code, etc.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me means that travel must enrich my life in some way. That could mean that it makes my life better by discovering new things about new countries. It also means that by going to a foreign country, I can enrich the people there by educating them.
Annalie with her partner in Johannesburg, where she lives
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
It means that I acknowledge the reality of global inequality and of working towards ideals of justice.
It means that I have the responsibility to learn about the social, historical, and cultural forces that connect us with others.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
That students will have more opportunities to learn at different times in different places, and there will be more opportunities for personalized learning. Learners will have more free choices. Learning will be outcome based and focused on field experience. Also, that exams will change completely and will focus on giving all students a fair chance of succeeding.
