What inspired you to work for Westminster College London?
As an experienced successful teacher, I have always had the chance to work with different organizations; however, I have always looked for the best choices. I have been lucky that I could work with Westminster College, for the fact that it is not only internationally recognized, but also in constant improvement and development. Furthermore, the great feeling that you are working with a family and not just co-workers is a wonderful feeling I am proud to say I have experienced with my directors in Westminster College.
TESOL class with the next generation of international English teachers from Westminster College in Isfahan, Iran.
Why do you do what you do?
I have been doing this job firstly because I see I can be perfectly productive and helpful for others here. This is so rewarding for me to be able to help people find jobs, since they become professional teachers which can as a result help a good number of students receive proper education through the teachers. Plus, sure I can make money, which is a very important part of having a job.
How do you use your education and international background as a teacher trainer?
I have majored in linguistics, which gives me a deeper perspective of languages and more specifically English language. This can provide considerable help with regard to the methods I apply in my teaching strategies. Also, being an international teacher is an opportunity I am so glad I have had. This background of mine, and also the chance that I have had to live in Denmark, has provided me with invaluable experience which has also brought about success through the fact that my students trust me and my work much easier.
What makes Westminster College London special?
Providing service is what all organizations are doing, and we are not an exception; yet, due to the fact that people nowadays are not looking for “what” but “why,” we in Westminster provide them with honesty, love, and support. I firmly believe that through these values education is way more a feasible and enjoyable service one can provide. Now that we are, more and more, gaining our international ground, this will surely help us stand out.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
As a teacher, a linguist, and a person who speaks five languages, I would say a new language opens a totally new window to the beauty of the world. Just imagine looking at a flower and enjoying it. Then you get to look at it from another perspective and enjoy its beauty again, but with a sheer new taste. That is what learning a new language can bring about. This is why I find learning languages important, or translation apps would do all of the enjoying for us.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
I never do my job. I actually live it. No matter what, I enjoy the challenges. As an example, inconvenience in the required facilities is a probable sporadic happening. It is always easy to overcome issues if you really love what you do. I myself relax, smile, and try to get the best of the possible situation.
IELTS teacher training workshop
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
This is a wonderful question and I’d be glad to share my answer with you. Prior to any technical answer, I would like to let you know that we offer people the chance to join our family at Westminster College. Our team's first priority is to help people feel support amidst today’s materialistic world.
More expertly speaking, they can take away money, since our programs give them the opportunity to be hired almost anywhere in the world as international teachers. They will not only be knowledgeable, but also skillful teachers who can put their knowledge into practice to help both their students and themselves. Moreover, they will have a treasure we call perspective. By the end of our programs, they mostly know what to expect in the future, or maybe it’s better to say they will know how to plan their future.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
It is not going to be easy. However, expanding our horizons might be a great agenda, and to this aim, I believe there is no better way but traveling. Yet, be prepared, close your eyes, book your ticket, and go ahead. Do not try to hold back. Taste the new culture. Taste the new lifestyle and you will see once from the very beginning why you came to this world in the first place.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I firmly believe that meaningful travel is bound with what the traveler is going to experience. If it is going to be pure entertainment, I doubt if it is going to be that helpful to broaden mental horizons. What a traveler needs to do in order to get most of their journey is to live life like the locals; to this, I would not recommend a hotel residence or a very comfortable luxurious stay.
To learn, the traveler needs to come out of their shell and enter the new world with all its ups and downs. He needs to touch the everyday life and the everyday culture of the people so he can acquire what he has been traveling for, which is perspective.
What are some of Westminster College London’s goals for the next few years?
We plan and would like to be choice number one throughout the world. We are expanding the number of countries and branches we are working for, which is a great success since simultaneously, we are enhancing our quality with regard to human resources, infrastructure, strategy, and methodology. Thus, my hope for the near future is to be choice number one, not in one or two countries, but in literally all continents and every country or city one can think of.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
Fortunately in today’s world, education is almost for everybody; however, traveling is not for everyone, which makes international education a bit hard. First of all, it is the costs which prevent students from traveling around the world. Secondly, it is the visa problems many citizens of certain countries face trying to pursue their education in a new environment. Based on the above mentioned issues, I hope that governments will cooperate to solve these problems through giving easier student loans and visas for international education, and also providing local opportunities for International education.
We are proud to announce that Westminster College London is already providing the world a lot with this, due to its good number of branches all around the world in both developed and developing countries.
