Staff Interview with Jordon Campbell

What inspired you to work for your organization?

When I first came to Spain I took a TEFL course myself. Throughout the course I really enjoyed my time there, and how the teachers interacted with the students. When I finished the course, I searched for TEFL positions at other TEFL organizations, and came across TE Madrid. I saw how dynamic and forward-thinking the academy was, and I also saw the opportunity to do more with English Teaching than I thought. Also, when I met some of the people who worked there, I was pretty happy to get started. They worked together, and I’ve always liked to be able to depend on the people I worked with.

Describe a typical day at work.

I get into the academy every morning pretty early. Sometimes, I show up a good hour before the class actually begins so that I can prepare for the day’s activities. A typical day at work involves me building rapport with my students, getting to know them, and what they want to do as TEFL Instructors when they finish the course. I also teach them the grammar of the English Language, how to teach English to non-native English speakers. Once they understand the mechanics of the language, I also evaluate the practice sessions that they organize with some local Spanish Students.

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because I love teaching. I love my job, it’s extremely rewarding, and you instantly receive the benefits. For example, Native English speakers, like Spanish students, need to see how the English language works. They don’t know it right off the bat. It’s important for them to know, so that they can create a method to effectively pass it on to an English learner. When you see the many ways that someone can do this job, it makes you feel good. I like knowing that I’ve been able to help teachers find their way out here. It makes my job extremely rewarding. There’s not a day that I wake up dreading going to work. 

What is your favorite part of your job?

Interacting with my students and building rapport. My classroom is very relaxed. I know that I have to get into some mechanics with my students, but I also know that it’s very important for them to know that they’re in an environment where they can relax and be themselves. They’re committing themselves to doing something very different than what they know, so if I make my classroom a place for them to find their own way as TEFL Instructors by appealing to not only their skills, but their personality as well, then the class, and their job will be enjoyable. I get a classroom full of people who are learning and having fun. I like it that way.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

I studied psychology in school, which really helps me connect with and understand my students who may come from different backgrounds, or have different beliefs or values. Every student is different, so I have to look at each student as an individual. After all, they’re going to come out of the TEFL Course, and work on their own, so why not understand who they are from their own experience? If someone is shy, relate to it, and get them to see how easy it is to stand in front of a crowd. If someone doesn’t understand, be patient. Don’t force them. They’ll get it eventually. Having my degree in Psychology really helps me in understanding the needs of my students.

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

There really aren't many challenges that come across in my role. However, the biggest challenge that I would have to face is managing the different personalities each month when I receive new students and trying to find a way to help them learn the best. I overcome this by using what I learned in university in my Psychology classes. That’s basically it. I also remember a lot of the teachers who had an impact on me growing up, and I share the kind of environment that they gave to me when I was studying. Pay it forward, essentially. I take a lot of what I’ve experienced, and I pass it on. Maybe some of my students will do the same with theirs.

What are some current projects you are working on?

Currently we are working on an online TEFL course. We want to provide as many outlets for our programs as possible, and I think that this is good, because the more ways you’re able to provide your services, the more success you will ultimately have. Personally, I like that I’m able to use my experience and present it on a new platform. What I’m doing is writing the scripts, and working on the curriculum that teachers will follow in order to implement the TEFL Course in an online capacity. Being creative with the program is another way that I’ll be adding my own little signature to it to make the service unique to the TE Madrid brand.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

I would tell my pre-travel self to do it without hesitation. I love Toronto. I will always bring a piece of that with me wherever I go, but I knew that I wanted to see more of the world. There definitely was that period when I didn’t think that I would do it, so the tension and excitement of waiting up to and including the day was something, and when I got off the plane, I knew it was all real. I’ve been able to see a lot more of the world now that I live as an English Teacher in Spain, and I don’t regret it for a minute. If I had a machine, I would tell my pre-travel self to go for it. Moving abroad is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

What makes TEFL Madrid Academy special?

Our organization is special because we really pride ourselves with being the best TEFL program in Madrid, Spain. We offer our students small classes with native speakers, and flexible hours for our students. That’s important because it’s absolutely necessary to be able to focus on how people do things individually, and you can’t do that with a big class, and being rigid with schedules. A tight-knit academy, and a great bunch of people, means that everyone gets along with each other. I also really like that we’re all working together to create something very big for the academy. All of us will benefit from this teamwork, and will really push our careers forward. We don’t see English slowing down, so I like being on the forefront of something special.

Why should someone choose TEFL Madrid Academy over competitors?

Someone should choose our organization over competitors because we are constantly trying to improve our services for our students. We offer native speakers and flexible hours, and we really pride ourselves with treating our customers more than just a number and more as a person. Nobody wants to be seen as a number on a spreadsheet, and I know that I don’t treat my students as customers passing through. I know that I wouldn’t like it myself. It’s one of the reasons I chose to work at TE Madrid. Having that relationship with students is not only important for their well-being, but also really good for the academy itself.

What hopes do you have for the future for TEFL Madrid Academy?

I hope our organization continues to grow and become not only the best TEFL Course in Madrid, but the best in Europe. I want people from everywhere to consider getting their TEFL Certification with us because Spain is an awesome gateway to the rest of the world. I know that the demand is growing, so I’m always working hard to make sure that we stay ahead of the curve, that we provide a service that turns students into professionals in their field, whatever it may be. Taking that service, and offering it in more than one way is critical. We want to be not only the best people to do it, but also the first people to do it.

Are there any developments with TEFL Madrid Academy that you would like to share with us?

Apart from the building and offering of our TEFL Course online, we’re doing the exact same thing with all of the courses that we offer at TE Madrid. It’s great to see so many intelligent minds collaborating, and focusing their effort to making this thing successful. I don’t want to say too much, but I do like seeing that there are so many different perspectives coming in on this effort. It means that the possibilities for what we offer, and how we offer it are limitless. Apart from that, I would prefer keeping something like this on the down-low because TE Madrid is working really hard to make these services fun and exciting for potential students, whatever they may be doing.

What makes TEFL Madrid Academy easy to market to potential participants?

Our staff and reputation makes our organization easy to market to potential participants. Our staff offers great support and services to help our students have a great time while they are with us. Our reviews speak for themselves. The demand for understanding the English language is another. Many of the students, whether they come in to do the TOEFL, or the GRE, or the GMAT, or if they are coming in to do their TEFL Course and become a teacher, understand that the official language for business and education is English. Spain’s bilingual program for their education is an example of that.

What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our mission or goal is to assist students to find a new life and career abroad in another country different than theirs. We work towards this by giving them an outstanding experience throughout our TEFL program and making sure that they are more than prepared to work as teachers when they finish our course. We also want to let them know that we’re not just going to be teachers you see in the classroom, but we’re also going to be professional colleagues, as well. I know that I like adding the personal touch as an educator myself. I don’t object to having a few drinks with my students, especially if it helps them feel at home, and a lot more confident coming into the classroom on a Monday morning.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

I hope they learn how to be confident in teaching, learning how to build lesson plans and being able to teach all levels confidently from A1 to C1. More importantly, I hope they build camaraderie with their fellow classmates and leave with a sense of belonging within the TEFL Madrid family. I want them to be confident in their abilities as educators, so that the students that they teach will be confident, as well, in placing their professional requirements in their hands. I want them to know that they are on a unique journey, and they have a lot to look forward to, so I say, go forward into it, whatever it may be.

How do you help support participants?

Coming to a new country is very stressful, and there are a lot of legal requirements that people have to take into consideration. We help support our participants by helping them with everything from getting a visa. These can be tricky to obtain, but once you have them, it’s one less thing to worry about. We also help them find a job, because that’s the reason they came out here. Why would anyone take the risk of coming out here and staying here if they couldn’t support themselves? Finally, we help them find a place to live, and set up their bank accounts when they arrive. These little things are very important because they all add up to stability, and regardless of how adventurous you are, it’s important that you are able to take care of yourself.

If you could participate in one of TEFL Madrid Academy’s programs, where would you go and what would you do?

The program I would participate in is the Portugal program. We have a program here at our school that gives our students the opportunity to travel to Portugal for a week to learn how to surf, explore Portugal, do yoga, take pictures, and experience all that Portugal has to offer from food, social life, and museums. I know that I’ve been around many countries in Europe, and I’ll continue to do that, but I do like that Portugal isn’t that far away, and it’s a place that nobody thinks about, and it’s also underrated. There is something a little different when you think about Portugal, and you have as much to do there as you do in Spain. I like having that luxury.

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

The usual questions I get are, why did you do it, weren’t you scared, is it easy to do, what about the visa process. These are the typical questions. What I usually tell my students is that I wanted a change, I wasn’t happy at home and I always wanted to travel. I wasn’t as scared as most people, but I was more excited. I focused more on what could go right instead of what could go wrong. I tell my students it’s not easy but it’s definitely doable, as long as you’re able to adapt you’ll be fine. The visa process can be difficult, but our staff is here for you, to support and guide you through each step of the visa process.

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

It’s extremely important because it’s the best way to get out of your comfort zone, especially when you travel to another country that is completely different than yours. Traveling and experiencing new cultures helps you build confidence, network, experience a new language and to kill stereotypes. It’s also a good opportunity for building bridges with people who didn’t grow up or live the way you did. It’s a good way for people to get to know each other, and dispel certain misunderstandings that they would have otherwise had about you. There’s a lot of beauty out there. You can’t go to the Alhambra without going to Granada, without coming to Spain. You can’t get around in Spain without at least seeing where the country comes from historically. All you have to do is see it for yourself.

Why do you think learning a new language is important?

I think it’s extremely important because it opens up your world immensely. It helps you to understand and communicate with another culture. Learning another language changes the way you think and if that doesn’t convince you, learning another language gives you a greater advantage when applying for jobs. If you’re doing business in an English-speaking country, don’t you think it’s important to learn the language? It’s the same thing if you’re doing business in a Spanish-speaking country. It’s important that the people in that country are able to understand you so that they can count on you to help them be better understood. Again, building bridges.

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Do it. Do it while you’re young. Do it while you can. It’ll be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. Don’t worry about the money. If you really want to do it, you’ll figure it out. Plus, there are so many ways that you can make money while you travel, and TE Madrid offers you one of those ways. Teaching English in Spain gave me opportunities to support myself while I was travelling. You can do it, too. So, what are you waiting for? Whether you’re travelling, or doing something you’ve always wanted, don’t wait too long. You can always make the money back, but you can’t get your time back.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel to me means learning or experiencing something. Regardless of where you travel to, as long as you learn or experience something new, it is meaningful. Whenever I go to a new place, it hits me just as hard as doing it the first time. I get to be an explorer, a traveller, I get to be a local (depending on where I go), I get to be a professional. It means that I’m not tied down by one definition of myself. I get to be everything I’ve always wanted to be, and I write the story that I want to tell. There are absolutely no words that are able to fully describe it. It’s just awesome.

What hopes do you have for the future of international education?

I hope that I can continue to gain experience in the field of international education as well as work with staff and students from around the world. I know that with business professionals, airline pilots, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and indeed many other working types in the world, the need for English is growing, so I know that apart from being able to travel and experience new and different things, I know that I’ll be able to grow as an individual and a professional doing it at the same time. People are going to want to travel to do business. The world is connecting itself more and more as time goes on, and I know that being able to help these people achieve their professional goal will be important as we move forward.

What qualities in program and host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)

There are two very important qualities in program and host community relations that are important to me and everyone at TE Madrid. The first one is friendliness. When I go to a certain country, and I see a group of travellers not being respectful of the people who are there, it really bothers me. I prefer to show them due respect, because they’re giving me the life that I’ve wanted to live. Their system is supporting me, so I do make an effort to adapt, at least a little bit, to them. Reliability is another important quality. I know that when I come to work, I want to be able to show people that I’m able to help them achieve their goals. Always being present when I come to work, and being knowledgeable in what I do is key when I’m delivering a good service to the community.