What inspired you to join the TEFL world and the team at Premier TEFL?
From a very young age, I had itchy feet and was ready to travel - I knew it was a passion of mine. I’ve spent a few years as a TEFL teacher in Malta, Istanbul, Germany, and Ireland.
Alongside being a teacher in the classroom, I opened my small business where I teach online to students.
Coming to join Premier TEFL was inevitable. I saw the opportunity on a local website and it was a no-brainer! Combining my TEFL experiences and my love for travel definitely inspired me!
Living my best life in Koh Samet in Thailand
Describe a typical day at work for you.
Well….my day starts off with a large of cup of coffee and chats with my co-workers (I always come in that bit earlier to find out what Netflix series my colleague was watching the night before).
I start work by checking all our missed calls and live chat messages in case anything urgent popped up overnight. I then work through all customer queries and questions while answering incoming calls and working through my personal emails.
I also spend some of my day answering academic questions on the course - it is really a mix between the two. This takes up most of my day as well as having sneaky ice-cream or cake during the day. You shouldn't work at Premier TEFL id you don’t like to eat sweet things! Our team loves a good sweet snack!
Chilling on the Spanish steps in Girona
What do you love most about your position as Senior TEFL Specialist + Academic Tutor?
By nature, you could say I’m quite organized and productive - my colleagues refer to it as “bossy”, but I’d like to say I take charge. As Senior TEFL Specialist, I get to organize everybody’s roles and set goals for the team. Setting goals and reaching them is the best part of my job!
You can’t forget about the travel, which is another favorite part of my job! Since I’ve started working here, I’ve been to Thailand, China, Spain, and the Netherlands. I mean, how lucky am I?
Why should hopeful TEFL teachers choose Premier TEFL over other organizations?
The biggest trait Premier TEFL prides themselves on is our customer service. We don’t just want to help the customer, we want to get to know them and find out their stories. Fill us in on all their secrets of teaching and traveling. Those connections build a community, and we love growing our community.
How do you use your own experiences teaching English in Malta help you in your current position?
Having the experience to teach in Malta has given me the opportunity to step into the intern’s shoes. I can truly feel what they are feeling! Even though this wasn’t my first teaching role, it was my first teaching role abroad. It is the most scary and exciting decision potential teachers will make! Totally worth it.
Why is it important for people to travel and experience other cultures?
The sole reason anyone should travel: opening your eyes and opening your mind. It is a big world out there and it has got to be seen!
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your TEFL experiences?
Overall, I’ve had amazing experiences! I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you need to get out there and explore the town/city that you’re in. Go to events! There are so many clubs/places that expats meet, make use of them. You are never going to meet people by sitting in your apartment.
You have a lot of experience in studying English and also with TEFL certifications.
Why is it important for people teaching English abroad to be certified?
As the years go on, qualifications are becoming more and more important. Employers are so fixated on papers now and I have seen that first hand.
In addition to that, no one likes to feel underprepared going to a new country or school. Teaching is an important job, and a teacher should be ready to handle the work.
