What inspired you to work for eTEFL Online?
I love meeting and helping new people. eTEFL Online is a great team that truly cares about the people that we are serving. The admin team is made up of compassionate people, where work and profit is not the end all, and connection and improving others lives is central to our team.
My third year nursing students presenting me with a gift of chocolates at the end on the term.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Meeting our clients online for the personal tutoring sessions, as well as seeing them online as I observe them teaching in action. It is always exciting to see a client overcome their fears and insecurities, and see them be successful in teaching a new student.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
We will often have clients that don't have a lot of computer knowledge, and who feel that they are not able to grasp new technology. Hands on, step by step training usually builds our clients confidence in these areas.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Don't let excuses keep you from moving forward, don't wait for the perfect time, there is none. Follow your dreams and move forward, take the plunge. Life is a journey, so keep moving forward and take some risks.
What makes your organization special?
We are an organization that helps to prepare people who wish to teach ESL to others, either online or in the classroom, but we mainly focus on online teaching. Our course developer has a doctorate in education with a wealth of practical experience in teaching both in the classroom and online. I have been teaching ESL for the past 25 years. I have taught all ages from elementary students to college and adults.
We bring a wealth of practical experience to the table for our clients to draw on, and are eager to share our knowledge with others.
Out in the village during a home visit with some of the kids in the NGO.
Why should someone choose eTEFL Online over competitors?
We offer a quality course, and we listen to our clients. If needed, we will change what needs to be changed in order to offer a better product. We have personal interaction with our clients and help guide them through each step of the course.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope that each of our clients will come away with the knowledge and confidence to teach successfully online. We provide a practicum for them to teach actual students online while being observed, so that their confidence is built up. What we offer is not simply theory, but hands on as well.
How do you help support participants?
We provide assistance in each step of the program. We personally meet with each client in the practicum online teaching to tutor them on techniques for teaching online. We teach them how to use different programs in order to help engage their students during the lesson.
After a client finishes the course, we invite them to be part of an online community of teachers as a resource. Here they are able to ask others who are at different stages of their teaching journey, what to expect, ask advice, and to offer encouragement. Our staff are part of this community as well, and stay active in these chat groups.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
When you learn a new language you are not just learning new words, but you are learning the heart and soul of a people. Language helps to tell you how people think, what is important to them and how they center their universe. Language is immersed in culture, it brings culture alive!
I have also found that with each new language that I have learned, I have discovered new aspects of my own personality. I express myself differently in different languages.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Do it! Get outside of your comfort zone.
If it is your first time going abroad, take it in steps. Do your research, ask people who have been to where you are interested in going what they enjoyed. Allow some time in your travels to be unscheduled so that you can explore a bit.
A first time traveler might want to look for a trip that is more structured, with an organization that is experienced in the country they are interested in, and that would still allow for some time for self exploration.
A home visit in the village with some of the kids.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meanful travel is not sitting in a tour bus watching scenery go by as a tour guide explains what you're looking at. To me true travelers are people that immerse themselves in the culture, go off the beaten path, get to know the people in some personal way. Try to have at least some time outside of tourist areas and explore the villages, countryside and local areas without a strict agenda.