What inspired you to work for your organization?
What inspired me the most was being able to help people achieve their dreams of travelling and teaching English in other countries around the world. Some people are in the middle of switching careers after many years and seeing them follow their dreams just as I did at some point in my life and take such a big step, is admiring and gratifying.
My visit to the famous and beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day at work would be dealing with a lot of students from all over the world, either over the phone, via live chat or emails. Our office has a lovely energy as we have all become very close to each other and even though our days are busy and hectic at times, we always leave room for laughter.
Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do because I love the environment where I work. I also enjoy talking to people from all over the world and listening to their life stories and their passion for teaching and travelling.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is when I see my colleagues. I think people take for granted how important it is to get on with the people you work with. Working in a nice environment can help us deal better in challenging situations.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I studied language and translation and I completed my training in mindfulness and meditation for kids while in Ireland. I also completed my TEFL, which is something that I hope to use in the very near future. I consider myself a very patient person and a good listener which is something needed when you work with other people, especially from different cultures and backgrounds.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Challenges can arise when students expect us to do more than what we can do for them, but we always stay calm and reassure them if they are feeling discouraged about their future. We always try to help our students as much as we can with all the resources that we have available.
Afghanistan and its delicious food.
What are some current projects you are working on?
I am currently working on my next trip to Asia. I am hoping to bring my little boy with me this time and do a bit of volunteering with kids in some schools either by teaching English or teaching mindfulness and meditation. I have had the opportunity before to help kids with autism at my son's school and kids that suffered with anxiety and depression. Through teaching them games, yoga postures and meditation, I eventually helped them build their self esteem and change their way of thinking, and that is something that I would love to continue doing. As a mother myself, I think it is very important if we want to teach, to start teaching our younger generations too as much as we can and share as many experiences as possible with them.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Every time I travel I remain myself to live in the moment without any expectations and trust why I am and where I am in my journey. There are beautiful people out there that you will always cross paths with and that is the magic about travelling.
What makes The TEFL Academy special?
The support that we give our students starting from the day that they enrol with us is something that makes our company special. We would always make sure to support our students as much as possible throughout their TEFL journey.
One of my favorite memories while travelling to Asia on my own. Cycling through a very small village in Rajasthan, India with some friends I mean along the way before stopping for a warm cup of tea in one of the local's house.
Why should someone choose The TEFL Academy over competitors?
Again, the support given to our students is one of the main reasons why I would recommend someone to choose the TEFL Academy. We also give enough time to our students to complete the course and we provide them with all the resources online to complete the course. A top up course is also included and their hard copy certificate is sent anywhere worldwide at not additional cost.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Travelling to different countries where the culture is very different makes us see how different we all are on the outside world but when we start seeing beyond that, we understand that we are all just the same regardless of where we come from.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Languages are important as they bring people together and make us understand on a deeper level a culture and a person. By learning a new language we can communicate and express how we feel to others and make our trip more meaningful.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
My advice for people who want to go abroad is to make sure they do all the necessary research before committing to a full-time position abroad, and try and learn about the culture as much as possible.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel for me means to live in the moment without any expectations about the future. Being open to learn new things and get involved with the culture and people is also important in order to have a meaningful travel. The future is always out of our hands but by being mindful of our choices, actions and being aware of how we relate to one another, we can create the best possible experiences not only for us but for others we cross paths with.
