Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day for me starts in the office. I reply to some emails and have a briefing with other members of staff to prepare for the day. As students begin to arrive we'll have a friendly chat and answer any questions the students might have thought of. Then we'll begin our teaching day. We enjoy having lunch together and taking some off time to relax and enjoy the beautiful island. Then it's back to the classroom to complete the day!
Why do you do what you do?
I work in education because I truly believe that it is the most rewarding career someone can choose. Watching people progress gives me immense satisfaction and enjoyment. Being a TEFL instructor is the ultimate level of satisfaction. Knowing the impact you have on new teachers gets passed on to students worldwide is epic!
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I value my teaching degree and masters degree very highly as I believe it has given me the tools to be a very adaptable and informative teacher. I believe that this allows me to pass on this wisdom to the students of our courses! Having an international background also helps to relate and prepare the students for the world that awaits them.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Pack your bag and do it! Don't sweat the small stuff and embrace having few possessions. Don't worry about a thing, it will all be great. The most important thing is to begin!
What makes Destination TEFL special?
Our organisation is special because we care! We care about our students from the moment we “meet” through email, all the way through the application process, the training, and then we continue to care and offer support as they begin their careers! We are a family-feel company and offer a very personal touch.
What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?
The reason that our organisation is easy to market is that we put time and effort into choosing the perfect location for our courses. We know how important location is to our potential participants and want to offer them the very best experience we can. We also have the very best group of tutors who offer the best training!
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope that participants will take away a lot of knowledge and memories. We also want our students to be independent learners. We want to provide the skills for our students to become versatile and resilient teachers who can thrive in any environment.
How do you help support participants?
We offer support from the moment we are first introduced! We can assist with all the travel arrangements and information needed to arrive at your chosen location. We will then offer award-winning training throughout the course. We don't stop there, we offer lifetime job assistance after the course. We are family for life!
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would of course choose the Bali branch! Bali has it all, from beautiful beaches to the hustle and bustle of city life. Want to swim with the dolphins in the ocean or crack open a coconut in the jungle? We can give it all to you. The TEFL programme in Bali gives you a real flavour of Bali life with excursions and trips to wet your taste buds.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
DO IT! My advice is simple, just do it! The hardest part is taking that first step. It's easy to overthink things and find barriers to prevent you from living your dream. So I reiterate my point—just do it!
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope that international education can continue to develop on a personal and individual basis. Allowing schools and organisations to create their own curriculums and deliver in a variety of ways will maintain the ability for individuals to find the right match for them. I also hope that students are challenged to become the best image of themselves that they can be through a positive and creative environment with a growth mindset.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is when it enriches your life in some way. This could be internal or external. The beauty of travel education is that this meaning can be captured by enriching the lives of children worldwide which then gives you the reward too.
