Staff Interview with Rachel Dempsey

What inspired you to work for The TEFL Academy?

I have worked in educational/travel industries for over two and a half years now. I love to work with people who are looking to broaden their horizons and experience new things. Our students will go out into the world and teach others the very valuable skill of the English language. It is great to be part of the process. It is great to assist people in reaching their goals of becoming a certified TEFL teacher.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favourite part of my job is definitely getting to speak with people from all over the world. It is great to hear all of the accents. I really like to help others and in my role I get to support our students daily.

What are some current projects you are working on?

I am currently undertaking our Level 5 TEFL certificate. I think the course is fantastic and I am excited to finish it, it is a great qualification to have.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

I would tell her to say yes to every opportunity given to her. Whether that be going to eat or trying out a new sport. I would also encourage her to embrace the cultures of all these amazing countries as much as she can.

Why should someone choose The TEFL Academy over competitors?

We are recognized in both the UK and USA, this makes our course very attractive to many students because they can travel and work in nearly every country worldwide. We also offer great customer service to our students. The team is always on hand to provide support should it be required.

What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?

I hope that The TEFL Academy continues to grow and assist even more people in reaching their goal of becoming a qualified TEFL teacher. It would be great to open our combined course option up in more countries around the world.

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

Similarly to the above, the team here provide great customer service and support to all of our students. We are always available to assist our students. We also have tutor support which is available to our students throughout the duration of their course. In addition to this, we offer one free top up course to every student who registers for our Level 5 certificate, this gives us an edge.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

I hope that our students come away from the course with a solid understanding of how to teach English to non-native speakers. I also hope that each of our students leave the course with confidence that they will excel in their TEFL career.

If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?

I would love to partake on the volunteering opportunity to Sri Lanka. It would be amazing to see this part of the world and give back in the process. I would love to experience the culture and meet new people.

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

I would advise them to ensure they carry out their research about where they would like to travel. From here I would tell them to embrace the culture and take advantage of every opportunity they get while they are aboard.  

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel to me is travelling abroad and making the most of the experience. Trying to learn something new about the country, it's people or culture. If you return home with more understanding of the world we live in, I believe that was a trip well spent.

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

I hope that international education continues to grow and more people have the opportunity to travel, meet new people, and experience new places. I would like to see native English speakers embracing a new language as well.