Describe a typical day at work.
I get up at 5:00 a.m. due to the time difference between Europe and Asia, where our training centres are located. That way I can attend to any urgent matters not too late in the day for the team on the ground. I’ll then liaise with our sales team with regards to any marketing ideas as well as any sign ups, and onboard any new applicants.
This could entail preparing visa documents, and making sure the new trainee knows exactly what they have to do going forward. I’ll have a meeting with our Head of Operations to discuss any current matters or new projects. I often write blog posts for the website.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love hearing back from our graduates. Having been a part of their journey from the beginning, it’s great to hear their success stories and watch them grow from “deer in the headlights” newbie travelers to seasoned teachers happily settled in their new country, contributing to society and making friends with both expats and locals. Often we hear of them moving again to new countries. I have graduates who are now working in their 6th country since doing the course and I love following their journey.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Right now, the pandemic throws us curveballs left, right, and centre. We have to stay up to date with travel regulations and restrictions, and assist our trainees when governments change entry or visa requirements. We then have to assist our applicants to make the necessary changes, obtain new documents, etc.
The best way to overcome this is to think outside of the box and not feel defeated when a new lockdown, regulation, or requirement comes into play. We have always found a solution and we work with immigration consultants and embassies to get up-to-date info.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Be open to new ideas and meeting new people. Don’t be scared to travel alone. Your new best friend could be waiting at the next airport or bus terminal and you wouldn’t know it unless you initiate that chat. Have a plan, but be flexible. Don’t stress too much when things don’t go to plan. There’s always an alternative. Store all important documents in a cloud and give a family member access to it too.
What hopes do you have for the future of Destination TEFL?
Our company name is Destination TEFL because we are all about exciting destinations: Destinations to do your TEFL course, as well as destinations to teach after the course. We have plans to open several more training centres in bucket-list destinations worldwide. It's very important that we not only offer a top-notch training course but that we offer it in a prime location where our applicants would want to spend four weeks while studying.
Are there any developments with your organization that you would like to share with us?
After closing the Koh Samui, Thailand branch at the beginning of the pandemic, we are super excited to say that we are reopening in Thailand as of 1 November 2021, in the vibrant capital city of Bangkok!
What is Destination TEFL’s mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
The Destination TEFL mission is to improve the level of ESL teachers across Southeast Asia by offering internationally recognised and accredited TEFL certificate training onsite in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand. We are not in the habit of just handing out certificates. We feel strongly about producing competent and passionate EFL teachers.
Right from the first enquiry, we’ll ensure that the person is suited to teaching English abroad. During the course, we make sure that they are committed and participate in class. There’s no place for half-hearted participation on a Destination TEFL course.
We will also not pass any student who has not participated, handed in assignments, or met the requirements to earn their certificate. Our Head of Academics and the training team stay up to date with the latest trends in the industry and the course is constantly being developed to ensure that Destination TEFL remains at the top of the ESL leader board.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
You most likely won't become rich from teaching. However, your life will become rich with experiences. Life is about experiences and moments, rather than material things. In saying that, working abroad and earning a different currency could also be financially rewarding—but this shouldn’t be your only driving factor when deciding to live abroad.
It’s these magic moments that you will reflect back on later in life; you won’t remember the headache of trying to get the visa, but you will remember the people you met, the places you saw, and the things you experienced. Of course, they will also have a qualification that they can use for life and is a great addition to their CV.
How do you help support participants?
We help them to fully prepare for their travel and teaching experience. Our sales team chats with the applicant to make sure that they have the correct mindset for living and working abroad. During the onboarding, I assist them with all practical matters, making sure that they are ready to travel. During the course, our trainers are there to assist anyone who needs additional support. Our teams on the ground also provide job support with our placement assistance packages.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It helps you to become more independent. There’s nothing like navigating a new country, with a strange language on your own to teach you to rely on yourself rather than others. You’ll grow up very quickly!
You’ll make new international friends. These friends could be locals or other expats. While it’s easier to slip into the expat bubble with others who speak your language, do try to make some local friends too, so you get a real perspective of local life. This might be harder due to language barriers, but you will gain so much from it. Locals enjoy meeting foreigners too, and hearing about your life back home.
Traveling also changes your view of the world from a cultural perspective. It makes you realise that things may work a bit differently to what you’re used to back home and challenges your outlook and views on the world around you. It makes you see that the world is a lot bigger than your home country and you may adapt your way of thinking with regards to culture, religion, political views, and customs—making up your own mind about such things, rather than just accepting what you have been brought up to believe.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
There's always a way. If you don't have the money, start a GoFundMe and ask friends and family to contribute to it instead of giving you birthday gifts. You'll never regret your work abroad experience. It’s great for your CV! Having lived abroad shows a prospective employer that you are adaptable, have an open mind, and are up to challenges.
It makes you more open to opportunities. If you’ve never lived abroad, you may not consider positions abroad when your career presents them to you. But once that door has been opened, you know you are capable of doing it, and it opens up your options for jobs.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Perhaps this best sums up the difference between being a tourist and a traveller. Engaging with locals in a meaningful way, being respectful of local culture and customs so as not to offend. Volunteer where you can and give back in some way, with either money, time, knowledge, or just showing appreciation for the local people and their home. Don't abuse local resources that are scarce and support small businesses when traveling to help local communities.
