What inspired you to go abroad?
I have been teaching English in my home country for quite a long time and I felt I needed some fresh air. Studying ELT abroad was the best option for me to enhance my teaching and to immerse in full time English speaking surroundings.
Sightseeing in Barcelona
Why did you choose Oxford TEFL?
I chose Oxford TEFL in Barcelona for several reasons. Firstly, it was my dream to visit Barcelona and having been accepted to the course I got a chance to stay there for the whole month!
Secondly, I wanted to get CELTA certificate which opens the doors to global ESL teaching, and Barcelona Oxford TEFL offered just what I needed. Our tutors were all native speakers, as well as most of my peer students. My apartment was right in the historic center of Barcelona, pretty close to the sea, it was amazing!
What was your favorite part about Barcelona?
The thing I loved most in Barcelona was its magnificent architecture. I have never seen so much beauty accumulated in one place! The city is old and at the same time it is vibrant and up-to-date! Old quarters of the city are well maintained, the streets are clean and the buildings aren't spoiled by publicity signs.
What made your experience abroad unique?
It was really a lifetime experience! I learned so much during the course, made new friends from all over the world, saw loads of unique places, had a chance to experience the fantastic atmosphere of the city.
Sagrada de Familia
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The Oxford TEFL staff was really supportive. All trainees were guided and supported by course tutors full time and we were encouraged to discuss all the difficulties we were facing with them. We also got great help in further career development and job search.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Actually, there is nothing I would like to have done differently, except for, probably, my preparation for the course. I think I should have learned more about the course, read more books—it would have made my life on the course less stressful.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
Our day usually started with lesson planning sessions at 1:30 p.m., but many students came to school in the morning to use the library and prepare their lessons in a quiet and chilly atmosphere. During lesson planning we got a lot of help from our course tutors and shared our ideas with peer trainees.
For lunch, we could have lunch at school or eat out. In the afternoon, we had two hours of input sessions providing us with theoretical and practical knowledge to be applied to our own lessons. We were supposed to prepare and teach two lessons a week of our own.
We also participated in observations of lessons taught by experienced teachers and our peer trainees, followed by common feedback, so we were usually busy doing this from 6:15 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. It was really pretty intensive!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
Despite the intensiveness of the course, I enjoyed my free time in Barcelona. My day usually started early in the morning with the jog to the sea. I would have a swim and enjoy the morning silence—a great way to set up for the day.
I loved those moments, especially because my route went through the Gothic Quarter with all its beauty and no tourists so early in the morning! During the weekend we has some time for sightseeing and we made the most of it!
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
The flat I stayed in was in the very center of Barcelona. I found it through the school and I think I was lucky to stay there. It's in an old building with typical Cathlon design, colorful tiled floors, shuttered windows, and simple but nice furniture.
I had a separate bedroom with a balcony, a wardrobe, and a bed. There was a kitchen where I could cook my food, a living room for studying, and a rooftop for my yoga practices. It was just perfect! There were two other people in the flat—my host and another tenant from South Africa—who were both really friendly and helpful.
The first day of the course
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
It is a very intensive program, so if you expect just to have a holiday, this course is not for you.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I should say I returned from Barcelona being a different person. I have changed my opinion on different things, I have broadened my horizon, and now I have a more global view of my future. I am more confident and skillful as a teacher and I am sure that I will continue to develop. It was really quite a kick!
Would you recommend Oxford TEFL to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend this program to those who are seeking professional growth and are willing to pursue their ESL teaching career on the global work market.
