Staff Interview with Victoria Mendez

What inspired you to work for the International Teacher Training Organization?

I love learning and facing the challenges that come along the way. I got inspired to work for the International Teacher Training Organization because I love meeting people from all over the world and learning about different cultures and ways of thinking.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job as an advisor is helping candidates in every step of their TEFL journey. I understand how being a foreigner in a new country can be complicated, especially when you don’t speak the language. I love answering all our trainees’ questions. I am more than glad to help.

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

Some of the challenges I face have something to do with the interaction of people from different cultures. Every candidate has a different mindset. You just have to learn how to manage every situation. There are cases where challenges get a bit out of hand, but at International Teacher Training Organization, we help each other when the need arises.

What makes the International Teacher Training Organization special?

I believe that our organization is special because we truly care about helping each one of the candidates. We make sure everything is covered. We are a warmhearted team ready to help our candidates in the best way possible.

What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our organization mission is to help candidates achieve their life goals, which is to teach and travel. We make sure we provide the candidates all the information needed for their teach-and-travel experience.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

I hope participants take from our four-week TEFL course all the skills learned with our trainers. Plus all the new life skills learned in a new culture.

How do you help support participants?

I am here to support in every way needed from where to go eat a taco to doing transactions at a bank. Even sometimes a personal bond is created that the participant is confident to count on you for any personal matters.

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

I would travel to Argentina. I believe it is such a nice place to visit. Their culture, food, everything just gets my attention. I would definitely get TEFL certified.

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

Usually participants are concerned about visas when traveling to Mexico. The answer to that is pretty simple because if the participant is from the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom they will automatically receive a 180-day permit upon arrival at the airport.

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

First, you have to really make sure where you would like to go abroad, search every little thing once you are ready. Just do it. Going abroad will always fill you with whole new experiences.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

To me it means to have the experience of a lifetime. To be ready to leave everything behind and start a whole new chapter. Because once you start traveling you are going to want more and more travel experiences.

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

I hope that a lot of candidates take the adventure of teaching and traveling, and most importantly, give back to the community. I truly believe that giving to the most needy is one of the best blessings in life.