This is the story of how TEFL changed my life.
Back in 2008 I was completely lost. I did not know what I wanted, I was not interested in anything at all, and my performance at university was not even OK. Fortunately, one of my English teachers talked me into doing my first TEFL course in 2009. I was then accepted into the National English Programme in Basic Education.
Not only did I gain work and teaching experience, but also found my true passion. I was very fortunate to get so much support, development, and training from the programme that little by little I came to realize how much I loved it.
After four years of teaching with the programme, I decided it was time to take my teaching to the next level. I also wanted to experience working abroad so I decided to take the CELTA and get an internationally recognized certificate. IH Guadalajara was my first encounter with International House in 2013. The course was amazing, and it boosted my teaching skills even though I had been teaching for four years already.
CELTA opened the first door to travelling and I was offered a position in IH Novokuznetsk in Russia. I could not believe it, I was really excited and could not wait to start a new chapter in my life. It was an amazing experience! I met wonderful people, learnt a new language, and I was able to share my Mexican culture on the other side of the world.
It has been five years since I left Novokuznetsk, and I still get messages from former students. I was really happy to know that two, in particular, were truly inspired by me and their other teachers. One has just completed his CELTA course and became an English teacher, and the other one is moving to Spain to study a university course completely in Spanish. am glad she really enjoyed learning Spanish. These are the little things that I will never forget. They are just priceless.
Honestly speaking, I love teaching with International House. No matter what country you go to, it always feels like family. The attention they pay to teachers’ professional development is just invaluable. While teaching with IH Riviera Maya, I was able to complete IH CAM, TKT YL and Delta 1, I even became a speaking examiner for Cambridge tests.
I am now teaching with IH Dnipro in Ukraine and I have new goals in mind. I am looking forward to improving my Russian, and give Ukrainian language a go; why not! I am not scared of starting all over again in a new country because, as I said before, IH feels like home. I am immensely thankful for finding my true passion and for all the opportunities that I have had throughout these years. I was once lost, but I am now unstoppable!
If you are reading this and you are still uncertain about starting a teaching career, do not think it twice! Give yourself the opportunity to create connections with others, be a role model, and an inspiration. It is not just rewarding, it is gratifying.
Start writing your own TELF story now!