Teach Away

Why did you choose this program?

I work with airports and airlines. When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, commercial air travel declined dramatically. I had to consider the possibility that I might lose my job and be out of work for a some period while I hoped for a recovery and rebound in air travel. During that time, I saw an online ad for teaching English online. As I researched the possibilities, I saw that some opportunities only required a degree while other required a degree with a teacher's certificate. Those requiring a teacher's certificate recommended the Teach Away program sponsored by International House Berkeley in cooperation with Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I worked through an online course. I thought it was very easy to follow. They have an introduction video that helps explain the program. The online course has training modules comprised of individual lessons related to the overall topic of the module. The student is expected to maintain a journal of reflections in which he takes notes and writes responses to thought questions. At the end of each module, he must submit a homework assignment, which is graded pass/fail and then take an online test. I think the people organizing the course did a good job preparing students for both the homework and test.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

You get out of the program what you put into it. You have paid money to take this course. Make your investment count. The course provides links and references to external teaching materials, which are very useful. My advice is to look at those links and explore those materials. Learning is a process; take the time necessary to study the material.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I can only speak for myself. I never lost my job in the aerospace industry. Even during the pandemic, I had work to do. My participation in this course typically occurred in the evenings and on the weekends. There were many times, especially midway through the course, when I was tired and did not feel like reviewing the lessons or performing the homework. I had to push myself, but I could get through a lesson in about an hour. Rather than try to cover a lot of material at once, I tried to do one lesson every few days to make progress. As long as you are making progress, you will finish. The key is not to stop and stagnate.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I just finished my course, and I have not traveled overseas for a teaching assignment. I have a lot of international travel experience associated with my aviation career. This experience was very helpful in the latter part of the course when cross-cultural adjustment is discussed. I do not know whether I will teach overseas or not. I am waiting to see what opportunities exist for this type of work. Over the last 25 years, I have many experiences with missed flights, missing luggage, being lost in an unfamiliar city, not knowing the local language, and an assortment of other issues. The key in those situations is to remain calm and work towards a solution. Do what you can, but don't try to control what you can't control.

What do you like about international travel?

I like the adventure of it; I like seeing something new; I like observing those around me who are locals. It would be very easy to travel to an international city, stay in a business hotel, eat at the hotel or other international restaurants, and insulate yourself from the world around you. That is not living. I am not advocating for taking unnecessary risks, but if you are visiting a new place, explore it. Don't be afraid to get out among the people; try the public transportation; eat the local cuisine. If nothing else, it will give you stories to tell in your old age.

What position do you hold at University of Toronto TEFL Online? What has been your career path so far?

I currently work as the Course Coordinator for the University of Toronto TEFL Online course at Teach Away. The most important stop on the path to my current position was my experience teaching abroad in Spain.

After graduating university I began working in an administrative position with a large company to save money to move abroad. After a lot of research I decided that teaching English overseas was the best way for me to meet my goal of long-term travel, and I quickly decided on Spain.

Earning my TEFL certification before leaving Canada, making the calculated risk to move to Spain (without a teaching job first!) and eventually landing a teaching job, lead me to where I am today. In my current position, I translate my past teaching and traveling experiences in a meaningful way to help others take the first step towards teaching English abroad, getting TEFL certified.

Did YOU teach abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

I lived in Gijon, Spain, in the northern province of Asturias for one year teaching conversational English to adults in a private language academy. Ever since studying abroad in Italy between my third and fourth years of university, I knew I wanted to live abroad long-term. I finished my final year of university and graduated with my bachelor’s degree.

A friend in my program told me about TEFL certification, and the advantages of teaching abroad as a way to travel abroad long-term, and I was hooked!

I earned my TEFL certification that summer and began researching for my adventure. After some research I considered teaching in Spain and Japan, but quickly settled on Spain.

I was inspired by Spanish culture - the food, the history, the language - and couldn’t wait to explore a part of Europe I had never seen before.

What country have you always wanted to visit?

I have always wanted to go to the Czech Republic. To me, photographs of Prague make it look as if it were first imagined in a fairytale. With its UNESCO world heritage sites, famous bridge and old town, colorful baroque buildings and Gothic churches, it is almost too perfect to visit! But, how can I choose just one?

At the top of my list are also a road trip across Iceland and a trip to Antarctica. I would love to get lost along the Ring Road in Iceland, stopping to see the beautiful volcanoes, waterfalls, icebergs, northern lights (if I’m lucky!) and National Geographic worthy landscapes.

As for Antarctica, I would love to board a cruise from the southern tip of Chile bound for Antarctica. To learn about the wildlife, history and current affairs of the southernmost part of our planet, which would definitely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What's your favorite ethnic dish?

Being one of the culinary capitals of the world, living in Spain was like being on a culinary tour e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y. One of the first things I ate when I arrived in Spain was a tortilla de patata, which is a Spanish omelette made of eggs, potato and onion, served on piece of fresh bread. I had never eaten so many starches and proteins in one dish and had never been so full in my life!

If I had to choose a favorite, however, it would have to be the fresh seafood. Teaching English in a coastal town I was spoiled with fresh seafood paella, fried chipirones and calamari, and my ultimate favorite, octopus.

Smothered in local olive oil and sprinkled with smoked Spanish paprika the octopus is traditionally boiled and lightly grilled on the outside before it’s diced and served on a simple platter in round bite-sized pieces. It is so soft and delicious it will spoil you for all future octopus.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

While living in Spain, I spent the first ten days of my summer vacation sailing around the Balearic islands. Starting in Ibiza, continuing to Palma de Mallorca and ending in Menorca, it was a trip I would never forget.

Before the trip I had never been on a sailboat, let alone for ten days with three people I had just met. I quickly discovered that traveling on water was one of the most beautiful and rewarding ways to experience a place, especially when the body of water you get to sail across is the Mediterranean Sea.

I jumped off the boat to snorkel with fish everyday, enjoyed meals on the boat with no land in view, and went to bed with the sun every night.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?​

A graduate of the TEFL Online course once told me that they would not be in their current teaching position in South Korea if it weren’t for the University of Toronto TEFL Online course.

When I hear stories like this - and I hear them often - of teachers who graduate from our course are able to fulfill their dream of teaching and traveling abroad, and that they are finding joy in making a difference in the lives of their students, I know that I am making a positive impact on the lives of others, and that I am without a doubt in the right industry.