I chose to do the TEFL course at smaller earth Prague to meet like minded people who share a love for travelling and to experience studying/working in a foreign country.
I also thought having these 9 months between high school and university was a fantastic opportunity to travel and a perfect amount of time to have an insight on teaching English in a foreign country.
"From living in Australia for almost 3 years and Prague for 5 months I've had fantastic experiences learning about other cultures. If you really want to discover foreign cultures and traditions I have realised that you will definitely have the best experience by living and studying/working in the country, rather than visiting for just a few days.
I have become so much more independent from living not only away from home but also in a foreign country!
I believe the most important thing I have learned from living abroad is that I should spend money on travel rather than things, as they are all unforgettable experiences!"
I lived in Dublin until I was 15 and then moved to Brisbane, now Im in the Czech Republic! I love meeting new people and making friends, but it is always extremely difficult leaving everyone! After just 1 year in Australia I knew I had made lifelong friends, but I will always stay in contact via facebook and Skype!
I began teaching English after just 1 week of completing the TEFL course. As an English teacher in Prague, all of my students are Czech. Teaching is a extremely rewarding career, especially when you can see your students improving! It has also allowed me to discover so much more about the Czech peoples' traditions, attitudes and culture. My students always love telling me about great places to visit in Prague. The main reason they want to learn English is not just for communication with english speakers in their country, but also for travelling. English is the common language throughout Europe! They are always interested in learning about cultures of English speaking countries.
"There are many TEFL courses in Europe. I considered doing a course at home in Dublin, however there aren't many people looking for English lessons there, compared to Prague! The staff at smaller earth were fantastic. They were always happy to help, with recommendations on the best restaurants and bars to help with finding a job or accommodation after the course. Because of this, I didn't want to leave Prague after finishing the course, and so I decided to stay for 5 months until university begins! I have made so many new friends through the TEFL alumni group, and they were always willing to show me around when I arrived."
I will definitely continue teaching English during my summer holidays at university. After such an amazing experience in Prague, I hope to teach English in other foreign countries around the world. If I hadn't done this course, I don't think I would consider living in a different country for an entire Summer!