United States
US
Holly Down
Teach Enrich Empower
Travelling Has Always Been A Massive Part Of My Life
Firstly, I wish to begin with saying how grateful I am to The TEFL Academy for providing me with such support in finishing this course! Now I can teach abroad!
Here’s a little about me…
My name is Holly Down. I am 24 years old from the UK. For me, travelling has always been such a massive part of my life. I have spent the past 4 years travelling New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, South America, North America, Europe and Asia. However it was time for me to be a little closer to home!
Before I began travelling I was a bar manager in a pub close to home. I completed college in art and design and event management, but I really didn’t know what I wanted to spend the next few years of my life doing. Nothing excited me. I got my first taste of travelling when a friend and I went to New Zealand and from there I definitely caught the travel bug! So that brings me to where I am now.
Teaching is something that had never crossed my mind. I am shy when speaking in front of people and I really don’t like being the center of attention, but as I sat in a bar in Thailand I got speaking to a friend who had lived there for 2 years teaching English! Everything he said made it sound like the dream job! I mean how could you complain about living abroad and traveling whilst being paid!?
“My first TEFL teaching experience is in Seville, Spain. It is one of the most beautiful places I have had the pleasure of visiting and now I am lucky enough to call it home.”
That’s when I just decided to go for it. I found The TEFL Academy and set to work! After 4 years of being on the other side of the world I decided it was time to move a little closer to home (not quite all the way). My first TEFL teaching experience is in Seville, Spain. It is one of the most beautiful places I have had the pleasure of visiting and now I am lucky enough to call it home.
I am currently working in a Spanish primary school in the mornings as a language assistant which is incredible. I get to see what life is really like in schools here. I appreciate this as I can see other teaching techniques which I can learn so much from. In the evenings I have my own classroom in a language school where I am my own teacher. I was terrified at the beginning. I don’t speak Spanish, how can I just move and work to this new country?
However, I’m so glad I did. I am learning Spanish as well as teaching English. The students are amazing and friendly. You gain such a sense of achievement when they get a good grade in a test, or even just have a simple conversation with you, you suddenly realise, wow, I made that happen! I taught them this!
I wish I had begun this journey sooner but I am so grateful for it now! I encourage many more to join the TEFL journey! You think you can never live in another country that doesn’t speak your native tongue due to language barriers and no job opportunities, but this makes it happen! So much out there to see. Good luck to everyone on your journeys!
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