Rabbi and Martin

Rabbi and Martin are CertTESOL graduates, who, after their courses had finished, were recruited as English teachers at the school they had taken the course at. They talked to us about their experiences on the CertTESOL, and how they’ve developed over their first few years of teaching.

For Rabbi, doing the CertTESOL in 2020 was a big turning point in her life, and she couldn’t be happier with how it worked out.

“Doing the CertTESOL is the best decision I’ve ever made for my life thus far - career wise, lifestyle wise and passion wise. I haven’t looked back since!”

Rabbi found out about the course at Language Tuition Nottingham when she was studying Spanish at the same school. She’d done a bit of teaching and tutoring before, and had always had a love for languages, so she decided to take the plunge.

“I’m so passionate about education and languages and how, even now with my students, English impacts their lives on a day-to-day basis.”

Martin had similar reasons for doing the CertTESOL in 2019.

“I've always had an interest in language, and I was looking for a career change. I felt that becoming an English teacher would be something that I'd have that passion for - if you care about language, you'll enjoy teaching it.”

Both Rabbi and Martin talked about how important the practical element of the course was in building their confidence in their teaching skills. Martin said

“That's what separates the CertTESOL - it has that practical element, which obviously not every possible course has.”

They both admitted to feeling quite nervous teaching at first. Rabbi told us.

“I definitely remember that first teaching experience on the CertTESOL course, initially it was very nerve-wracking, but now I walk into my classroom every morning and it feels like a breeze. It’s all about building that rapport with the students, reading the room, and working out how to balance your energy across the group”.

Martin explained the role of the trainer in teaching practice.

“When you do the teaching practices, you've got a more senior teacher in the room assessing what you're doing - a bit like a safety blanket in a sense. After you’ve done a few lessons, and you've done some plans, your confidence starts to build. You just go from strength to strength”

Rabbi really valued the self-study forum tasks she did during the course.

“I’m sure I wasn’t the only one, and probably won’t be the only person moving forwards who needs to brush up on their grammar before the course! There’s a lot I learnt in the self-study forum tasks, really looking at other people’s learning experiences and why things do or don’t work”.

Martin also found the unknown language part of the CertTESOL course eye-opening.

“Being in a room where you're entirely talked at in Lithuanian, putting you in that position of being the student, that is so informative when you're actually teaching’

Both Martin and Rabbi were offered teaching positions at Language Tuition Nottingham after their CertTESOL and have continued developing their teaching skills during their time working at the school. Rabbi really values the experience of full-time teaching.

“Mostly during your course, because you’ve only just begun putting these techniques to use, you’re not entirely familiar with them. The experience afterwards helps you recognise the cues you need and use the techniques with more confidence”.

Both are already looking ahead and planning the next steps in developing their teaching careers. Martin tells us:

“I love teaching English. I'm onto a good thing and I plan on keeping the good thing going. I'm scheduled in next year to do the CertPT to get me up to Level 6*. And then I'll see if eventually I do the DipTESOL.”

Rabbi has a similar path in mind:

“My long-term plan is to do my DipTESOL and my Masters, and I’m starting my CertPT soon.”

* The CertPT is at Level 6 on Ofqual's’ qualifications framework, the same academic level as the final year of an undergraduate degree. Find out more about the different levels of Trinity’s teaching qualifications.

“Doing the CertTESOL is the best decision I’ve ever made for my life thus far - career wise, lifestyle wise and passion wise. I haven’t looked back since!”
Rabbi

 

“I've always had an interest in language, and I was looking for a career change. I felt that becoming an English teacher would be something that I'd have that passion for...”
Martin

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