Ed Russell is an TEFL Teacher
Ed completed the Trinity College certificate at Greenwich School in February 2002 and has worked with ISIS and Greenwich School ever since.
Why did you choose tefl?
I was out of work and I’d always thought about doing it. I had a brief involvement when I worked in a summer school as an activity leader. Checked out courses in the Guardian and applied.
Why this course?
The course was beginning soon after and was just around the corner. The school was accredited by the British Council and all my questions were answered at the interview. After researching the qualifications I realised Trinity and Cambridge were much the same course.
What were your intentions?
Before the course I wanted to complete it and try and find a job in London. I had also considered working overseas, especially in the developing world.
How did they change?
I found a job at the school quite quickly, staying on teaching junior groups and adults and enjoyed the experience.
After a couple of months I realised I could combine teaching and voluntary |
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work with the VSO organisation and applied with three months’ teaching experience. I went to interview but was a bit too picky about where I wanted to go and I was told my application required more experience.
In the meantime, I was settling in well at the school and had secured a full-time position in the senior school and soon became social programme manager as well. During the summer I used my previous experience working in activity management at the summer school and returned to the senior school at the end of the summer.
Following the summer, my aim was to gain the two years’ experience that VSO had asked for and I was happy to stay at the senior school in order to do this.
What are the plans for the future?
As of April 2005, I have just over two years’ experience and I’ve had the chance to work overseas with ISIS for a summer and fulfil a management position.
My future plans have changed slightly, as I now hope to teach overseas while at the same time studying for a diploma. I would like to teach outside western Europe – somewhere unusual! – and feel I’m making a difference to the local area.
The diploma opens up other jobs in tefl, including academic management. If I left the profession without it I would feel that I hadn’t achieved quite as much as I can.
Any advice to first timers?
Make sure you do a course at an accredited centre and includes a minimum number of teaching hours.
Keep all your materials! It’ll save a lot of time and keep those good ideas for eternity.
Be prepared for teaching in London to be difficult. Watch the pennies!
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