News from our grads
Ben in Madrid, Spain
No obstacles to teaching overseas
Melbourne graduate Ben Whitburn
proves that there are no obstacles to living
and working overseas as an English teacher. After approaching Teach International
late last year, the Foundation in TESOL Course was modified for Ben who
is visually impaired so that he could attend and participate in the course.
By being provided with the computer version of the course materials,
and using his laptop and screen-reading software for each day of the
in-class, Ben successfully completed the course
and is now working overseas in beautiful Madrid.
1. How/Why did you first think of doing a TESOL course and going overseas?
My interest in TESOL was tweaked whilst studying Spanish at a language school in Madrid. I figured there's a penny to be made in the capital that speaks no English, and this, combined with living in amongst a more-than-vibrant Spanish culture, gave me the motivation to get home and get registered.
2. Why did you choose Teach International?
I chose Teach International for the flexibility of the available courses, and above all, for the friendliness and approachability of the staff. They were willing to provide all printed material in accessible format, and were more than helpful modifying in-class activities so I could take part. It seemed that nothing was impossible - an attitude I've certainly adopted toward teaching even the most difficult of students.
3. How did the course help you prepare for the journey ahead?
The course was incredible. There's nothing more daunting than wandering into a classroom for the first time, and Teach International's Foundation Course - particularly the in-class component - prepared me to tackle the most difficult of situations.
4. Where are you teaching and how did you get the job?
I took to Madrid in April, which is supposedly the worst time of year to find ESL work. Madridteacher.com supplied me with an entire morning of entertainment, and by the afternoon I had four job interviews. In the end I had to reject work, as there was too much. Soon I’m heading to Barcelona to start teaching in a brand new English school for the blind which is being set up in an old bordello (brothel) in the centre.
5. What do you enjoy most about
living there?
Spain - what can I say? The Aussies of Europe, the Spanish people are super friendly, the culture is rich, the food is great and it's cheap - comparable with Melbourne. Madrid would have to be the nightlife capital of Western Europe, though ironically is very traditional. Barcelona in comparison is a little more cosmopolitan, and seems to be going through an identity crisis at the moment what with Catalonian independents looming ever closer. That said, recent visits have shown me some amazing parks and buildings crafted by the hand of Gaudi, an extraordinary gothic borough to get lost in, and a beach, which will all be in my backyard!
6. What do you find challenging about living there?
Perhaps superficial of me, but I miss some of the smaller things, such as decent radio, access to a library, and a good pint of Coopers Pale Ale. Of course language barriers stand in the way at first, but surely we as teachers know it's less important to be able to understand every word. Learning the local lingo certainly helps to break down these barriers, and of course it can help you attract more local 'friends'.
7. Do you have any funny stories?
On quizzing a student on why he hadn't attended classes for several weeks, I had to forgive him when he told me that all his wife's friends were either pregnant or having babies. As our classes were scheduled at lunch time, he was ripping home for a bit of "...siesta, to... how do you say, pregnate her." Business English was put aside for a day while we took up the language of sex education. Having taught this subject to blind kids in a high school in the past, there's a lot to be said about doing so with a grown man in a starched suit in the office of an inner-city insurance agency!
8. What advice would you give to someone planning on teaching there?
Get to it. There's absolutely nothing standing in your way!
9. What are your future plans? Will you keep teaching and travelling?
Definitely! My dream is to do a sweep of Latin America from top to bottom, stopping for several months in various cities to teach English, rent a room with some locals and live like one, before moving on to the next. This might happen before I die!
Ben Whitburn - Teach
International Graduate
