CertTEFL Graduates Testimonials

TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Chelsea Lord(26)
Born: Taranaki, New Zealand
Working: Teacher, English language Centre, AIS St Helens
Educated: Degree in Anthropology, University of Auckland; AIS St Helens, CertTEFL

Chelsea Lord is a woman with passion. Two of her loves are anthropology and teaching and she's pursuing them both with equal vigour.
The 26-year-old Kiwi already has a degree in Anthropology from Auckland University and she's now got her sights firmly set on gaining a Masters in Maritime Archaeology from England or Australia. Currently there are no universities in New Zealand which offer that programme.

“ I'm interested in working in a field which combines water and archaeology. There are lots of jobs in this area in other countries but not so many in New Zealand. There should be though. We should really be looking more at conservation of artefacts around New Zealand. We're an island and we should be looking at understanding history through the water. You never know what you might find,” she says.

Chelsea says it has taken a long time to realise what kind of work she wants to immerse herself in. After graduating from Auckland University she worked as an administrator for a toy factory before heading off to the UK and Saudi Arabia to visit her family. Her mum is a nurse and until recently was living and working in Saudi.

“ Then when I came back to New Zealand I started looking at administration jobs again but I suddenly realised I couldn't handle it. I wanted something more exciting, more challenging. I decided teaching would be really cool.”

Chelsea landed a job teaching English in the AIS St Helens English Language Centre and at the same time launched into the institute's 16-week part time Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

“ The course was really useful. I picked up lots of good tips and ideas and it was really beneficial to be teaching at the same time as doing the course – everything seemed to click faster.

“ After I completed the course I looked on the internet for jobs in Japan. I found a company called Interac which recruits business teachers and assistant language teachers. They had a guy coming to Auckland to conduct interviews so I applied. The interview went well. He was very impressed that I had a TEFL qualification as well as a degree. I gave him my portfolio, which Pam and Campbell make you do as part of your course. He thought it was great.”

Chelsea was offered a job with the company and was soon winging her way to Ibaraki, Japan, one hour out of Tokyo. Here she worked for ten months as an Assistant Language Teacher in junior high schools.

“ I had a set school I had to go to and it changed every term so I worked at three different junior highs during my time there. Also once every two weeks I taught at elementary school. I loved that. I would love to teach English to kids that age, they're so gorgeous.”

Chelsea came back from Japan in January this year full of enthusiasm for the ancient oriental culture.

“ I loved Japan, both the culture and the country. I'd love to go back again, although I'd prefer to do business teaching or teaching young kids than junior high school next time.”

However while she was away Chelsea did miss the teaching atmosphere she had become accustomed to at AIS St Helens.

“ When I was in Japan I missed the AIS St Helens classes. Teachers at AIS St Helens get to know their students so well. In Japan you might only have the students once a week so you don't notice as much happening. There's not the same gratification. Whereas at AIS St Helens you have the same class for six weeks so you really see students making progress.”

So Chelsea has now returned to her job in the AIS St Helens English Language Centre, saving her pennies before she heads off to the UK later this year.

“ Hopefully I'll get work in England teaching English for a while before I start university. Regardless of the career I get into, I think I'll still teach in some form in the future, even if it's just tutoring. Also after I get my Master's degree I'd like to travel and teach English. I'd really love to go to Prague, Italy and Spain.”

Amber O'Brien(22)
Born: New Zealand
Working: English language teaching in Auckland
Educated: AIS St Helens, CertTEFL

When Amber O'Brien started teaching English at a school in Pohang, Korea last year, the class roles almost doubled.
Pleased parents were constantly phoning the 22-year-old Aucklander telling her how much their children enjoyed her lessons; and students almost sunk into despair when after seven months she returned to Auckland for family reasons.

One of just a handful of native English speakers living and teaching in Pohang, Amber was in hot demand.

“ There was so much competition between the schools to have a Western teacher. I was the only one at my school so I was a real novelty,” she said.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Education, Amber became disillusioned with the prospect of primary and intermediate school teaching in New Zealand.

“ I applied for so many jobs but I didn't get any of them because I didn't have any experience. One of my friends teaches English at AIS St Helens so I went and watched one of her classes. I thought it looked like fun so decided to give it a go. Also my fiancé Kalib and I wanted to save money to buy a house and get married so I thought teaching English overseas would be a good way to do that.”

Amber completed the six-week intensive CertTEFL course at AIS St Helens, before she and Kalib jumped on a plane heading to Asia mid-last year.

“ The CertTEFL course was great. The tutors gave us lots of creative ideas, games and activities that my students in Korea really enjoyed. In Korea, students learn by memorizing everything, so when I turned up with all these creative activities we had a lot of fun. It was something they weren't used to in class.”

Touching down in Korea was a real eye-opener for the young couple, neither of whom had ever been away from their families.

“ At first it was a shock. Pohang is very different from Auckland. There are no traffic lights or footpaths and you wouldn't want to drive there! I don't speak Korean so in the beginning it was hard, but you do eventually start to understand each other. I loved living there. The Koreans are so beautiful and they treated us like royalty wherever we went. It was a fantastic experience and it was very cheap so we came back with a nest egg, which was one of our main goals.”

Darrell Skiffington(64)
Born: Hamilton, New Zealand
Working: Language centres throughout Chonburi province, Thailand
Educated: AIS St Helens, CertTEFL

Sixty-four-year-old Darrell Skiffington is a firm believer that you're as old as you feel. And the passionate, energetic Kiwi certainly doesn't feel old. While many enter their sixties intent on slowing down, Darrell and his wife Rae (62) have just stepped up the pace, embarking on an adventure some half their age wouldn't be up for.

The pair have recently winged their way to Thailand to start a new life in the Chonburi province. Darrell, who recently gained his CertTEFL qualification at AIS St Helens, will be teaching English at a number of language centres throughout the province.

"Society tags you as being a senior citizen, but I don't see that as a barrier," says Darrell. "While you're fit and healthy you should do what you want to do - and do it now. I took that attitude when I decided to do the CertTEFL course."

Darrel has been involved in education most of his life. He has taught Physical Education and Engineering and been the General Secretary for the YMCA. He also spent 28 years working for the Ministry of Transport. During that time he was an Education Officer for Taranaki and worked his way through the ranks, spending seven years in head office and finally becoming the Northern region's Regional Manager for Traffic Education.

After retiring from the Ministry at aged 50, Darrell and his wife went to America to work and travel, starting up a successful business in the video industry on their return.

The father of three and grandfather of one has led a varied and fascinating life. In addition to his educational roles Darrell has worked as a fisherman, built a fishing boat and been a "Kiwi dad" to a large number of Asian students.

In fact it is because of the experiences he and Rae have enjoyed as homestay parents that the couple are now in Thailand.

"For many years we have had Thai students staying with us. That's how it started. We had long-term students' one for five years, one for three years, another for two years. We've also had students from other countries.

"Obviously having students stay with us for that long, we've become friends with their families. They've visited New Zealand and stayed with us and we've stayed with them. These are friends who go back many years now."

It's due to these friendships that Darrell's interest, in both Thailand and teaching English, has evolved.

"I'm quite proud of the fact that by the time our homestay students left us they were speaking almost perfect English. I think we did have an impact on their lives while they were here and we did change their view on life.

"The Thais are such friendly people and we get on so well with them. I've visited Thailand six or seven times now. Every time I go over there I speak English to the Thai people. They are so keen to speak English and they're so short of native speakers. So I thought why not do a diploma and go and work over there."

Darrell is excited about the challenges this new adventure will provide.

"It's a bit like Pandora's Box. I'll have to lift the lid to see what's going to happen!

"I'm looking forward to getting back into the classroom, to having a class of 15 students who are keen and motivated. I decided to work at a number of language centres instead of just one because we want to travel and this gives us that flexibility.

"We've got accommodation right down by the beach. I'm interested in yachting so I'm hoping there'll be a little bit of sailing over there too."

Currently Darrell only speaks a little Thai however he is committed to becoming more fluent.

"I need to be able to communicate with the local community. You cannot isolate yourself as a teacher, you've got to try and work in with the community as well."
Although standing up in front of a class is something Darrell has done for years, he said the AIS CertTEFL course taught him a great deal.

"I needed to come to grips with the current systems of teaching English as a Foreign Language and they did that very well. Teaching English is pretty similar fundamentally to other teaching, in the planning and the preparation. It's just that it's different subject matter."

With his zest for life and his world of experience Darrell is sure to be an inspiration and not just to his students.

"If this can help older people make a good decision about an alternative lifestyle, then that's great."

David and Glenis Nevin(early 50s)
Born: Whangarei New Zealand
Working: Teaching English in China
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

From archaeologists to English teachers ... a change of profession has opened up a world of opportunities for Whangarei couple David and Glenis Nevin. After decades working in the field of archaeology the pair were recently hit by the travel bug and decided teaching English would be both an enjoyable and viable way to see the world.

"Now that our son is 21 we wanted to be able to travel again and English teaching is an occupation for travelling. The travel opportunities are remarkable," said Glenis, who has worked for many years as an archaeologist for local territorial authorities in Northland and also as a Land Information Officer at the District Council.

"Also for three years I was a voluntary ESOL teacher and I really, really enjoyed it, but I wanted to be able to earn money doing it!"

Husband David has spent the last ten years working as a consultant archaeologist throughout Northland while at the same time completing a BA in History. Prior to that he was employed by local authorities in the same field.

With their sights now set on travelling and teaching, the pair soon discovered there were no teacher-training qualifications on offer in Whangarei. So instead David and Glenis embarked on the 16-week part-time Cert.TEFL course at AIS St Helens. They had to get up at 5.30 every Saturday morning to drive from Whangarei to Auckland, and then drive back to Whangarei at the end of each day, getting home at 7.45 each night. All this, 16 Saturdays in a row!

"It was a long day but we didn't mind because we really enjoyed the course. I couldn't remember any grammar from school but of course once you start studying it again it all comes back to you."

Both in their early 50's, the couple share the same penchant for adventure and once they gained their qualification, they focussed on putting their newfound skills to the test in a foreign country.

They quickly landed teaching jobs at a training centre for 17 to 21-year-olds in Changsha, China, so they've rented out their house, sold their cars and are now packing their bags for their Asian exploit.

"We'll have 15 students in each class and we'll be teaching for 20 hours a week. They've already found us a furnished apartment, which is free, and it's apparently got all the mod cons we don't even have in our Whangarei home! It sounds heavenly.

"I've been gathering a lot of calendar and magazine pictures to take with us. I think photographic material is wonderful to use as lesson starters."

Although Glenis has travelled to many Asian countries, she has never visited China. She and David are excited about the prospect of immersing themselves in another culture and are also enthusiastic about learning the language while they are there.

Andrea Sizer
Born: New Zealand
Working: ESL teacher
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

When Aucklander Andrea Sizer began her studies at AIS St Helens, she had a strong sense of deja vu. But that's not surprising, she had been there a decade earlier giving birth to twins! AIS St Helens was formerly a maternity hospital, but in 1993, the babies moved out, and were replaced by what is now one of the country's largest private degree providers.

The mother of three returned to AIS St Helens in 2000 to gain her Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Previously an ESOL teacher at a West Auckland primary school, Andrea wanted to work with adults again so decided to retrain.

Hitting the books can be a daunting prospect for someone who has not studied for a long time, but Andrea says thanks to the help and support of AIS St Helens staff it was relatively easy to adapt to student life.

"I'd definitely recommend AIS St Helens to anyone who wants to study there," she says. "The tutors are very approachable and supportive. It feels smaller than most of the other technical institutes and therefore has a more personal feel about it."

Andrea chose the 6-week full-time TEFL Intensive course because it fitted in with her family commitments and her role as a Tour Co-ordinator for groups from overseas. The cost was also a big consideration and Andrea said the AIS St Helens course was cheaper than similar courses being offered elsewhere.

Although some of her fellow classmates saw their CertTEFL as a ticket to the world, Andrea had no intention of leaving home. Mindyou, she's had her fair share of living in a foreign country ∆ it's probably not much of a novelty for her.

Though she was born in Auckland, Andrea grew up in Papua New Guinea, and didn't return to the City of Sails until she was job-hunting at the age of 17.

She worked in personnel before having a family and since then, has held a variety of part-time jobs.

On completion of her CertTEFL course, Andrea was snapped up, as many of the teacher trainees have been, by the AIS St Helens English Language Centre. This enabled her to gain confidence and valuable teaching experience in a familiar environment before taking up another teaching position at a school closer to her West Auckland home.

Mhairi Seccombe(24)
Born: New Zealand
Working: ESL teacher
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Mhairi Seccombe is following in her mother's footsteps. Her mum is a teacher and now, after graduating last year from AIS St Helens with her CertTEFL, so to is Mhairi. Teaching is something that has always appealed to the bubbly 24-year-old.

"I worked as a teacher's aid in high-school with kids with behavior problems and attention disorders. I really loved it," she says.

A job in a book shop/post shop gave her a taste of communicating with non-native speakers of English.

"I've always been interested in different cultures and lots of people from different countries would come into the book shop. Some people get frustrated and lose their patience when others are difficult to understand, but I really enjoyed trying to communicate with people who spoke another language."

Mhairi had been warned that the six week TEFL course was very intensive however it wasn't quite as grueling as she'd expected.

"Maybe this is because I've been at university so I am used to doing a lot of study. I'm two years through a Bachelor of Science degree, but I'm not sure I want to finish it.

"Also, because it was a nice small group, we all got to know each other really well and got lots of teacher support when we needed it."

The most nerve-racking part for Mhairi was her first teaching session.

"The first time I had to teach was for a 15 minute session and I was a bag of nerves! I found it quite hard to know what to do but I am much better equipped now."

Mhairi is currently teaching English in the AIS St Helens English Language Centre, however she hopes eventually to head overseas and teach.

"I'm not a big planner. I'd like to go overseas and use my teaching qualification at some stage but I don't know where or when that will be. It's good though because you can basically do it anywhere."

Nick Sharma(21)
Born: Australia
Working: English Language School, Howick
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

The length of the AIS St Helens CertTEFL intensive course was one of the biggest draw cards for 21-year-old Nick Sharma. Most institutions offer intensive courses which are only four-weeks in length as opposed to AIS St Helen's CertTEFL course which runs for six-weeks. "The four-week teaching course relies too much on individual study. I really wanted more chance to practice in the classroom before I went out to teach".

Until recently Nick was studying Network Engineering at Manukau Institute of Technology. He decided to enrol in a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (CertTEFL) because of the job opportunities within New Zealand and overseas.

"Its scary how fast you can move from graduation into a teaching position. Only three days after finishing the CertTEFL I was offered a position in an English Language School in Howick. The practical aspect of the course I think really helps. In the CertTEFL you are really given the skills to enable you to teach as soon as you graduate. It really helped that the lecturers were friendly and approachable. They gave us a lot of attention both in and out of the classroom".

"I made a lot of friends on the course. Friends who had traveled to places that I would like to go to, so I received a lot of good travel tips and advice".

Graeme Wilson
Born: Wellington, New Zealand
Working: English Language School, Newmarket, Auckland
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Friends recommended the AIS St Helens Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (CertTEFL) to Graeme. He had been studying nursing for two years at Auckland University of Technology but decided he needed a change of direction. "As a holder of a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language I now possess a key which will open many doors for me. Four days after completing the course I have already been employed by an English Language School in Newmarket, Auckland. The School has about 30 Teachers, nice supportive environment and I have been offered a good salary. There is a lot of teaching work out there if you are proactive and prepared to go looking".

Tzu-Ying Chuang (Judy)(22)
Born: Taiwan
Aspiring: Open own English Language School in Taiwan
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Bachelor of International Business, AIS St Helens

Judy has spent four years studying at AIS St Helens. She started as an English Language Student in 1998, moving into a Bachelor of International Business and more recently completing a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (CertTEFL). "During my Bachelor of International Business course I made a lot of Taiwanese friends. We talked about setting up an English Language School together in Taiwan when I return so I wanted to gain a teaching qualification before I went home".

"The best things about AIS St Helens are the small classes and helpful lecturers. They have a really helpful attitude and are always willing to assist students in and out of the classroom. I found the CertTEFL course really practical. AIS St Helens gets real students to come in so you have the chance to practice your teaching skills and build up your confidence before you graduate".

Amy Houlihan(21)
Born: Auckland, New Zealand
Aspiring: Teach internationally
Educated: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Keita and Amy are both recent graduates of the UNITEC Bachelor of International Communication course. They decided to complete the AIS St Helens CertTEFL because of the connection AIS ST Helens has with Nova, one of Japan's largest English Language Schools. "We both really wanted to work in Japan so AIS St Helens connection with Nova was a big draw card for us," says Keita. "Also with a CertTEFL qualification you are able to travel and experience a different culture while earning a good wage," says Amy.

Both Keita and Amy completed the six-week intensive CertTEFL programme in March 2002.

"Don't expect the six-week course to be really easy. You need to be prepared to give it all you've got for the six weeks. If you put your nose down you will graduate really prepared for teaching," says Keita.

"If you are prepared to work hard you get so much out of the course. And the Lecturers are there supporting you all the way. There is a really good balance between the theory behind teaching English as a Second Language that you learn and the practical side. The Students that we practiced teaching on were great it was really nice to make friends with them, too," says Amy.

Keita and Amy are now in the process of interviewing with Nova. Good Luck to both of you!