 After the 1997 Hong Kong handover to China the Hong Kong-Chinese government introduced Mandarin as the compulsory second language offered to students instead of English. Shortly after this rule was introduced, the younger Hong Kong Chinese generation's spoken English skills horrifyingly decreased and the need for Native English teachers rose to an alarming number.
I was aware of this situation and started working part time at tutorial centres but knew it wasn't enough to fullfill my desires of becoming a proper English teacher. At the end of the day I knew I was under-qualified and had to take extra steps in order to qualify myself. I had no idea that TEFL was available worldwide and thought about it for an extremely long time.
Other than teaching at tutorial centres my agent sent me to local primary & secondary schools to teach English-extra curricular activities, I soon met a man called Brian Hardaway and discussed my situation with him. He told me: "Look no further, I took a course in Phuket and it was mind blowing. Not only do you learn and become qualified to teach, you're in a foreign country and you get a holiday out of it as well".
A holiday and becoming qualified? Wow I thought, that is truly amazing? I immediately turned my computer on when I got home and searched for the TEFL website and then I realized my prayers were answered. Without thinking twice, I enrolled myself to TEFL in Ios, Greece. It had always been my biggest wish to visit Greece and plus the pictures online seemed so surreal.
Months passed and I was so eager to get on the plane and take off, then the day finally came when I boarded the plane to Athens then took the long boat ride to Ios.
I was warmly greeted by Alan & Jay Cochlan along with my roommate Carrie Flood upon arrival in Ios, who immediately made me feel welcomed and helped me with my luggage, and then the adventure started.
Class started the next morning at 10 AM and we were shown around Ios town by Alan and his wife Jay, I no longer felt that I was in a different country, I felt very much as if I lived there and that these "new" people were a part of my newfound family.
This experience in Ios is one that I'd never forget, from drinking Raki (A Greek local alcoholic beverage) to eating Greek salads with no dressing! Each and every moment, going on weekend trips to Santorini & Mykonos (outlying islands), discovering the hidden beaches on Ios, climbing up the highest mountain with churches and watching the breathtaking sunset, lying on the rocks and eating out of our picnic baskets, friendly locals, men on donkies riding up and down the hill, beautiful weather, smiles all around, and the crazy nightlife (party 24/7) which is apparently normal in the summer over there.
Returning to Hong Kong, I felt confident and was ready to start teaching again, especially from the knowledge I gained from TEFL. I walked into my first class and everything seemed easier!
I had taught a 4 month speech course at one of Hong Kong's renowned boys school: St.Francis Xavier's. I prepared my boys for a speech festival which is help once every year, I can proudly say they won first place!
Now, I am working at another school teaching night classes (as I am still a University student and cannot work full time) at a school called Po Leung Kuk, a school for the less priviledged children, sadly they are taken away by child services from their homes due to irresponsible parents (rape,alcoholism,drug users,jailbirds.....the list goes on) and they come to live in the dormitories provided by the government. In Chinese: Po Leung Kuk< means under the government.
I work there five nights a week, each time for 4 and a half hours, I am gaining the ultimate experience there although believe me, it is hard work!
I am able to proudly say I found myself through teaching, because alike my students I am learning everyday as well!
Teaching English isn't only about grammar, vocab, phonetics and so on...Talk to your students, become their friend as well, you'll feel that if you warm to them they'll respect you even more as they won't fear you or feel intimidated in any way!
On a more personal note, JOIN TEFL... You will not regret it! If you love the beach, choose a beach destination, if you want to be at a city, choose the city destinations. TEFL has been generous to offer so many different locations and they give you every right to take advantage of it.
It is life changing, and believe me, i'm not only saying that and they obviously didn't pay me to say that! Please, if you have the chance, take it!
I'd like to thank TEFL once again for giving me this opportunity, I wish I could repeat the experience over and over again....I'd also like to thank Alan and Jay Cochlan for making my dreams become a reality. :)
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Claudia Solenthaler
