Giuseppina R. has always been passionate about teaching and she was more than ready to switch careers to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. We talked about what drew her into the CELTA program, her memories of the program and what a typical day in the life of a teacher involves.
Hi, Giuseppina! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi everyone! My name is Giuseppina aka Giusy and I’m from Italy. I’m from the vibrant and sunny city of Napoli! My family and I have been living in Dubai for the last 6 years and we definitely love being here! I’m a mom of 2 young boys who brighten up my life and keep me very busy. My biggest passion is learning foreign languages. So far, I’ve studied Japanese, Arabic, French, and Spanish. I’m definitely going to add new languages to the list! I also love cooking and creating new dishes to the delight of my family and friends.
Why CELTA? What drew you into it?
I had my first teaching experience during my college years and that’s when I figured out how much I enjoyed sharing my knowledge and enabling my students to communicate in a foreign language. That’s the reason why I started searching online for an internationally recognized course which would provide me with tools and methodologies to further develop my skills as a teacher and the CELTA course was my top choice.
I contacted Eton Institute and they gave me all the information I needed. Once I had a clear picture of what to expect, I immediately decided to enroll. Looking back, I am really glad I took that decision!
What did you consider as a career path before teaching?
I have a degree in Political Science and International Relations – I worked mainly in the public sector as a civil servant. It was a very formative experience professionally and it taught me quite a lot about teamwork and communication skills.
“…I started searching online for an internationally recognized course which would provide me with the tools and methodologies to further develop my skills as a teacher and the CELTA course was my top choice.”
What inspired you to change career fields?
I strongly believe that if you are passionate about something (as I am for teaching), you should not be afraid to pursue your dream even if that means taking a risk and deviating from your original career path. I was certainly inspired by some of the teachers I met throughout my life as a student – they empowered me and made a difference.
What are your memories of CELTA? How was the experience?
I truly treasure my memories from the CELTA course. It has certainly been an eye-opener for me in many ways. I was lucky enough to meet the best fellow trainees; we supported each other throughout the course and still keep in contact with each other. A special mention goes out to our tutors who were a great source of inspiration. They delivered professional and effective input lessons while enabling us to walk on our feet. At the same time, they managed to make the course an incredibly enjoyable and memorable experience for us trainees.
The course is hard work, it is intensive and very challenging but extremely rewarding. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career as a language teacher.
“I strongly believe that if you are passionate about something (as I am for teaching), you should not be afraid to pursue your dream even if that means taking a risk and deviating from your original career path.”
What is life like after the CELTA program?
Well, to say the truth, I spent the week right after the CELTA course catching up on my sleep! On a serious note, after completing the CELTA course, you feel thrilled and full of expectations; I personally couldn’t wait to put all the new ideas acquired into practice.
Describe a typical day in your teaching career.
I prepare before the class – mentally rehearsing all the stages planned for the lessons and making sure that all the materials and equipment are ready. I always try to include pair work and group work tasks to make the lesson interactive and fun for both myself and the students.
What was it like for you as a teacher adapting to a new culture?
Adapting to a new culture came quite naturally to me, I didn’t experience a major cultural shock. I’m an open-minded and curious person by nature and love diversity. I consider any constructive exchange between cultures as personal enrichment.
What do you feel your strengths and weaknesses in teaching are?
I believe one of my strongest points is the rapport I create with my students: I want students in my class to feel that they’re in a safe environment where no one judges them. I work hard to create a positive and supportive atmosphere in which learners feel confident enough to try and use the language as much as possible and have fun while doing it.
On the other hand, I am a bit of a compulsive planner, although I learned with experience that things don’t always go the way you expect them to. The CELTA course helped me in this regard as one of the aspects we focused on was thinking ahead of the potential problems that could arise during a class and the most effective solutions.
“I work hard to create a positive and supportive atmosphere in which learners feel confident enough to try and use the language as much as possible and have fun while doing it.”
What advice would you give to other CELTA trainees?
My advice is to do some preparation work before starting the course, read the books recommended by your center and most of all start the course with the right mindset – be determined and well-motivated. You will enjoy every step of the way!
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