Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

My main responsibilities are teaching two classes per day - one three hour general English class and one skills class. As well as the teaching, I design courses and plan lessons using textbooks, as well as writing reports for students, flagging SEN and safeguarding concerns and attending meetings.

My typical day starts with an hour of lesson preparation, following by four hours of teaching - a general English class followed by a skills class. I then spend my afternoon planning or report writing. I also run my own German teaching business, so I often see clients when I am finished at New College, or I attend my second job, which is as an ESOL tutor at St Helens Council.

Teaching is incredibly rewarding. I love seeing the development in students and working with my primary interest (languages!) every day. I also love being involved in so many different jobs and projects, as this suits me so well.

It is challenging having three jobs, including running my own business. I often have to work seven days a week, including planning, which is mostly not paid time. And of course, as with any teaching job, some students are challenging and there are days when you question your ability to do the job.

Having grown up in an international school in Brussels, and then having studied in a university as multicultural as Sheffield, being surrounded by different cultures and backgrounds is a huge part of the appeal to me. I also love languages, and I love facilitating others in their language learning journey, and giving people a voice they otherwise wouldn't have had.

My CELTA qualification - a CELTA qualification is essential if you wish to teach EFL in the UK.
Of course, my German degree, when I teach in the business.
And my translation masters taught me a lot about making language accessible through the use of theory, and some practical skills about being self-employed and submitting invoices.

A CELTA qualification - January 2018-February 2018 (Liverpool International Language Academy)

I see myself either running a language teaching business, or working full time in public sector ESOL tuition.

Teaching EFL or running your own language tuition business are DOABLE! Do not be afraid to take the first step into doing these things. Teaching in these ways was not presented to me as an option, and I never thought I could run a business (including the accounts and financing, as well as the time management and teaching itself) but if you put your mind to it, you can. Also, it is possible to teach EFL in the UK - you just need to be prepared to put the time into gaining the qualification and doing the job hunt afterwards.

Please feel free to get in touch if I can advise you or help you in any way.