News from our grads
Geoffrey Weston in Ethiopia
1. How/Why did you first think of doing a TESOL course and going overseas?
I actually decided to undertake a TESOL course as a result of confirming my position as a teacher in Ethiopia. I had never taught English as a second language before and felt it wise to do some preparation in this area. I was not aware of what may be expected of me once I arrived.
2. How did the course help you prepare for the journey ahead?
The training gave me the confidence and enthusiasm to undertake an area of teaching that I had no prior experience in. The trainers provided lots of practical tips and were extremely encouraging. In particular the TESOL training manual provided material that I was able to refer to and use on a regular basis.
3. Where did you teach and how did you get the job?
I taught during the academic year of 2003-2004. In Ethiopia, the academic year runs from September to June. I was employed by the Gibson Youth Academy, which is a privately run primary school with three campuses in Addis Ababa. I taught in the Kindergarten division for one year. I answered an advertisement placed on the school’s website which I found as a result of a Google search.
4. What did you enjoy most about living there?
I enjoyed the slow pace of life in Ethiopia, the simplicity of shopping (no choices), the very friendly nationals, the opportunity to travel within the country, the lovely children that I taught, the opportunity to attend church in a new culture and the many new friends that I made.
5. What did you find challenging about living there?
Without a doubt the level of poverty I found; this was very confronting. Dealing with constant requests for monetary assistance was part of every trip into the city.
6. Do you have any funny stories?
I will relate two funny stories. On the first day of school I was programmed to conduct a
30-minute class in the kindergarten with 30 students who were coming for the very first time. To say there were lots of tears as the children were snatched away from their parents / nannies is an under-statement. My 30-minute class actually lasted 4 hours as I tried to console two very unhappy identical twin brothers that took a particular liking to me (see photo of the twins, below). These two boys were always dressed identically when they came to school and even after 12 months I had difficulty telling them apart.
The second story relates to the difference between Ethiopian time and Western time; there is a 6-hour time difference. For example, 7am in Western time would be 1am in Ethiopian time. The rationale behind this is that the day starts when the sun rises so the first hour after that is regarded as 1:00am. Within the first week of arriving I arranged to meet a friend for coffee at a local hotel and said that I would meet them there at 12. I am thinking noon in Western time, they were thinking 12 hours after sunrise so we missed each other by 6 hours. The moral of this story is: always make it clear if you are talking Western or Ethiopian time!
7. What advice would you give to someone planning on teaching there?
Do your preparation beforehand. Try to find out as much information as possible about the school that you are going to. Find out if the school caters for the financially disadvantaged or the affluent as this may influence your level of personal satisfaction.
8. What are your future plans? Will you keep teaching and travelling?
I plan to return to Africa again, but I am presently unaware of the time frame. I would teach again in Ethiopia as there are many opportunities to make a difference, and I am now comfortable with the culture.
9. Is there anything you would like to add?
Preparation is the key to a successful overseas teaching experience. Get immersed as quickly as possible into the culture, and look for opportunities outside your school. For me it was church involvement. Try to establish a friendship with a local family because relationships will be the most rewarding aspect of your stay (see photo of family, top).
Geoffrey Weston - Teach International Graduate
