Aleksandra is a CELTA and DELTA tutor with IH Almaty
How long were you an EFL teacher, and how long have you been a teacher trainer?
I started teaching English in 2009, and I have been training teachers for about 8 years now. I trained up as a CELTA trainer with IH Almaty in 2016 and have worked on more than 50 CELTA courses in Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Singapore since then. I also deliver IH CAM and IH CYLT courses now.
Did you have a different career before EFL?
No, although I never wanted to be an English teacher as a child. I studied Linguistics at university and thought I would work as an interpreter or a translator. Then I did my CELTA in 2009 and it totally changed my perspective - I absolutely fell in love with the job and the idea of teaching.
What are your hopes/aspirations for your trainees?
I hope my trainees will become effective teachers and achieve the career goals they have set for themselves.
When you were an EFL teacher what did you like most, and how do you bring that into the classroom for your trainees?
I still remember taking my CELTA course and being greatly inspired by the trainers. This is what I hope to do for the trainees on my courses – show or remind them how much fun or how engaging teaching can be!
What advice would you give your trainees for successfully completing the course?
Teacher training courses are often very intensive so try to free up your schedule of any other commitments as much as you can – you're going to thank yourself for it later!
Don't be afraid to ask for advice or share ideas with your peers – there's a lot you can learn from each other.
What advice would you give your trainees for an interesting and rewarding career?
Never stop learning and don't be afraid to try new things – be it a new approach, a new textbook, or a new country!