Emma Cresswell is a CELTA tutor at IH Aberdeen in the UK
How long were you an EFL teacher, and how long have you been a teacher trainer?
I’ve been an EFL teacher for 12 years, a teacher trainer for 5 years and a CELTA trainer since 2019
Did you have a different career before EFL?
I started in EFL fresh out of university with a degree in politics and foreign languages – which has been surprisingly useful in the EFL classroom!
What are your hopes/aspirations for your trainees?
That they get as much out of the course as they can and leave it feeling ready to enter the wonderful and varied world of EFL
When you were an EFL teacher what did you like most, and how do you bring that into the classroom for your trainees?
The variety – how every day and class is different, and how you never stop learning, be it from colleagues and peers or the students themselves.
I try to bring this into the classroom for the trainees in the same way as I do for the students – through collaboration, cooperation and communication.
What advice would you give your trainees for successfully completing the course?
Remember to make time for yourself – whether it’s going for a walk or watching a couple of episodes of your favourite series, having a bit of downtime is important.
Talk to your tutors and co-trainees, if something isn’t clear or you’re not sure about something, ask, no matter how simple it may seem.
What advice would you give your trainees for an interesting and rewarding career?
Research your chosen country/school well, but also be prepared for the unexpected. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and try to enjoy every moment of it, even when faced with a never-ending pile of report cards to write or essays to mark!