Jan Wright is a CELTA tutor at IH Palma in Spain
How long were you an EFL teacher, and how long have you been a teacher trainer?
I took the CELTA course in 1984 and I taught full time for at least 10 years. Since then I have periodically taught as a substitute teacher in school as necessary. My first course as a CELTA trainer was in 1990. I have trained CELTA candidates not only at IH Palma but also at IH in Barcelona, Bogotá and Cape Town. I have also done training sessions for local teachers of English in Spain, China and the UAE.
Did you have a different career before EFL?
On leaving university, I spent a year teaching a class of 5-year-olds in a small school in England. I then took a year out in Washington DC. When I returned to the UK, I spent the following 9 years in London working in Marketing & Advertising, including a 4-year stint at Chelsea Football Club.
What are your hopes/aspirations for your trainees?
Despite this being an undoubtedly challenging course, I hope trainees will feel that it was a unique experience and well worth it. I also hope they will feel inspired to develop even further as teachers post course.
When you were an EFL teacher what did you like most, and how do you bring that into the classroom for your trainees?
I really enjoyed the variety of interesting people I got to know in class (and in the staffroom). It’s essential to see our students as individuals not as just one in a crowd. Each of them has something unique to offer to our lessons, and not only from a linguistic point of view. On the course, in feedback on teaching practice, it’s important to reflect on the students’ contributions rather than simply on our own “performance”.
What advice would you give your trainees for successfully completing the course?
You need to be organised – with your notes and your time. You need to be realistic about what you can achieve in just four weeks, but that doesn’t mean accepting second best - so give 100%. You need to be open to TP feedback – remember it is not a criticism of you as a person.
What advice would you give your trainees for an interesting and rewarding career?
The course is just the first, vital step. But there will still be a lot to learn. This will come through experience, but you will also need to be pro-active in your own personal development.