Linda Musatye Osuna García is a CELTA tutor at the IH Mexico schools
How long were you an EFL teacher, and how long have you been a teacher trainer?
I have been an EFL teacher for 23 years and a teacher trainer for the last 13.
Did you have a different career before EFL?
No, I have always worked in EFL.
What are your hopes/aspirations for your trainees?
To help them to identify their own strengths and weaknesses as professional teachers so they can use them to the full and to give them the tools and strategies needed so they can become self-learners and continue developing professionally.
When you were an EFL teacher what did you like most, and how do you bring that into the classroom for your trainees?
I loved finding out my students´ real needs so I could plan my lessons according to them, matching my objectives with theirs, making sure my lessons were useful to their own lives and contexts.
I love observing them first and listening to their own backgrounds so I can find specific examples, materials, techniques or ways of helping them according to their individual needs.
What advice would you give your trainees for successfully completing the course?
Trust in your trainer. We are there to help, follow our lead and pay attention to the feedback you receive. Do your best at becoming a reflective teacher and make sure you ask every single question that pops in your mind.
What advice would you give your trainees for an interesting and rewarding career?
Continue learning about yourself and about your students. Try as many approaches as possible and be kind to yourself while you are learning but make sure you are also able to identify when you have developed solid skills, knowledge, etc. so you can support other teachers.