Amir Ebrahimi’s ‘My TEFL Story’ began in 2011, when he got top marks for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam and his tutors told him he would make a good teacher. Now he has his CELTA qualification, he loves teaching English, and is looking forward to taking on the Delta in the future.
It all started in 2011 when I was learning English preparing for the Cambridge Advanced Examination. I took the test and got an A result, which impressed my teachers and other staff at the school. They suggested I could become be a good teacher and I never forgot that.
I was at University in Mashhad, Iran, doing a bachelor’s degree in Hardware Technologies. I had no clue I was on my way to become a full-time teacher!
But following graduation, I decided I would like to work and teach abroad. Traveling and working abroad had always been a dream for me. A bit of research and some help from a fellow teacher led me to International House Izmir in Turkey where I took a full time CELTA course in 2016.
Following my CELTA, I had a lot of opportunities to get work. Not having post-qualification experience was a small bump on the road, but I succeed by showing methods and practical techniques I had learned on the course.
The things I learned at a professional level, and the people I met there, have helped me stand out from the pack to this very day. I learned how to teach professionally, how to research and how to find a way for every challenge a teacher faces.
Thanks to my CELTA, I have worked in top language schools in Iran and I am now working in a language school in Tbilisi, Georgia. I am planning to emigrate to Australia and work as an EFL and Exams teacher.
Taking the CELTA was not the end of the road. Both Cambridge and International House have offered me many professional development opportunities. Last year, I took an online course in teaching English online (the IH COLT, offered by the IH Online Teacher Training Institute), and now my online classes fill half of my busy schedule. Regular webinars have also helped improve my skills so I can teach a wider range of courses (from exam preparation courses to English for specific purposes).
I take pride in holding Cambridge language certificates (Proficiency and CAE) and the teaching certificate CELTA. I have been able to help new students learn English and take their own IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge First and Advanced exams.
I love teaching English now more than I ever did because I know the right methods and I possess the right tools, thanks to my qualifications.
Teaching for me has been a great career choice. It helped me to earn a living, start a family and move to another country. It all comes down to having the right set of skills and knowledge to pursue a career in teaching. I strongly recommend anyone who is considering a place in the world of English language teaching to take CELTA, not only for its teacher training benefits, but also for the self-development aspects. I am looking forward to a Delta as my next challenge. There is always something to learn for everyone who is teaching!
